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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The gap between the highest and lowest-paying cities is striking. The national median salary for Physical Therapists in 2026 is $106,280, with entry-level positions averaging $76,521 and senior roles reaching $150,917. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Santa Clara pays a median of $197,825, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Healthcare within the broader Healthcare industry, Physical Therapists typically hold DPT degree. The employment landscape is shaped by growing, and the day-to-day is clinical. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$115,365 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Physical Therapist in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $197,825 — $115,365 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($82,460). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Physical Therapists average $76,521, the median sits at $106,280, and senior earners pull in $150,917. That $74,396 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $25,913 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
The demand picture adds context to these salary numbers. The top 3 paying cities (Santa Clara, Irvine, San Francisco) average $187,256 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Jackson, Macon) average $84,488. That $102,768 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
A Physical Therapist in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $197,825 — $115,365 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($82,460). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Physical Therapist is $76,521, while senior-level (P90) earners average $150,917. That $74,396 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Hawaii pays the highest average median salary for Physical Therapists at $135,007 across 1 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Hampshire at $110,878) is $24,129.
At the 90th percentile, Physical Therapists pull in an average of $150,917. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $76,521 | $106,280 | $150,917 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £42,241 | £58,668 | £83,309 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$65,409 | CA$90,846 | CA$129,001 |
| Australia | 13 | A$75,619 | A$105,027 | A$149,138 |
| Sweden | 24 | 446,405 kr | 620,007 kr | 880,410 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $97,205 | $135,007 | $191,710 |
| California | 61 | $87,336 | $121,300 | $172,245 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $84,193 | $116,935 | $166,047 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $81,986 | $113,869 | $161,694 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $79,832 | $110,878 | $157,447 |
| Washington | 8 | $78,234 | $108,659 | $154,296 |
| Oregon | 5 | $77,362 | $107,448 | $152,575 |
| Colorado | 11 | $76,954 | $106,880 | $151,770 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $76,912 | $106,823 | $151,688 |
| New York | 5 | $76,544 | $106,311 | $150,961 |
| Illinois | 5 | $76,371 | $106,071 | $150,621 |
| Nevada | 5 | $75,496 | $104,855 | $148,894 |
| Virginia | 7 | $75,452 | $104,795 | $148,809 |
| Idaho | 3 | $75,453 | $104,795 | $148,809 |
| Utah | 4 | $74,824 | $103,923 | $147,570 |
| Florida | 22 | $74,754 | $103,825 | $147,432 |
| Arizona | 12 | $74,681 | $103,723 | $147,287 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $74,591 | $103,599 | $147,110 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $73,730 | $102,402 | $145,411 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $73,227 | $101,704 | $144,420 |
| Michigan | 6 | $73,143 | $101,588 | $144,255 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $73,107 | $101,538 | $144,184 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $72,954 | $101,325 | $143,882 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $71,791 | $99,710 | $141,588 |
| Alaska | 1 | $71,791 | $99,710 | $141,588 |
| Iowa | 2 | $71,791 | $99,710 | $141,588 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $71,791 | $99,710 | $141,588 |
| Montana | 1 | $71,791 | $99,710 | $141,588 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $70,810 | $98,347 | $139,653 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $70,715 | $98,215 | $139,465 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $70,706 | $98,203 | $139,448 |
| Texas | 40 | $70,610 | $98,070 | $139,259 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $70,373 | $97,741 | $138,792 |
| Georgia | 6 | $70,176 | $97,467 | $138,403 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $70,086 | $97,342 | $138,226 |
| Indiana | 3 | $69,901 | $97,084 | $137,860 |
| Alabama | 5 | $69,120 | $96,001 | $136,321 |
| Ohio | 6 | $68,967 | $95,788 | $136,019 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $68,920 | $95,722 | $135,925 |
| Maryland | 1 | $68,848 | $95,622 | $135,783 |
| Missouri | 4 | $68,794 | $95,547 | $135,677 |
| Kansas | 4 | $68,633 | $95,323 | $135,359 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $68,345 | $94,924 | $134,792 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $67,986 | $94,425 | $134,084 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $63,607 | $88,343 | $125,447 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $60,664 | $84,255 | $119,642 |
The state salary map for Physical Therapists: Hawaii at $135,007, California at $121,300, Massachusetts at $116,935 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($84,255), Arkansas ($88,343), Nebraska ($94,425) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $50,752.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Santa Clara ($197,825 nominal, 198 cost index) delivers $99,912 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanside California | $146,075 | 146 | $100,051 | $87,372 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $197,825 | 198 | $99,912 | $115,390 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $150,861 | 151 | $99,908 | $96,494 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $168,809 | 169 | $99,887 | $99,887 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $176,786 | 177 | $99,879 | $104,278 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $183,766 | 184 | $99,873 | $108,121 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $168,709 | 169 | $99,828 | $122,270 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $160,433 | 161 | $99,648 | $95,276 |
| 9 | Los Angeles California | $146,474 | 147 | $99,642 | $87,591 |
| 10 | Anaheim California | $145,477 | 146 | $99,642 | $87,043 |
The $74,396 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Physical Therapist career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Healthcare sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Physical Therapists is $106,280 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $76,521, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $150,917.
The highest-paying city for Physical Therapists is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $197,825. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($197,825), Irvine ($183,766), San Francisco ($180,176). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Physical Therapist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $82,460. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Physical Therapists (10th percentile) average $76,521 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $142,434. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Physical Therapists average $150,917 nationally — $74,396 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Physical Therapists can earn up to $280,912.
The top-paying states for Physical Therapists are Hawaii ($135,007 median), California ($121,300 median), Massachusetts ($116,935 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Physical Therapist involves DPT degree. The field is in the Healthcare sector (Healthcare), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically clinical.
With a national median of $106,280 and representation across 288 metro areas, Physical Therapist offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $74,396 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.