Physical therapist pay by city
Across the 50 largest US metros, typical physical therapist pay ranges from $95,800 in Buffalo, NY to $141,980 in San Francisco, CA. After taxes and local prices, it goes furthest in Las Vegas, NV, San Jose, CA, San Antonio, TX.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Physical Therapists, SOC 29-1123).
| Rank | Metro | Typical pay | Worth after taxes and prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas, NV | $116,480 | $90,600 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $139,000 | $88,400 |
| 3 | San Antonio, TX | $106,010 | $88,100 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $131,430 | $87,300 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $141,980 | $85,900 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $100,000 | $85,900 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $107,700 | $85,800 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $103,380 | $84,700 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $103,630 | $83,300 |
| 10 | Oklahoma City, OK | $99,730 | $83,000 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $104,030 | $82,400 |
| 12 | Dallas, TX | $107,780 | $82,100 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $105,130 | $81,700 |
| 14 | Kansas City, MO | $101,270 | $81,300 |
| 15 | Riverside, CA | $120,110 | $81,200 |
| 16 | Cincinnati, OH | $102,890 | $81,000 |
| 17 | Louisville, KY | $102,260 | $80,600 |
| 18 | Tampa, FL | $102,430 | $80,200 |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $103,770 | $80,200 |
| 20 | Milwaukee, WI | $103,030 | $79,700 |
| 21 | Jacksonville, FL | $100,150 | $79,700 |
| 22 | Orlando, FL | $101,530 | $79,100 |
| 23 | St. Louis, MO | $100,600 | $78,700 |
| 24 | Birmingham, AL | $97,750 | $78,600 |
| 25 | Charlotte, NC | $101,060 | $78,500 |
| 26 | Richmond, VA | $102,700 | $77,600 |
| 27 | Raleigh, NC | $99,900 | $77,000 |
| 28 | Atlanta, GA | $103,440 | $76,800 |
| 29 | Hartford, CT | $105,230 | $76,600 |
| 30 | Phoenix, AZ | $103,220 | $76,500 |
| 31 | Salt Lake City, UT | $103,840 | $76,500 |
| 32 | Grand Rapids, MI | $99,100 | $76,500 |
| 33 | Virginia Beach, VA | $100,840 | $76,400 |
| 34 | Seattle, WA | $107,290 | $75,900 |
| 35 | Pittsburgh, PA | $97,750 | $75,600 |
| 36 | Chicago, IL | $105,720 | $75,400 |
| 37 | Providence, RI | $100,290 | $74,900 |
| 38 | Buffalo, NY | $95,800 | $74,800 |
| 39 | Detroit, MI | $102,970 | $74,400 |
| 40 | Philadelphia, PA | $105,790 | $74,100 |
| 41 | San Diego, CA | $113,850 | $73,800 |
| 42 | Denver, CO | $102,340 | $72,700 |
| 43 | Minneapolis, MN | $102,450 | $72,000 |
| 44 | Baltimore, MD | $105,810 | $72,000 |
| 45 | Portland, OR | $106,250 | $71,100 |
| 46 | Boston, MA | $103,550 | $70,800 |
| 47 | Miami, FL | $100,870 | $69,900 |
| 48 | Los Angeles, CA | $108,170 | $69,600 |
| 49 | Washington, DC | $102,980 | $69,300 |
| 50 | New York, NY | $107,650 | $67,100 |
“Worth” is take-home pay at the typical salary (single filer, 2026 income taxes), divided by local prices, so every city is in the same typical-US-city dollars.
Common questions
Which city pays physical therapists the most?
Before taxes, San Francisco, CA has the highest typical physical therapist pay among the 50 largest US metros: $141,980 a year. The lowest is Buffalo, NY at $95,800. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Where does physical therapist pay go furthest after cost of living?
After federal, state, and local income taxes and local prices, typical physical therapist pay goes furthest in Las Vegas, NV, San Jose, CA, San Antonio, TX. It goes the least far in New York, NY, where it's worth about $67,100 in typical-US-city dollars.