Physical Therapists earn a median of $102,760 per year ($49.40/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 11.9% through 2035, with about 13,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 29-1123
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Physical Therapist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $102,760a year, or $49.40/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $77KTop 10% $135K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +11.9%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+11.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +11.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 13,400283,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025283.7K
- Projected 2035317.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 283.7K Projected 2035 317.6K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Associate's6.3%
- Bachelor's8.3%
- Master's38.3%
- Doctorate47.1%
Highest education held by physical therapists Segment Value Associate's 6.3% Bachelor's 8.3% Master's 38.3% Doctorate 47.1%
Also advertised as: Acute Care PT (Acute Care Physical Therapist), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Home Care Physical Therapist (Home Care PT), Inpatient Physical Therapist (Inpatient PT), Outpatient Physical Therapist (Outpatient PT), Pediatric Physical Therapist (Pediatric PT).
Pay
How much do physical therapists make?
Physical Therapists earn a median of $102,760 a year ($49.40 an hour, or about $8,560 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $77,140 and the top 10% more than $135,140 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is California, with a median of $124,190. See Physical therapist salary in California and every other state. By city, pay is highest around San Francisco ($145,040 average): salary in every city. Choosing between jobs? Compare pay side by side in OT vs PT.
Every physical therapist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$102,760
Middle half earn $86,160 to $121,160
- 10th
- $77,140
- 25th
- $86,160
- 75th
- $121,160
- 90th
- $135,140
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $77,140 |
| 25th | $86,160 |
| Median | $102,760 |
| 75th | $121,160 |
| 90th | $135,140 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $102,760
- Median hourly wage
- $49.40/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $105,280
- People employed
- 267,330
Versus all US occupations
At $102,760, Physical Therapists earn 102% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $51,780 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
The median is typical for the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $135,140 or more while the bottom 10% earn $77,140, a gap of 1.8×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 77% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($124,190), but once local prices are taken into account New Mexico leads at $115,907 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay physical therapists 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $124,190 | $112,166 | 26,580 |
| 2Alaska | $115,280 | $112,623 | 680 |
| 3New Jersey | $112,140 | $103,065 | 9,750 |
| 4Nevada | $111,250 | $111,273 | 2,030 |
| 5Maryland | $106,890 | $101,840 | 3,940 |
| 6New Mexico | $106,880 | $115,907 | 1,330 |
| 7Washington | $105,950 | $99,007 | 5,370 |
| 8Texas | $105,810 | $109,018 | 21,870 |
| 9Illinois | $105,250 | $105,294 | 9,800 |
| 10Connecticut | $104,360 | $100,724 | 4,060 |
Job outlook
Is physical therapist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +11.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapists | +11.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Physical Therapists to change 11.9% over 2025–2035, roughly 3.4× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 33,800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 13,400 openings are projected each year, 4.7% of the 283,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
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.
Demand for physical therapy will come, in large part, from the growing size of the older adult population. Older people are more likely to experience heart attacks, strokes, and mobility-related disabilities and injuries that require physical therapy as part of their rehabilitation.
In addition, a number of chronic conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, and musculoskeletal disorders (such as back pain and arthritis) have become prevalent. More physical therapists will be needed to help people with these conditions maintain their mobility and manage symptoms.
A greater emphasis on nonopioid approaches to manage pain also is expected to support employment growth.
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 therapist
Practicing as a physical therapist in the US requires a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from a CAPTE-accredited program, a passing score on the National Physical Therapy Examination, and a license from the state you work in. More than half of states add a jurisprudence exam on that state's own practice act.
The credential path, step by step
- Complete a bachelor's degree with PT prerequisites4 years
Physical therapy programs typically require a bachelor's degree plus prerequisite courses such as anatomy, chemistry and physics. The degree subject is often in a healthcare-related or recreation and fitness field, but it is the prerequisites that gate admission.
- Earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy from a CAPTE-accredited program3 years
Coursework covers biomechanics, neuroscience and pharmacology, alongside supervised clinical work in areas such as acute care and orthopaedic care. Graduating from a CAPTE-accredited program is what makes you eligible for the NPTE.
- Pass the National Physical Therapy Examination
Registered and administered through FSBPT once your jurisdiction has approved your eligibility. The NPTE measures entry-level competence and gives licensing boards a standard that is comparable across jurisdictions.
- Pass your state's jurisprudence exam if it requires one
More than half of states require a jurisprudence exam for initial licensure. It tests the practice act and rules of that specific state, so it does not transfer if you later move.
- Apply to the state board for licensure
The board sets the remaining requirements, which in some states include a criminal background check. License renewal then carries state-set continuing-education requirements.
Exams you have to pass
National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE)
Assesses basic entry-level competence after graduation from an accredited physical therapist program. Taken once you have graduated (or are graduating) and have been made eligible by the jurisdiction where you are seeking licensure. The NPTE is only one part of the evaluation a licensing authority carries out.
Administered by Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).
A test of the laws and rules of the state you want to practice in, rather than of clinical knowledge. FSBPT states that more than 50 percent of states require a jurisprudence exam for initial licensure.
Administered by State licensing authority; FSBPT develops and administers the exam for some jurisdictions and runs Jurisprudence Assessment Module (JAM) services for others.
- How long the training takes
3 years
DPT programs typically last 3 years, entered after a bachelor's degree and prerequisite coursework in subjects such as anatomy, chemistry and physics.
- Continuing education
Required to stay credentialed
Continuing education is typically required to keep a physical therapist license, but the number of hours and which activities count are set by each state board, not by a single national standard.
- Program accreditation
CAPTE · Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
CAPTE is the only agency recognized by the US Department of Education and CHEA to accredit entry-level physical therapist education programs. State licensing authorities require, at minimum, that a candidate has graduated from a program meeting CAPTE's accreditation standards (or an education judged substantially equivalent) before they may sit the NPTE.
Licensing and state variation
Licensed state by state
Every state requires a license and a passing NPTE score, so the exam itself does not vary. What varies is everything around it: more than half of states also require a jurisprudence exam on their own practice act, some require a criminal background check, and continuing-education requirements for renewal are set state by state rather than nationally.
Who governs the credential
- Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
Develops, maintains and administers the National Physical Therapy Examination on behalf of the state licensing authorities, and administers jurisprudence exams for some jurisdictions.
Credential detail for physical therapists is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Physical Therapists (How to Become One) · checked August 23, 2026
- CAPTE, About CAPTE · checked August 23, 2026
- FSBPT, National Exam (NPTE) · checked August 23, 2026
- FSBPT, Jurisprudence Exam · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Physical therapists entering the occupation need a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. All states require physical therapists to be licensed.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 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 therapists.
- Doctoral Degree47.1%
- Master's Degree38.3%
- Bachelor's Degree8.3%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree6.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 47.1% |
| Master's Degree | 38.3% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 8.3% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 6.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a physical therapist do?
Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.
Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain. They are often an important part of preventive care, rehabilitation, and treatment for patients with chronic conditions, illnesses, or injuries.
Day-to-day tasks
- Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
- Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
- Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
- Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
- Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
- Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
- Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
- Test and measure patient's strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, or respiratory or circulatory efficiency and record data.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most physical therapists work full time, although part time work is common. They usually work during normal business hours, but some work evenings or weekends.
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 importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict 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.
Where physical therapists work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists36%
- Hospitals; state, local, and private26%
- Home healthcare services11%
- Nursing and residential care facilities6%
- Self-employed workers4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | 36% |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 26% |
| Home healthcare services | 11% |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | 6% |
| Self-employed workers | 4% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Writing3.9
- Monitoring3.9
- Active Learning3.1
- Learning Strategies3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Writing | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness4.0
- Service Orientation4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Time Management3.6
- Instructing3.4
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Coordination3.3
- Systems Analysis3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 |
| Service Orientation | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Time Management | 3.6 |
| Instructing | 3.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 |
| Coordination | 3.3 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Accounting software
- Action games
- Analytical or scientific software
- Calendar and scheduling 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 therapist?
Women make up 66.9% of physical therapists, against 47.1% of all employed people: more women than in the workforce as a whole.
Only 16.9% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce.
The median worker is 41.9 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 66.9%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 41.9All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 16.9%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 338,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of physical therapists | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 66.9% | 47.1% |
| White | 78.3% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 3.3% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 13.5% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.8% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 16.9% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 3.3% | 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%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a physical therapist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Physical Therapist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| 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 teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Social5.9
- Investigative4.9
- Realistic4.3
- Conventional3.1
- Enterprising2.5
- Artistic2.2
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 Therapist
Physical Therapist compared with
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Support
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician
$265,930median a year
Most earn $69K to $452K
+3.4%Doctorate - Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Support
- Healthcare Support
- Healthcare Support
More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with physical therapists highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- 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
- Pharmacy Technician$45,750
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| 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 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $45,750 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within physical therapist
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Physical Therapist appears on
Questions
Physical Therapist: frequently asked questions
How much do physical therapists make?
Physical Therapists earn a median of $102,760 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 102% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $49.40/hr. The middle half earn between $86,160 and $121,160. The top 10% earn $135,140 or more.
How much do physical therapists make an hour?
The median hourly wage for physical therapists is $49.40 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $102,760 annual median works out to about $8,560 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a physical therapist?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of physical therapists earn less than $77,140 a year and the bottom quarter less than $86,160 (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 therapists make $100k?
Yes, more often than not. The median is $102,760, so more than half of physical therapists earn over $100,000 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). In 31 states the median itself is above $100,000: California ($124,190), Alaska ($115,280), New Jersey ($112,140), Nevada ($111,250), and 27 more.
Which states pay physical therapists the most?
The highest state medians for Physical Therapists are California ($124,190), Alaska ($115,280), New Jersey ($112,140) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, New Mexico moves to the top at $115,907.
What kind of physical therapist earns the most?
BLS does not split physical therapists' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $135,140, against a median of $102,760 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are California ($124,190), Alaska ($115,280), New Jersey ($112,140). BLS also counts a specialty career inside this occupation (pelvic floor physical therapist), which shares its federal pay figures.
Do you need a degree to become a physical therapist?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Physical Therapists. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 47.1% hold doctoral degree.
Is physical therapist a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 11.9% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 13,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a physical therapist do?
Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain. A core O*NET task: plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Medical software, Office suite software.
Do physical therapists work 40 hours a week?
Yes, for most. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 11% of physical therapists usually work more than 40 hours a week, 54% work exactly 40 and 35% work fewer. 88% say their schedule is regular and 12% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a physical therapist?
O*NET scores Physical Therapists highest on the Social, Investigative and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFJ, ISFP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
How long does it take to become a physical therapist?
3 years. DPT programs typically last 3 years, entered after a bachelor's degree and prerequisite coursework in subjects such as anatomy, chemistry and physics.
Do you need a license to work as a physical therapist?
Yes, and it is issued by the state you work in, not nationally. Every state requires a license and a passing NPTE score, so the exam itself does not vary. What varies is everything around it: more than half of states also require a jurisprudence exam on their own practice act, some require a criminal background check, and continuing-education requirements for renewal are set state by state rather than nationally.
What exams do you have to pass to become a physical therapist?
The NPTE (National Physical Therapy Examination) and the Jurisprudence exam. Assesses basic entry-level competence after graduation from an accredited physical therapist program. Taken once you have graduated (or are graduating) and have been made eligible by the jurisdiction where you are seeking licensure. The NPTE is only one part of the evaluation a licensing authority carries out.
What percentage of physical therapists are women?
Women make up 66.9% of physical therapists, against 47.1% of all employed people: more women than in the workforce as a whole. Only 16.9% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce. The median worker is 41.9 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.