Contents
Physical Therapist Salary
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $26.74 | $32.19 | $38.39 | $44.64 | $53.86 |
| Annual Wage | $55,600 | $67,000 | $79,900 | $92,900 | $112,000 |
How much does a physical therapist make? Physical therapists are members of the medical community who assist patients with injuries or illnesses through rehabilitation. They often assess patients and then devise a treatment plan consisting of exercises and other types of rehabilitative therapy. The types of patients physical therapists work with include those who are recovering from injuries or strokes, patients suffering from neurological conditions, and many others who have ailments that require physical rehabilitation. To become a physical therapist, one must attain a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. This typically involves graduating with a bachelor’s degree, and then completing another 3 years in a doctor of physical therapy program.
Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2012 the median salary for physical therapists was $79,860. The top 10 percent in the field commanded a salary of $112,020 or more. Those physical therapists who earned in the lowest 10 percent made $55,620 or less.
Variables Impacting Salary
Physical therapists who work in home health care and nursing homes earn the highest salaries in the industry. Additionally, becoming certified in a specialized area of the field can further increase earnings.
Geographic Location and Salary
Where a physical therapist is employed can also dictate earnings. Areas in the United States with larger populations have more of a need for physical therapy services and will often increase a physical therapist salary. However, there is also a need for therapists in less populated places. These places will sometimes offer large salaries in order to attract qualified physical therapists.
Schedule and Work Environment
The majority of physical therapists are employed full time in hospitals, physical therapy clinics, nursing homes, and in home health care. Physical therapists can expect to work a regular Monday through Friday schedule, but many clinics are open in the evening and on the weekends to accommodate patients.
Job Outlook
The field of physical therapy is rapidly expanding, and a 36 percent increase in the number of positions available is expected by 2022. Rehabilitation treatments are one reason for the fast growth in the profession, since more people will survive traumatic injuries due to advances in medicine, and they will need physical therapy during the recovery process. In addition, the baby boomer generation is getting older but are maintaining an active lifestyle. As a result, they will require more physical therapy services. Another reason for the additional jobs available in physical therapy is the new health insurance legislation. This will make physical therapy available to more people in the United States who did not have access previously.
Top Paying Industries
| Industry | Employment | % of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean salary |
| Other Schools and Instruction | – | – | $44.47 | $92,500 |
| Home Health Care Services | 23,970 | 1.98 | $43.84 | $91,190 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | 12,060 | 0.73 | $41.95 | $87,250 |
| Individual and Family Services | 1,440 | 0.10 | $41.38 | $86,070 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | 1,530 | 0.19 | $40.89 | $85,060 |
Salary By State
| State | 10% | 25% | Median | 75% | 90% | Jobs (2010) | Jobs (2020) | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $54,600 | $66,500 | $79,900 | $95,600 | $113,100 | 1,950 | 2,810 | +44% |
| Alaska | $65,300 | $76,900 | $89,000 | $106,400 | $120,500 | 400 | 530 | +33% |
| Arizona | $56,400 | $66,100 | $77,200 | $92,000 | $114,800 | 3,610 | 4,970 | +38% |
| Arkansas | $45,900 | $60,200 | $75,800 | $91,200 | $109,000 | 1,610 | 1,800 | +12% |
| California | $65,900 | $78,300 | $88,700 | $101,900 | $115,500 | 16,500 | 20,400 | +24% |
| Colorado | $50,300 | $61,000 | $71,300 | $85,300 | $101,600 | 3,700 | 5,050 | +37% |
| Connecticut | $61,000 | $70,100 | $82,300 | $93,700 | $116,200 | 3,750 | 4,540 | +21% |
| Delaware | $63,500 | $69,200 | $79,300 | $95,100 | $118,700 | 630 | 840 | +33% |
| District of Columbia | $61,400 | $68,400 | $80,600 | $94,300 | $110,100 | 390 | 480 | +21% |
| Florida | $53,500 | $67,800 | $81,500 | $93,600 | $117,000 | 12,790 | 16,040 | +26% |
| Georgia | $59,000 | $68,500 | $80,700 | $92,000 | $106,700 | 3,130 | 3,990 | +28% |
| Hawaii | $63,000 | $70,100 | $79,800 | $88,700 | $94,200 | 770 | 970 | +25% |
| Idaho | $45,400 | $61,100 | $72,900 | $85,300 | $93,800 | 1,030 | 1,450 | +41% |
| Illinois | $49,000 | $62,700 | $76,700 | $92,300 | $113,100 | 8,190 | 9,880 | +21% |
| Iowa | $56,700 | $65,100 | $74,500 | $89,000 | $104,800 | 1,680 | 2,230 | +33% |
| Kansas | $49,700 | $63,600 | $74,600 | $88,000 | $102,300 | 1,680 | 2,240 | +34% |
| Kentucky | $61,700 | $70,100 | $82,100 | $92,500 | $109,600 | 2,530 | 3,490 | +38% |
| Louisiana | $45,300 | $63,900 | $79,500 | $93,600 | $116,800 | 2,380 | 3,170 | +33% |
| Maine | $56,200 | $65,300 | $74,700 | $88,300 | $104,600 | 1,400 | 1,600 | +15% |
| Maryland | $60,000 | $71,500 | $84,500 | $96,200 | $115,700 | 4,220 | 5,670 | +35% |
| Massachusetts | $57,200 | $67,700 | $80,200 | $91,000 | $103,400 | 7,290 | 9,190 | +26% |
| Michigan | $48,500 | $65,700 | $78,900 | $91,600 | $112,800 | 7,210 | 9,110 | +26% |
| Minnesota | $57,300 | $65,400 | $74,300 | $85,600 | $93,500 | 3,530 | 4,690 | +33% |
| Mississippi | $51,200 | $63,900 | $76,600 | $92,000 | $114,300 | 1,950 | 2,270 | +17% |
| Missouri | $52,500 | $61,400 | $72,500 | $85,600 | $94,900 | 4,500 | 5,260 | +17% |
| Montana | $45,000 | $59,400 | $68,400 | $76,600 | $89,000 | 930 | 1,300 | +40% |
| Nebraska | $51,700 | $62,700 | $73,700 | $88,800 | $103,700 | 1,460 | 1,820 | +25% |
| Nevada | $66,900 | $79,000 | $98,200 | $122,200 | $178,400 | 1,400 | 1,790 | +28% |
| New Hampshire | $56,300 | $64,800 | $72,800 | $86,000 | $97,100 | 1,400 | 1,810 | +29% |
| New Jersey | $65,000 | $74,800 | $88,300 | $105,400 | $120,000 | 7,070 | 7,960 | +13% |
| New Mexico | $56,600 | $69,600 | $82,800 | $93,100 | $107,700 | 1,080 | 1,430 | +32% |
| New York | $54,500 | $65,200 | $76,600 | $92,000 | $110,500 | 14,970 | 19,180 | +28% |
| North Carolina | $58,800 | $66,100 | $75,600 | $88,500 | $98,800 | 5,110 | 6,060 | +19% |
| North Dakota | $43,400 | $57,200 | $67,000 | $73,700 | $81,400 | 570 | 690 | +22% |
| Ohio | $60,300 | $68,000 | $79,400 | $91,500 | $109,100 | 7,390 | 9,050 | +22% |
| Oklahoma | $43,800 | $64,000 | $78,700 | $91,900 | $112,100 | 1,990 | 2,620 | +32% |
| Oregon | $62,400 | $69,400 | $79,700 | $89,100 | $95,000 | 2,270 | 3,030 | 0% |
| Pennsylvania | $51,900 | $63,400 | $74,700 | $89,200 | $104,900 | 9,870 | 11,850 | +20% |
| Rhode Island | $63,600 | $69,800 | $81,100 | $95,500 | $116,400 | 1,130 | 1,370 | +21% |
| South Carolina | $50,500 | $62,300 | $74,400 | $88,500 | $103,200 | 2,900 | 3,950 | +36% |
| South Dakota | $53,600 | $61,800 | $69,700 | $77,500 | $89,600 | 750 | 920 | +23% |
| Tennessee | $55,300 | $66,300 | $78,400 | $90,300 | $102,100 | 4,840 | 6,210 | +28% |
| Texas | $58,200 | $71,300 | $85,800 | $105,100 | $134,400 | 12,370 | 16,510 | +33% |
| Utah | $54,500 | $64,700 | $74,800 | $89,200 | $108,700 | 1,360 | 2,000 | +47% |
| Vermont | $53,400 | $62,600 | $70,100 | $79,900 | $94,000 | 770 | 920 | +20% |
| Virginia | $56,500 | $68,300 | $82,000 | $94,400 | $114,000 | 4,840 | 6,710 | +39% |
| Washington | $62,000 | $69,200 | $80,200 | $91,100 | $103,700 | 4,410 | 5,630 | +28% |
| West Virginia | $51,700 | $66,000 | $80,300 | $92,900 | $112,500 | 1,140 | 1,420 | +26% |
| Wisconsin | $59,200 | $67,200 | $77,800 | $89,300 | $97,400 | 4,470 | 5,520 | +24% |
| Wyoming | $56,300 | $66,600 | $78,700 | $91,400 | $108,400 | 430 | 560 | +31% |
