Physical therapist pay in San Francisco, CA
Physical therapists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a typical $141,980 a year. The middle half earn $123,470 to $160,770, and the top 10% earn more than $188,070. About 3,140 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Physical Therapists, SOC 29-1123).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $103,860 |
| 25th percentile | $123,470 |
| Median (typical) | $141,980 |
| 75th percentile | $160,770 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $188,070 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 1 of 50 large metros for physical therapists before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $141,980, a single filer keeps about $99,300 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and California state income tax. Prices in San Francisco are 16% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $85,900 would in a typical US city. That ranks San Francisco No. 5 of 50 large metros for physical therapists after cost of living.
Where physical therapists’ pay goes furthest
- Las Vegas, NV$116,480 typical · worth $90.6k
- San Jose, CA$139,000 typical · worth $88.4k
- San Antonio, TX$106,010 typical · worth $88.1k
- Sacramento, CA$131,430 typical · worth $87.3k
All 50 metros for physical therapists →
Where does your salary land?
Add your salary and experience to see your percentile among physical therapists in San Francisco. Free and private. (Different city? Use the main checker.)
Common questions
How much does a physical therapist make in San Francisco, CA?
The typical (median) physical therapist in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earns $141,980 a year. The middle half earn between $123,470 and $160,770, and the top 10% earn more than $188,070. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a physical therapist in San Francisco?
Anything above $141,980 pays more than half of physical therapists in San Francisco. $160,770 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $188,070 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a physical therapist in San Francisco take home after taxes?
At the typical $141,980, a single filer keeps about $99,300 a year ($8,280 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, California state income tax. With local prices 16% above the US average, that buys what $85,900 would in a typical US city.
Where do physical therapists get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 50 largest US metros, typical physical therapist pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in Las Vegas, NV, San Jose, CA, San Antonio, TX. San Francisco, CA ranks No. 5.
More: Physical therapist pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in San Francisco, CA
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.