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.
Physical Therapist Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Physical Therapists earn a median of $102,760 per year ($49.40/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 10.9% through 2034, with about 13,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
SOC 29-1123Healthcare Practitioners and TechnicalLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $102,760
- Projected growth
- +10.9%
- Openings a year
- 13,200
- Typical education
- Doctorate
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
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).
How much do Physical Therapists make?
10th percentile$77,140
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$86,160
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$102,760
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$121,160
Upper quartile
90th percentile$135,140
Top-paid tenth
| 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
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $97,870, this is 5% above the group median.
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 81% of the 923 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.
Which states pay Physical Therapists the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $124,190 | $112,166 | 26,580 |
| Alaska | $115,280 | $112,623 | 680 |
| New Jersey | $112,140 | $103,065 | 9,750 |
| Nevada | $111,250 | $111,273 | 2,030 |
| Maryland | $106,890 | $101,840 | 3,940 |
| New Mexico | $106,880 | $115,907 | 1,330 |
| Washington | $105,950 | $99,007 | 5,370 |
| Texas | $105,810 | $109,018 | 21,870 |
| Illinois | $105,250 | $105,294 | 9,800 |
| Connecticut | $104,360 | $100,724 | 4,060 |
Is Physical Therapist a growing career?
Physical Therapists10.9%
All US occupations3.1%
+10.9% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Physical Therapists to change 10.9% over 2024–2034, roughly 3.5× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 29,300 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 13,200 openings are projected each year, 4.9% of the 267,200 jobs that existed in 2024. 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
| Typical entry-level education | Doctoral or professional degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Considerable preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
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 degree)6.3%
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, in a climate-controlled space, every day
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
- Dealing with customers or the public is very important
Pressure and stakes
- Meeting strict deadlines at least weekly
Autonomy
- A lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where physical therapists work
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | 34% |
|---|---|
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 28% |
| Home healthcare services | 11% |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | 6% |
| Self-employed workers | 4% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Writing3.9/5
- Monitoring3.9/5
- Active Learning3.1/5
- Learning Strategies3.1/5
Transferable skills
- Social Perceptiveness4.0/5
- Service Orientation4.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8/5
- Time Management3.6/5
- Instructing3.4/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4/5
- Coordination3.3/5
- Systems Analysis3.1/5
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.
What personality type suits a Physical Therapist?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary4.3
Investigativeprimary4.9
Artistic2.2
Socialprimary5.9
Enterprising2.5
Conventional3.1
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.
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.
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.
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 10.9% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 13,200 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.
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 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 923 occupations 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.