How Much Do Physical Therapists Make? Salary by State (2026)

“How much do physical therapists make?” is an important question given the significant educational investment required for this career. Physical therapists (PTs) earn strong salaries relative to many healthcare professions, but pay varies meaningfully by state, practice setting, specialization, and experience. This guide presents verified BLS wage data for physical therapists across every state and puts earning potential in context with licensing requirements.

National Salary Overview

According to BLS data (May 2024), the national median annual wage for physical therapists is $0. Physical therapy is one of the higher-paying allied health professions, reflecting the doctoral-level education (DPT) required for entry into the field.

Physical Therapist Salary by State

The table below shows physical therapist wages across all states with available BLS data, sorted by median annual salary from highest to lowest.

Top 10 Highest-Paying States for Physical Therapists

These states offer the highest median annual wages for physical therapists according to BLS data:

Licensing Cost vs. Earning Potential

Physical therapy requires a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, which represents a significant educational investment. However, once you have your DPT, the state licensing costs (exam fees + application fees) are relatively modest. The NPTE exam fee and state-specific licensing fees are a small fraction of the national median salary of $0. The more relevant ROI calculation involves education costs vs. lifetime earnings — and physical therapy ranks favorably among doctoral-level healthcare professions on this measure.

Our database tracks licensing costs across 51 states. See your state’s specific fees on our physical therapist requirements page.

Factors That Affect Physical Therapist Pay

1. Practice Setting

Physical therapists work in a variety of settings — outpatient clinics, hospitals, home health agencies, skilled nursing facilities, schools, and sports medicine clinics. Home health and travel PT positions often command the highest per-visit or hourly rates. Hospital-based positions typically offer strong benefits packages. Outpatient private practice offers ownership potential with higher income ceilings.

2. Location

As the state data demonstrates, geography is a significant factor in PT compensation. States with higher costs of living tend to pay more, but purchasing power varies. Rural areas with PT shortages may offer competitive wages plus signing bonuses or loan repayment incentives to attract practitioners.

3. Specialization

Board-certified clinical specialists (orthopedic, sports, neurologic, pediatric, geriatric, and others) often command higher salaries. Specialization demonstrates advanced expertise and can open doors to leadership roles, academic positions, and consulting opportunities.

4. Experience

New graduate PTs typically start near the 25th percentile, with meaningful salary growth over the first 5–10 years. Experienced PTs in management or clinic director roles, or those with large caseloads in private practice, can earn well above the 75th percentile.

5. Travel and Contract Work

Travel physical therapists — who take short-term assignments in areas with staffing shortages — can earn significantly above market rates when factoring in housing stipends, travel reimbursements, and tax advantages. This is an increasingly popular option for PTs seeking both higher pay and geographic flexibility.

Get Started: Physical Therapist Licensing Requirements

Ready to get licensed as a physical therapist? Check your state’s specific licensing requirements, exam details, and fees:

Salary data on this page is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). Licensing cost data is from our verified state-by-state database. Actual earnings vary by location, experience, practice setting, and specialization. Visit bls.gov for the most current figures.