According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are more than 267,000 physical therapists (PTs) throughout the United States.1 Whether you’re learning how to become a physical therapist (PT) or you are a practicing PT, you may wonder what states offer the best physical therapist salary relative to their cost of living. Depending on your individual circumstances and future goals, the criteria for determining the best state for a physical therapist may vary.
Below, we review various metrics to help you see which states are ideal for physical therapists. We highlight the average physical therapy salary by state and list each state’s cost of living index and projected growth.
Table of Contents:
- What Do Physical Therapists Do?
- Key Findings
- Top 10 States for Physical Therapists
- Average Physical Therapist Salary by State
- Projected Job Growth for Physical Therapists by State
- Top-Paying Industries for Physical Therapists
- What Physical Therapists Treat
- Begin Your Physical Therapy Education Today
What Do Physical Therapists Do?
The primary job of a physical therapist is to help patients with injuries manage pain and regain range of motion in injured areas. Whether the injured area gets back to 100% or not, physical therapists help patients improve their quality of life.
Physical therapists work in various settings, including:
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Outpatient clinics
- Inpatient rehabilitation facilities
- Sports and fitness facilities
- Private practices
As a physical therapist, you listen to patients, address their concerns and help diagnose issues by monitoring their movements. By understanding the patient’s goals, you can prescribe exercises and stretches to help them return to the activities they enjoy.
Key Findings
- Physical therapy salary is important, but it’s one factor in identifying the best states for physical therapists. When looking at multiple data points, here are some key findings:
- California pays the most, with an average annual physical therapy salary of $122,580.1†
- The job outlook for physical therapists in Utah is bright. The state has the highest projected growth for physical therapist jobs: 34% by 2034.2
- The metropolitan/nonmetropolitan area with the highest concentration of physical therapists is New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, with 21,240 physical therapists.1
- The highest-paying industry for PTs is performing arts companies, with an average physical therapy salary of $126,850.1†
10 Best States for Physical Therapists
The following rankings include states with the highest average physical therapy salary and also consider the cost of living and expected employment growth. Of the top states, Texas has a projected employment growth of 18% by 2034 and an average physical therapy salary of $109,270. The national average PT salary is $105,280.1,2†
California is on the list due to a high average physical therapist salary of $122,580, the highest in our top 10 list. Meanwhile, Utah has the highest projected employment growth for PTs at 34% and an average physical therapy salary of $99,790.1,2† Utah is also in the top 20 states for the highest cost of living.3
Looking at physical therapy salary, projected employment growth and cost of living index score, here’s a breakdown of the top 10 states for physical therapists:
| State | Average Annual Salary1† | Projected Employment Growth by 20342 | Cost of Living Index Score3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $120,700 | 27% | 100.2 |
| Utah | $99,790 | 34% | 102.2 |
| Texas | $109,270 | 18% | 92.1 |
| Colorado | $103,870 | 26% | 102.7 |
| California | $122,580 | 26% | 142.3 |
| Arizona | $107,360 | 24% | 110.7 |
| Washington | $108,550 | 22% | 114.1 |
| Delaware | $108,470 | 17% | 101.9 |
| New Jersey | $114,550 | 17% | 115.1 |
| Oregon | $106,510 | 15% | 111.8 |
The 5 Worst States for Physical Therapists
It’s helpful to know the worst states for physical therapists. The worst states have a combination of low average salaries, high cost of living and a low projection for employment growth. Among the worst states on the list is Maine, with an annual average physical therapist salary of $97,950 and placed in the top 15 for the highest cost of living.1,3†
| State | Average Annual Salary1† | Projected Employment Growth by 20342 | Cost of Living Index Score3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $101,050 | 14% | 185 |
| Maine | $97,950 | 8% | 113 |
| Massachusetts | $106,900 | 7% | 141.2 |
| Vermont | $95,870 | 9% | 113.6 |
| Montana | $93,440 | 12% | 95.5 |
Average Physical Therapist Salary by State
If you are looking for the highest compensation, look at the highest-paying states for physical therapy. One of the best metrics you can look at is mean annual wage, or average.4 The state with the highest mean annual physical therapist salary is California, at $122,580, with Nevada and Alaska coming in second and third at $120,700 and $115,830, respectively.1†
| Top 15 States Based on Highest Salary | Annual Mean Salary1† |
|---|---|
| California | $122,580 |
| Nevada | $120,700 |
| Alaska | $115,830 |
| New Jersey | $114,550 |
| Washington, D.C. | $112,400 |
| Maryland | $110,700 |
| New Mexico | $110,060 |
| Texas | $109,270 |
| Illinois | $109,080 |
| Washington | $108,550 |
| Delaware | $108,470 |
| Arizona | $107,360 |
| Massachusetts | $106,900 |
| Oregon | $106,510 |
| Connecticut | $105,460 |
Projected Job Growth for Physical Therapists by State
Before choosing which state is best to pursue your PT career, it’s beneficial to understand the physical therapist job outlook in each state. O*Net highlights job growth for specific industries so you can assess how much the job market for physical therapists may grow by 2034.2 Utah expects to see a 34% growth by 2034, and states like Colorado, California and Mississippi have an expected job growth of 26% in the coming years.2
| State | Projected Employment Growth2 |
|---|---|
| Utah | 34% |
| Idaho | 28% |
| Nevada | 27% |
| California | 26% |
| Colorado | 26% |
| Mississippi | 26% |
| Arizona | 24% |
| Washington | 22% |
| West Virginia | 20% |
| Florida | 18% |
| Georgia | 18% |
| Texas | 18% |
| Washington D.C. | 18% |
| Arkansas | 17% |
| Delaware | 17% |
| Iowa | 17% |
| New Jersey | 17% |
| South Dakota | 17% |
| South Carolina | 16% |
| Minnesota | 15% |
| North Carolina | 15% |
| North Dakota | 15% |
| Oregon | 15% |
| Virginia | 15% |
| Wyoming | 15% |
| Hawaii | 14% |
| Nebraska | 13% |
| New Hampshire | 13% |
| Tennessee | 13% |
| Illinois | 12% |
| Maryland | 12% |
| Michigan | 12% |
| Montana | 12% |
| Kentucky | 11% |
| Indiana | 11% |
| Oklahoma | 11% |
| Wisconsin | 11% |
| Alaska | 10% |
| Connecticut | 10% |
| Kansas | 10% |
| Missouri | 10% |
| New Mexico | 10% |
| New York | 10% |
| Vermont | 9% |
| Maine | 8% |
| Rhode Island | 8% |
| Massachusetts | 7% |
| Pennsylvania | 7% |
| Alabama | 6% |
| Louisiana | 5% |
| Ohio | 5% |
The Top 5 States with the Highest Employment Levels
Projected growth is good information. You also want to know where physical therapists work. A state with fewer physical therapists and high projected growth may indicate a good state for work. However, if the job market is saturated with low projected growth, perhaps consider another state.
The following data is from BLS:
| State | Number of Employed Physical Therapists1 |
|---|---|
| California | 26,580 |
| Texas | 21,870 |
| New York | 20,940 |
| Florida | 16,290 |
| Pennsylvania | 11,710 |
The Top 5 Cities with the Highest Concentration of Employment
| Metropolitan/Nonmetropolitan Area | Number of Employed Physical Therapists1 |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 21,240 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 9,750 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 7,880 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 6,250 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 6,100 |
Top-Paying Industries for Physical Therapists
Physical therapists work in a range of industries, and the characteristics of a good physical therapist benefit each one. Each industry pays a different physical therapist salary by state, and this list shows which pays the most on average across the country. Performing arts companies pay the most, but you can also earn a decent wage in another industry as a physical therapist.1†
| Industry | Annual Mean Salary1† |
|---|---|
| Performing Arts Companies | $126,850 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $125,230 |
| Home Health Care Services | $118,250 |
| Other Residential Care Facilities | $116,260 |
| Insurance Carriers | $108,950 |
What Physical Therapists Treat
What you treat as a physical therapist may vary, but regardless of which state you live in, here are some of the common conditions PTs treat:5
- Sports-related injuries
- Skin conditions and injuries like burns
- Cardiopulmonary conditions
- Hand conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome
- Musculoskeletal dysfunction
Begin Your Physical Therapy Education Today
If you are looking for a career in physical therapy, start with a quality education. USAHS has over 40 years of experience as a physical therapy school and an extensive alumni network. Our programs can take between 2.3 and three years to complete.* We have Residential, Hybrid Immersion, and Flex Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) pathways that incorporate online and in-person learning to fit your lifestyle. To learn more about our program, request information today.
*Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, credits transferred and other factors.
†This data represents national figures, is not based on school-specific data and represents national median annual wages, not starting pay for recent grads. Conditions in your area may vary. USAHS does not guarantee salary levels.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which U.S. states pay physical therapists the most?
California, Nevada and Alaska currently rank among the highest-paying states for physical therapists, with average annual salaries of $122,580, $120,700 and $115,830, respectively. Keep in mind that cost of living varies widely by state, so a higher salary does not always mean more purchasing power. See the state-by-state table above to compare top salaries.
How much do physical therapists make by practice setting?
Performing arts companies pay the most on average at $126,850, followed by outpatient care centers at $125,230.1† Each setting comes with trade-offs, from productivity quotas in outpatient care to travel requirements in home health, as well as differences in benefits and scheduling flexibility.
What is the starting salary for a new-grad physical therapist?
Entry-level physical therapists typically start at $60,000-$75,000 nationally. Still, PT salaries may vary depending on location.6† New grads may earn more in higher-salary states like California and Nevada and less in states like Montana, while settings such as skilled nursing facilities and home health often offer higher pay up front.
PT vs. PTA: What’s the salary difference?
Physical therapists earn a median annual salary of about $105,280 compared with about $60,050 for physical therapist assistants (PTAs).1,7† The difference reflects the education required: PTs earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree while PTAs typically complete an associate degree. Learn more about the differences between PTs and PTAs.
Is a physical therapy career worth the cost of a DPT degree?
With a median salary of $105,280 and projected job growth of 5%-34% by state, physical therapy offers strong long-term earning potential relative to the investment in a DPT program.1,2† Explore DPT program costs, financial aid and PSLF options to get a better sense of the investment.
Which physical therapy specialties pay the most?
Performing arts companies pay the most on average at $126,850, and board-certified specialists in orthopedics, sports or pelvic health can command premiums.1† Learn more about physical therapy specialties and certifications.
Sources
- ,“Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), May 15, 2026, https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm.
- “National Employment Trends: 29-1123.00 – Physical Therapists,” O*NET OnLine, August 25, 2026, https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/29-1123.00?st=.
- “Cost of Living Index by State 2026,” World Population Review, 2026, https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/cost-of-living-index-by-state.
- “Mean vs. Median,” Diffen, https://www.diffen.com/difference/Mean_vs_Median.
- Smith, L., “How Does Physical Therapy Help?” Medical News Today, January 11, 2024, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/160645#common-conditions.
- Bouchrika, I., “2026 Physical Therapy Degree Salary by Experience Level: Entry-Level, Mid-Career, and Senior Roles,” Research.com, July 21, 2026, https://research.com/advice/physical-therapy-degree-salary-by-experience-level.
- “Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), August 28, 2025, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapist-assistants-and-aides.htm.
