2027 Salary Guide · Healthcare
Half of all physical therapists earned more than $102,760 in May 2025, according to BLS, which works out to about $109,000 projected to 2027. The setting a PT chooses moves pay more than the city does: home health PTs had a median of $114,740, while outpatient clinic PTs, the largest group, earned $97,160.
By setting
BLS reports PT pay by employer type. The lowest-paying setting is also the one that employs the most PTs.
Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists employ 36% of PTs. Mostly orthopedic and sports caseloads, and the main entry point for new graduates.
About 26% of PTs. Acute care and inpatient rehab, with weekend coverage common. Hospital PTs earn about $9,640 more than clinic PTs at the median.
About 11% of PTs and the highest-paying setting BLS reports. Work is visit-based with driving between patients, and agencies often pay per visit rather than a flat salary.
About 6% of PTs, mostly in skilled nursing facilities working with older adults after hospital stays.
Local pay
The San Francisco Bay Area median of $141,980 is about $39,200 above the national figure. After that, every metro on the list falls between Albany's $94,020 and San Diego's $113,850. Dallas and Houston pay PTs more than Boston. New York City is the largest market, with about 21,240 PTs.
| Metro area | Median | 10th – 90th | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Bay Area | $141,980 +38% | $103,860 – $188,070 | 3,140 |
| San Diego | $113,850 +11% | $77,500 – $158,700 | 2,680 |
| Los Angeles | $108,170 +5% | $85,580 – $160,070 | 9,750 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $107,780 +5% | $77,280 – $144,740 | 6,100 |
| Houston | $107,700 +5% | $78,250 – $142,570 | 4,680 |
| New York City | $107,650 +5% | $75,390 – $141,870 | 21,240 |
| Seattle | $107,290 +4% | $64,790 – $144,960 | 2,950 |
| Portland | $106,250 +3% | $82,270 – $134,610 | 1,810 |
| Baltimore | $105,810 +3% | $78,530 – $138,630 | 2,050 |
| Philadelphia | $105,790 +3% | $80,240 – $131,760 | 6,250 |
| Metro area | Median | 10th – 90th | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $105,720 +3% | $85,220 – $142,320 | 7,880 |
| Hartford | $105,230 +2% | $81,450 – $122,740 | 1,370 |
| Austin | $103,630 +1% | $82,330 – $135,320 | 2,470 |
| Boston | $103,550 +1% | $81,220 – $130,220 | 5,330 |
| Atlanta | $103,440 +1% | $81,280 – $132,100 | 4,250 |
| Nashville | $103,380 +1% | $68,060 – $129,430 | 1,400 |
| Phoenix | $103,220 +0% | $82,840 – $134,410 | 3,760 |
| Washington, DC | $102,980 +0% | $79,080 – $137,070 | 4,540 |
| Detroit | $102,970 +0% | $80,690 – $131,140 | 3,770 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | $102,450 +-0% | $86,590 – $121,340 | 3,360 |
| Tampa | $102,430 +-0% | $80,230 – $120,690 | 2,350 |
| Denver | $102,340 +-0% | $79,040 – $134,640 | 2,730 |
| Charlotte | $101,060 -2% | $80,840 – $126,180 | 1,680 |
| Miami | $100,870 -2% | $60,370 – $125,360 | 4,950 |
| Providence | $100,290 -2% | $80,470 – $129,220 | 1,440 |
| Raleigh | $99,900 -3% | $78,490 – $127,530 | 1,190 |
| Pittsburgh | $97,750 -5% | $76,800 – $118,220 | 2,120 |
| Buffalo | $95,800 -7% | $66,210 – $116,420 | 1,410 |
| Albany | $94,020 -9% | $71,130 – $108,510 | 790 |
BLS metro estimates, May 2025. Percent compares the metro median with the national median. "Jobs" is BLS estimated employment in the metro; blank where BLS does not publish it.
Pay distribution
The middle half of PTs earned between $86,160 and $121,160 in May 2025. The top tenth cleared $135,140.
Typical for the Physical Therapist title: $86,160 to $121,160 (25th to 75th percentile of Physical Therapists)
| Percentile | BLS, May 2025 | 2027 planning estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $77,140 | $82,000 |
| 25th percentile | $86,160 | $91,500 |
| Median | $102,760 | $109,000 |
| 75th percentile | $121,160 | $129,000 |
| 90th percentile | $135,140 | $143,500 |
Career path
BLS does not publish pay by years of experience. These stages map the usual PT career path onto the BLS percentiles.
About $77,140 to $86,160 (10th to 25th percentile)
After a Doctor of Physical Therapy program, which typically lasts 3 years, and a state licensing exam. Outpatient clinics employ the most PTs and are the most common first job.
About $86,160 to $121,160 (25th to 75th percentile)
Carries a full caseload. Moving from outpatient to hospital, SNF or home health is the fastest way up this band.
About $121,160 to $135,140+ (75th to 90th percentile)
Residency (typically about 1 year) and board specialist certification, which requires an exam and clinical work in the specialty, lead to specialist, clinic director and lead therapist roles.
Outlook
BLS projects 12 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 13,400 openings a year from a base of about 283,700 jobs.
BLS Employment Projections via O*NET OnLine. Projections cover Physical Therapists as a whole.
Comparing offers
Because setting moves PT pay so much, a higher number is not always a better job. Check these before you accept or make an offer.
Home health offers often quote a per-visit rate. Convert it to an annual figure using a realistic weekly visit count and unpaid drive time before comparing it with a salaried role.
Ask for the expected visits per day or productivity percentage. The same salary can mean very different workloads in two clinics.
Hospital and SNF roles often rotate weekends. Ask how often, and whether it carries a differential.
All states require PTs to be licensed. Roles that cross state lines, including some home health and telehealth work, may need more than one license.
Compare
PTs earn slightly more than occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists at the median, and about $5,200 more than registered nurses.
| Role | BLS median | 2027 estimate | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 | $109,000 | Much faster than average |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,330 | $106,500 | Much faster than average |
| Speech Language Pathologist | $97,870 | $104,000 | Much faster than average |
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | $103,500 | Faster than average |
FAQ
Physical therapists had a $102,760 median annual wage in May 2025, per BLS. The middle half earned between $86,160 and $121,160, and the top tenth more than $135,140. Two years of wage growth at 3.1% a year gives a 2027 planning median of about $109,000.
New-graduate PT pay has no BLS figure, because pay is not reported by experience. The 10th percentile, $77,140 in May 2025, and the 25th percentile, $86,160, are a reasonable range for first PT jobs nationally. Home health and nursing care pay more than outpatient clinics at the median, which can carry over to first-job offers.
Home health. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $114,740 for PTs in home healthcare services, compared with $110,460 in nursing and residential care, $106,800 in hospitals and $97,160 in outpatient therapy offices.
The median PT wage was $49.40 an hour in May 2025, according to BLS data reported by O*NET. Per-diem and PRN therapists, who fill shifts as needed, are usually paid hourly.
Yes, for new entrants. The Doctor of Physical Therapy is the entry degree and typically takes 3 years after a bachelor's. In O*NET's occupation survey, 47% of respondents said new hires need a doctoral degree and 38% a master's.
Careerscape's healthcare recruiters send pre-screened physical therapist shortlists for direct hire, contract and per-diem roles.
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