The average salary for a physical therapist in the United States is around $102,760 per year.
Avg Salary
Physical therapists earn an average yearly salary of $102,760.
Wages typically start from $77,140 and go up to $135,140.
53% above national average Updated in 2025
Physical therapist earnings by seniority
Top-level physical therapist earnings begin at:
$64.97 per hour
$135,140 per year
Senior-level physical therapist earnings begin at:
$58.25 per hour
$121,160 per year
Mid-level physical therapist earnings begin at:
$49.40 per hour
$102,760 per year
Junior-level physical therapist earnings begin at:
$41.42 per hour
$86,160 per year
Starting level physical therapist earnings begin at:
$37.09 per hour
$77,140 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Physical therapist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | $99,990 |
| North Carolina | $99,910 |
| Utah | $99,880 |
| New Hampshire | $99,850 |
| Maine | $99,720 |
| Rhode Island | $99,400 |
| Missouri | $99,310 |
| Arkansas | $99,010 |
| Idaho | $99,000 |
| Oklahoma | $98,590 |
| Louisiana | $98,530 |
| Kansas | $98,290 |
| Vermont | $97,970 |
| Iowa | $97,560 |
| Alabama | $97,290 |
| Nebraska | $97,090 |
| West Virginia | $96,600 |
| South Dakota | $92,660 |
| Montana | $91,450 |
| North Dakota | $85,330 |
| Guam | $60,340 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $51,020 |
| Puerto Rico | $39,500 |
| California | $124,190 |
| Alaska | $115,280 |
| New Jersey | $112,140 |
| Nevada | $111,250 |
| Maryland | $106,890 |
| New Mexico | $106,880 |
| Washington | $105,950 |
| Texas | $105,810 |
| Illinois | $105,250 |
| Connecticut | $104,360 |
| Massachusetts | $103,790 |
| Oregon | $103,510 |
| Arizona | $103,220 |
| Ohio | $103,050 |
| Georgia | $102,700 |
| Delaware | $102,050 |
| Colorado | $102,030 |
| Minnesota | $102,010 |
| Wisconsin | $101,840 |
| Hawaii | $101,700 |
| District of Columbia | $101,640 |
| Indiana | $101,560 |
| Virginia | $101,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $101,380 |
| South Carolina | $101,330 |
| Florida | $101,040 |
| Michigan | $100,900 |
| Kentucky | $100,710 |
| New York | $100,660 |
| Wyoming | $100,400 |
| Tennessee | $100,140 |
How do physical therapist salaries compare to similar careers?
Physical therapists earn 6% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than optometrists but more than dental hygienists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Optometrist salary | $137K |
| Healthcare administrator salary | $124K |
| Clinical psychologist salary | $101K |
| Neuropsychologist salary | $111K |
| Geneticist salary | $99K |
| Physical therapist salary | $103K |
| Occupational therapist salary | $100K |
| Operations research analyst salary | $89K |
| School psychologist salary | $96K |
| Dental hygienist salary | $98K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)