The median pay for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians is $265,930 a year ($127.85/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.4% through 2035, with about 9,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 29-1229
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician in four numbers
- Median pay
- $265,930a year, or $127.85/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $69KTop 10% $452K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.4%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 9,400367,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025367.4K
- Projected 2035380.1K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 367.4K Projected 2035 380.1K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Bachelor's0.8%
- Professional degree1.3%
- Doctorate54.9%
- Post-doctoral training43.1%
Highest education held by physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians Segment Value Bachelor's 0.8% Professional degree 1.3% Doctorate 54.9% Post-doctoral training 43.1%
Also advertised as: Acute Rehabilitation Unit Physiatrist, Attending Physician, EDX Medicine MD (Electrodiagnostic Medicine Medical Doctor), MD (Medical Doctor), Pain Management Physician, Pediatric Physiatrist.
Pay
How much do physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians make?
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians earn a median of $265,930 a year ($127.85 an hour, or about $22,160 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $69,170 and the top 10% more than $452,360 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is North Dakota, with a median of $454,550. See Physical medicine and rehabilitation physician salary in North Dakota and every other state. By city, pay is highest around Fort Smith ($238,990 average).
Every physical medicine and rehabilitation physician in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$265,930
Middle half earn $102,930 to $378,770
- 10th
- $69,170
- 25th
- $102,930
- 75th
- $378,770
- 90th
- $452,360
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $69,170 |
| 25th | $102,930 |
| Median | $265,930 |
| 75th | $378,770 |
| 90th | $452,360 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $265,930
- Median hourly wage
- $127.85/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $262,040
- People employed
- 342,720
Versus all US occupations
At $265,930, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians earn 422% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $214,950 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 159% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $452,360 or more while the bottom 10% earn $69,170, a gap of 6.5×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 98% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
North Dakota pays the most at $454,550, and still leads at $510,966 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1North Dakota | $454,550 | $510,966 | 740 |
| 2Montana | $438,850 | $463,680 | 580 |
| 3Maine | $419,410 | $432,159 | 1,340 |
| 4Wisconsin | $391,740 | $416,324 | 6,350 |
| 5Minnesota | $367,320 | $372,456 | 5,350 |
| 6Indiana | $366,190 | $392,365 | 6,760 |
| 7New Hampshire | $361,300 | $346,854 | 1,000 |
| 8Alaska | $355,100 | $346,916 | 270 |
| 9Louisiana | $350,920 | $397,837 | 4,740 |
| 10Oregon | $347,180 | $335,891 | 4,130 |
Job outlook
Is physical medicine and rehabilitation physician a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians | +3.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians to change 3.4% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 12,600 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 9,400 openings are projected each year, 2.6% of the 367,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of physicians and surgeons varies by occupation (see table). An increasing number of older adults, who are more likely than younger people to experience health problems and to need complex care, is expected to drive overall employment growth for physicians and surgeons.
In addition, increasing rates of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, will result in continued reliance on physicians and surgeons by large numbers of people seeking medical care.
AI exposure: high
BLS places this occupation in its high relative AI exposure category, above the middle of the pack: a substantial share of the work overlaps with what AI can do.
Getting in
How to become a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician
Physicians and surgeons typically need a bachelor’s degree as well as a degree from a medical school, which takes an additional 4 years to complete. Depending on their specialty, they also need 3 to 9 years in internship and residency programs. Subspecialization includes additional training in a fellowship of 1 to 3 years.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Internship/residency
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Extensive preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians.
- Doctoral Degree54.9%
- Post-Doctoral Training43.1%
- First Professional Degree1.3%
- Bachelor's Degree0.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 54.9% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 43.1% |
| First Professional Degree | 1.3% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 0.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician do?
Diagnose and treat disorders requiring physiotherapy to provide physical, mental, and occupational rehabilitation.
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance. Physicians examine patients; take medical histories; prescribe medications; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. They often counsel patients on diet, hygiene, and preventive healthcare. Surgeons operate on patients to treat injuries, such as broken bones; diseases, such as cancerous tumors; and deformities, such as cleft palates.
There are two types of physicians, with similar degrees: M.D. (Medical Doctor) and D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). Both use the same methods of treatment, including drugs and surgery, but D.O.s place additional emphasis on the body's musculoskeletal system, preventive medicine, and holistic (whole-person) patient care. D.O.s are most likely to be primary care physicians, although they work in all specialties.
Day-to-day tasks
- Document examination results, treatment plans, and patients' outcomes.
- Examine patients to assess mobility, strength, communication, or cognition.
- Develop comprehensive plans for immediate and long-term rehabilitation, including therapeutic exercise, speech and occupational therapy, counseling, cognitive retraining, patient, family or caregiver education, or community reintegration.
- Assess characteristics of patients' pain, such as intensity, location, or duration, using standardized clinical measures.
- Provide inpatient or outpatient medical management of neuromuscular disorders, musculoskeletal trauma, acute and chronic pain, deformity or amputation, cardiac or pulmonary disease, or other disabling conditions.
- Consult or coordinate with other rehabilitative professionals, including physical and occupational therapists, rehabilitation nurses, speech pathologists, neuropsychologists, behavioral psychologists, social workers, or medical technicians.
- Prescribe orthotic and prosthetic applications and adaptive equipment, such as wheelchairs, bracing, or communication devices, to maximize patient function and self-sufficiency.
- Diagnose or treat performance-related conditions, such as sports injuries or repetitive-motion injuries.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most physicians and surgeons work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week. Many physicians and surgeons work long shifts, which may include irregular and overnight hours or being on call. Physicians and surgeons may travel between their offices and the hospital to care for patients. While on call, a physician may need to address a patient’s concerns over the phone or make an emergency visit to another location, such as a nursing home.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Writing3.9
- Monitoring3.9
- Active Learning3.8
- Science3.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Writing | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Science | 3.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness4.0
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0
- Coordination3.9
- Instructing3.8
- Service Orientation3.8
- Time Management3.8
- Systems Evaluation3.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 |
| Coordination | 3.9 |
| Instructing | 3.8 |
| Service Orientation | 3.8 |
| Time Management | 3.8 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Medical software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Electronic mail software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician?
Women make up 41.7% of physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, against 47.1% of all employed people: more men than in the workforce as a whole.
25.1% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs.
The median worker is 45.6 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 41.7%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 45.6All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 25.1%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 929,000Other physicians · BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 41.7% | 47.1% |
| White | 65.5% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 5.6% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 25.5% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.6% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 25.1% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 0.0% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%. CPS reports this occupation only within the wider Census group “Other physicians”, so these figures are for that group.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 6 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Investigative6.3
- Social6.0
- Realistic4.9
- Conventional3.0
- Artistic1.9
- Enterprising1.7
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician$265,930
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician | $265,930 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician appears on
Questions
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician: frequently asked questions
How much do physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians make?
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians earn a median of $265,930 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 422% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $127.85/hr. The middle half earn between $102,930 and $378,770. The top 10% earn $452,360 or more.
How much do physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians make an hour?
The median hourly wage for physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians is $127.85 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $265,930 annual median works out to about $22,160 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians earn less than $69,170 a year and the bottom quarter less than $102,930 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians make $100k?
Yes, more often than not. The median is $265,930, so more than half of physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians earn over $100,000 a year; even the 25th percentile is $102,930 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). In 51 states the median itself is above $100,000: North Dakota ($454,550), Montana ($438,850), Maine ($419,410), Wisconsin ($391,740), and 47 more.
Which states pay physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians the most?
The highest state medians for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians are North Dakota ($454,550), Montana ($438,850), Maine ($419,410) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of physical medicine and rehabilitation physician earns the most?
BLS does not split physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $452,360, against a median of $265,930 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are North Dakota ($454,550), Montana ($438,850), Maine ($419,410).
Do you need a degree to become a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians. BLS also lists internship/residency as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 54.9% hold doctoral degree.
How long does it take to become a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians is a doctoral or professional degree. Once hired, BLS lists internship/residency as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing extensive preparation.
Is physical medicine and rehabilitation physician a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.4% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 9,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician do?
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance. A core O*NET task: document examination results, treatment plans, and patients' outcomes. Employers most often ask for Medical software, Word processing software.
Do physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians work 40 hours a week?
Most work more than 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 75% of physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians usually work more than 40 hours a week, 25% work exactly 40 and 0% work fewer. 92% say their schedule is regular and 8% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician?
O*NET scores Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians highest on the Investigative, Social and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFP, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians are women?
Women make up 41.7% of physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, against 47.1% of all employed people: more men than in the workforce as a whole. 25.1% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs. The median worker is 45.6 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages, for the Census group "Other physicians".