Physical therapist pay and outlook
National wage and outlook figures from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook page for physical therapists.
Quoted from official pages checked November 10, 2026. Confirm current requirements, fees, and dates on those sites. This page is not legal advice and does not guarantee eligibility, certification, or licensure.
On its Physical Therapists handbook page, checked November 10, 2026, BLS lists these Quick Facts:
- 2025 Median Pay: $102,760 per year ($49.40 per hour)
- Typical Entry-Level Education: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
- On-the-job Training: None
- Number of Jobs, 2025: 283,700
- Job Outlook, 2025–35: 12% (Much faster than average)
- Employment Change, 2025–35: 33,800
That page states: “Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain.”
It states: “Physical therapists entering the occupation need a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. All states require physical therapists to be licensed.”
On pay, it states: “The median annual wage for physical therapists was $102,760 in May 2025.”
On outlook, it states: “Employment of physical therapists is projected to grow 12 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 13,400 openings for physical therapists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.”
BLS also publishes state and area wage resources on that handbook page. This site does not copy those tables. Figures change when BLS updates the handbook. On November 10, 2026, that page showed “Last modified date: October 29, 2026”.
Where physical therapists work is quoted on PT work settings. For a side-by-side with occupational therapists, see OT vs PT.