How Much Do Physical Therapists Make a Year? PT Salary Calculator
BLS physical therapist pay at every level and in every state, home health vs clinic pay, part-time hours and take-home after 2026 tax
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How Much Do Physical Therapists Make a Year? PT Salary Calculator
Printed 2026-10-27 from billorganizingapp.com/income/calculators/physical-therapist-salary/ — an estimate for planning, not financial or tax advice.
United States physical therapists: median $49.40/hr, 10th–90th percentile $37.09–$64.97 (BLS OEWS May 2025). Your rate is in the between the median and the 75th percentile.
Estimate for 2026: federal income tax (standard deduction), Social Security and Medicare, a flat state rate you enter, and the overtime deduction on the half-time premium when your overtime is legally required. No credits or itemised deductions. Starting wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, which excludes overtime and shift differentials.
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Physical therapists earned a median salary of $102,760 in May 2025 ($49.40 an hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which counted 267,330 PTs on payrolls. The middle half earned between $86,160 and $121,160; the top tenth over $135,140.
Physical therapists: pay at every level
This is the BLS line for physical therapists (SOC 29-1123) on employers' payrolls. Physical therapist assistants and aides are separate, lower-paid occupations, and self-employed PTs aren't counted. Take-home assumes a single filer with 2026 federal tax and FICA and no state tax.
| Pay level | Hourly | Annual | Monthly | Take-home a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37.09 | $77,140 | $6,428 | $63,098 |
| 25th percentile | $41.42 | $86,160 | $7,180 | $69,444 |
| Median | $49.40 | $102,760 | $8,563 | $81,122 |
| 75th percentile | $58.25 | $121,160 | $10,097 | $94,066 |
| 90th percentile | $64.97 | $135,140 | $11,262 | $103,634 |
Physical therapist pay by state
California PTs earn the most at $124,190, and California also employs the most, 26,580. Alaska ($115,280) and New Jersey ($112,140) follow, and North Dakota is lowest at $85,330. The gap between top and bottom states is smaller than for most jobs here.
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $59.71 | $124,190 | 26,580 |
| Alaska | $55.43 | $115,280 | 680 |
| New Jersey | $53.91 | $112,140 | 9,750 |
| Nevada | $53.48 | $111,250 | 2,030 |
| Maryland | $51.39 | $106,890 | 3,940 |
| New Mexico | $51.38 | $106,880 | 1,330 |
| Washington | $50.94 | $105,950 | 5,370 |
| Texas | $50.87 | $105,810 | 21,870 |
| Illinois | $50.60 | $105,250 | 9,800 |
| Connecticut | $50.17 | $104,360 | 4,060 |
| Massachusetts | $49.90 | $103,790 | 6,850 |
| Oregon | $49.77 | $103,510 | 3,210 |
| Arizona | $49.62 | $103,220 | 5,170 |
| Ohio | $49.54 | $103,050 | 10,280 |
| Georgia | $49.38 | $102,700 | 6,780 |
| Delaware | $49.06 | $102,050 | 1,260 |
| Colorado | $49.05 | $102,030 | 5,630 |
| Minnesota | $49.04 | $102,010 | 5,180 |
| Wisconsin | $48.96 | $101,840 | 5,580 |
| Hawaii | $48.90 | $101,700 | 950 |
| District of Columbia | $48.87 | $101,640 | 610 |
| Indiana | $48.83 | $101,560 | 6,130 |
| Virginia | $48.78 | $101,450 | 7,630 |
| Pennsylvania | $48.74 | $101,380 | 11,710 |
| South Carolina | $48.72 | $101,330 | 3,930 |
| Florida | $48.58 | $101,040 | 16,290 |
| Michigan | $48.51 | $100,900 | 8,630 |
| Kentucky | $48.42 | $100,710 | 3,390 |
| New York | $48.39 | $100,660 | 20,940 |
| Wyoming | $48.27 | $100,400 | 560 |
| Tennessee | $48.15 | $100,140 | 4,800 |
| Mississippi | $48.07 | $99,990 | 1,980 |
| North Carolina | $48.03 | $99,910 | 7,350 |
| Utah | $48.02 | $99,880 | 2,300 |
| New Hampshire | $48.01 | $99,850 | 1,960 |
| Maine | $47.94 | $99,720 | 1,860 |
| Rhode Island | $47.79 | $99,400 | 1,020 |
| Missouri | $47.75 | $99,310 | 4,900 |
| Arkansas | $47.60 | $99,010 | 2,680 |
| Idaho | $47.60 | $99,000 | 1,030 |
| Oklahoma | $47.40 | $98,590 | 2,560 |
| Louisiana | $47.37 | $98,530 | 3,280 |
| Kansas | $47.25 | $98,290 | 2,660 |
| Vermont | $47.10 | $97,970 | 760 |
| Iowa | $46.90 | $97,560 | 2,530 |
| Alabama | $46.77 | $97,290 | 3,040 |
| Nebraska | $46.68 | $97,090 | 2,140 |
| West Virginia | $46.44 | $96,600 | 1,310 |
| South Dakota | $44.55 | $92,660 | 1,060 |
| Montana | $43.97 | $91,450 | 1,180 |
| North Dakota | $41.02 | $85,330 | 830 |
Which employers pay physical therapists most
Home health PTs have the highest median ($114,740), then nursing and residential care ($110,460) and hospitals ($106,800). Therapy offices, the biggest employer with 36% of PTs, pay the least of the four, $97,160 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
| Industry | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Home healthcare services | $114,740 |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | $110,460 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | $106,800 |
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | $97,160 |
A physical therapist's schedule
Most physical therapists work full time and keep normal business hours, though some work evenings or weekends and part-time work is common (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook). Therapy, speech and audiology offices employ 36% of PTs, hospitals 26%, home health 11% and nursing and residential care 6%.
Overtime for physical therapists
A physical therapist paid a salary of at least $684 a week, in a job that requires the Doctor of Physical Therapy, can be classed as an exempt learned professional (DOL Fact Sheet #17D). PTs paid by the hour are owed time and a half after 40 hours a week.
Training, licenses and pay
New physical therapists need a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), a program that typically lasts 3 years after a bachelor's with prerequisites in anatomy, chemistry and physics, and a state license, which includes a qualifying exam and in some states a law exam and background check. An optional residency of about a year, fellowships and board certification in specialties such as orthopedics, sports and geriatrics follow for some (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
Related tools and guides
More ways to work with your physical therapist pay:
Official sources
Tax rules, limits and pay data change. Check the current figures with the primary source before acting on them.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: OEWS May 2025: Physical Therapists (29-1123) wage estimates
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physical Therapists
- U.S. Department of Labor: Fact Sheet #17D: Exemption for professional employees
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: OEWS FAQ: how wages are defined (overtime and shift differentials excluded)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapists make a year?+
$102,760 a year ($49.40 an hour) at the BLS median for May 2025. The middle half earned $86,160 to $121,160.
Which state pays physical therapists the most?+
California ($59.71 an hour, $124,190 a year), then Alaska and New Jersey; North Dakota pays least among the 51 states where BLS released a figure (BLS, May 2025).
Which physical therapists earn the most?+
By employer, home health PTs have the highest median in the Occupational Outlook Handbook's industry table and therapy offices the lowest, even though therapy offices employ the most PTs. The figures are in the table on this page.
Do physical therapists get overtime?+
Hourly PTs do, after 40 hours a week. A PT paid a salary of at least $684 a week in a job requiring the DPT can be treated as an exempt professional (DOL Fact Sheet #17D).
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