1
Lead with the inflation gap
Use APTA's income report first: PT salaries have not kept pace with inflation since 2016. Ask to move at least to the BLS median.
APTA Income Report
PT Salaries Are Losing to Inflation
APTA's December 2025 report found that PT incomes have not kept pace with inflation since 2016. That matters because PTs carry a long training path and a large debt burden, yet the real value of salary gains keeps shrinking. [3]
| Benchmark | Salary | Source |
|---|---|---|
| BLS National Median (2024) | $101,020/yr | BLS OOH |
| BLS P90 (Top 10%) | $130,870/yr | BLS OEWS 2023 |
| Home Health Setting | $116,500/yr | BLS OEWS 2023 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $123,900/yr | BLS OEWS 2023 |
| Highest State (CA) | $114,270/yr | Twofold/BLS 2025 |
| Lowest State (LA) | $65,500/yr | Twofold/BLS 2025 |
Real wage gap: if PT salaries had tracked inflation since 2016, the median would be roughly $115,000-$120,000 today. The actual median sits $14,000-$19,000/year below that range.
Sources: BLS OOH Physical Therapists; BLS OEWS May 2023, SOC 29-1123; PT salary guide 2025; APTA Incomes in the Profession, 2025.
Physical Therapist Raise Calculator
Physical Therapist Raise Calculator
The BLS median is $101,020, but APTA warns PT salaries have not kept pace with inflation since 2016. Compare settings, quantify certification premium, and see whether your salary is really moving forward.
Data timing
Salary data: BLS OOH May 2024; BLS OEWS May 2023; APTA December 2025
A 5% raise on $88,000 becomes $92,400, but inflation still matters.
Home Health averages $116,500; California averages $114,270.
PT Salary Percentiles
Physical Therapist Salary Percentiles - National Benchmarks
The 2024 BLS median is $101,020/year, or $48.50/hr. BLS percentile detail still shows a meaningful gap between the 25th percentile and the top quarter of earners. [0] [1]
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $72,260/yr | $34.74/hr | Entry, low-demand area |
| 25th | $81,970/yr | $39.41/hr | Early career |
| 50th (Median) | $101,020/yr | $48.50/hr | National median (2024) |
| 75th | $113,630/yr | $54.63/hr | Experienced, specialty cert. |
| 90th | $130,870/yr | $62.92/hr | Top earners, high-demand settings |
Setting premium: Home Health averages $116,500 and Outpatient Care Centers average $123,900.
Inflation gap: at 3.8% CPI, a PT earning $101,020 needs about $3,839 just to break even in one year.
Physical Therapist Raise Calculator
Calculate your PT raise, setting gap, or real wage loss
PT pay needs two checks: market salary and inflation-adjusted purchasing power.
Your PT Raise Results
Current Salary$88,000/year
New Salary$92,400/year (+$4,400)
Raise+5.0%
Take-Home Impact (Florida, Single)
Current take-home$5,867/month
New take-home$6,147/month
Monthly gain+$280/month
Annual gain+$3,360/year
Tax drag~24%
Salary Percentile
New
P10P25P50P75P90
Current $88,000~30th percentile
New $92,400~37th percentile
BLS Median$101,020 Still below
Setting avg (Outpatient Clinic)$92,620 Near avg
FL state avg$68,400 Above
Gap to BLS median: -$8,620/year. Gap to P75: -$21,230/year.
Real Wage Check (APTA Inflation Warning)
Your raise+5.0%
CPI (Apr 2026)3.8%
Real raise+1.2% (+$1,056/year)
Your raise beats inflation by 1.2%. APTA warns PT salaries have lost ground to inflation since 2016.
Below National Median
Your salary of $92,400 is below the BLS median of $101,020. Your setting average is $92,620. A setting change can close part of the gap; Home Health averages $116,500.
Setting Premium
Physical Therapist Salary by Setting - 2023 BLS Data
Setting usually matters more than years of experience. Outpatient care centers and home health lead the market, while outpatient PT offices sit at the low end.
| Setting | Annual Mean | Hourly Mean | vs. Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outpatient Care Centers | $123,900 | $59.57/hr | +$22,880 |
| Home Health Care | $116,500 | $56.01/hr | +$15,480 |
| General Medical & Surgical Hospitals | $104,520 | $50.25/hr | +$3,500 |
| SNF / Nursing Care Facilities | $101,200 | $48.65/hr | +$180 |
| Offices of Physicians | $95,730 | $46.03/hr | -$5,290 |
| Outpatient PT Offices | $92,620 | $44.53/hr | -$8,400 |
| National Median | $101,020 | $48.50/hr | - |
Market signal: outpatient care centers top the BLS setting table at $123,900/year. Home health follows at $116,500/year.
Negotiation use: if your current offer sits in outpatient PT offices, you have room to ask for a setting adjustment or a move into a higher-paying care model.
State Pay Table
Physical Therapist Salary by State - 2025
State variation is large enough to change career math. California sits far above Louisiana, and Texas stays above the national median.
| State | Avg Annual Salary | vs. National Median | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $114,270 | +$13,250 | Highest |
| Nevada | $111,460 | +$10,440 | - |
| Alaska | $110,830 | +$9,810 | - |
| New Jersey | $109,280 | +$8,260 | - |
| Texas | $106,960 | +$5,940 | - |
| National Median | $101,020 | - | BLS 2024 |
| Pennsylvania | $96,000 | -$5,020 | ~BLS/OEWS estimate |
| Ohio | $90,000 | -$11,020 | ~BLS/OEWS estimate |
| Mississippi | $78,500 | -$22,520 | - |
| North Dakota | $71,600 | -$29,420 | - |
| Georgia | $66,800 | -$34,220 | - |
| Louisiana | $65,500 | -$35,520 | Lowest |
State gap: California pays $114,270/year, while Louisiana averages $65,500/year. That is a $48,770 gap before cost-of-living adjustment. [2]
Experience & Credentials
PT Salary by Experience and Specialty Certification
Years of practice help, but setting and certification often move pay faster. The early-career row is highlighted by default because the calculator starts at 3-5 years.
| Experience Level | Typical Salary Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New Grad (0-2 yr) | $67,000-$75,000 | APTA / PTProgress starting range |
| Early Career (2-5 yr) | $75,000-$88,000 | Building caseload |
| Mid-Career (5-10 yr) | $88,000-$101,000 | Approaching BLS median |
| Experienced (10-15 yr) | $101,000-$115,000 | Median-to-P75 range |
| Senior (15-20 yr) | $115,000-$125,000 | Supervisory roles |
| Expert / Leadership (20+ yr) | $125,000-$135,000+ | Director / clinic owner |
Certification
OCS
Orthopedic Certified Specialist
Most common cert
+$8,000-$15,000
Certification
SCS
Sports Certified Specialist
Sports medicine settings
+$8,000-$12,000
Certification
NCS
Neurologic Certified Specialist
Hospital/rehab settings
+$7,000-$12,000
Certification
GCS
Geriatric Certified Specialist
SNF/home health
+$5,000-$10,000
Certification
CCS
Cardiovascular & Pulmonary CS
Hospital/ICU
+$6,000-$11,000
Certification
ECS
Clinical Electrophysiology CS
Specialty hospitals
+$7,000-$12,000
Certification
WCS
Women's Health CS
OB/GYN, pelvic floor
+$5,000-$9,000
Certification
-
Fellowship (any specialty)
APTA confirmed premium
+$10,000-$20,000
Historical Trend
Physical Therapist Median Salary Growth - 2020 to 2025
This chart compares salary growth against cumulative CPI. The slope tells the story: the profession has not fully recovered real purchasing power.
| Year | PT Median | YoY Change | CPI Change | Real Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $91,010 | — | +1.2% | — |
| 2021 | $95,620 | +5.1% | +7.0% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | $97,800 | +2.3% | +6.5% | -4.2% |
| 2023 | $99,710 | +1.9% | +3.4% | -1.5% |
| 2024 | $101,020 | +1.3% | +2.9% | -1.6% |
| 2025 | $102,500 | +1.5% (proj.) | +2.7% | -1.2% (proj.) |
Cumulative impact: a PT earning $91,010 in 2020 would need about $113,400 in 2026 to preserve the same buying power.
Current median gap: the 2024 median of $101,020 still falls roughly $12,380 short.
Negotiation Guide
How to Negotiate a Raise as a Physical Therapist
Lead with inflation, anchor to your setting, price your certification, and present a setting change if your current employer won't move.
2
Anchor to your setting
Compare your salary with the BLS mean for your work setting. Setting often moves pay more than years of experience.
3
Price your certification
If you hold OCS, NCS, SCS, or another board credential, connect it to an $8K-$15K market premium.
4
Use the growth projection
BLS projects 14% PT employment growth through 2033. Replacing an experienced PT is expensive and slow.
5
Present the setting alternative
Use Home Health or Outpatient Care Center benchmarks as a documented alternative, then ask for a specific number.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers keep the benchmark hierarchy clear: BLS first, then setting and state, then APTA's inflation warning.
What is the average physical therapist salary in 2026?
The BLS reports a May 2024 median annual wage of $101,020, or $48.50/hour, for physical therapists [0]. BLS OEWS 2023 shows a mean of $100,440, and 2025 projections place the median near $102,500 [1] [2].
Which PT setting pays the most?
BLS OEWS 2023 shows Outpatient Care Centers at $123,900/year, Home Health Care Services at $116,500/year, General Hospitals at $104,520/year, SNF/Nursing Facilities at $101,200/year, and outpatient PT offices at $92,620/year [1].
Are PT salaries keeping up with inflation?
No. APTA's December 2025 income report states that PT incomes have not kept pace with inflation since 2016 [3]. BLS-based history shows negative real wage growth from 2021 through 2024 [0] [2].
Does PT specialty certification increase salary?
Yes. APTA reports that board specialist certification, fellowship completion, and additional graduate degrees are positively associated with PT income [3]. Estimated premiums include OCS +$8,000-$15,000, NCS +$7,000-$12,000, SCS +$8,000-$12,000, and fellowship +$10,000-$20,000.
What is the job outlook for physical therapists?
BLS projects 14% employment growth for physical therapists from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the national average, with roughly 15,000 or more openings projected annually [0].
How much do physical therapists earn in California vs. Louisiana?
The highest and lowest state benchmarks show a large spread: California averages $114,270/year, while Louisiana averages $65,500/year. That is a $48,770 annual gap [2].
Do physical therapists earn more in hospitals or outpatient clinics?
Hospitals pay more than outpatient PT offices but less than Outpatient Care Centers. BLS OEWS 2023 reports $104,520/year for General Hospitals, $92,620/year for outpatient PT offices, and $123,900/year for Outpatient Care Centers [1].
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Sources
Data Sources
Salary data: BLS OOH May 2024; BLS OEWS May 2023; APTA December 2025.
[0] BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physical Therapists
May 2024 median $101,020/year = $48.50/hr; 14% employment growth through 2033; about 240,000 jobs; DPT required.
[1] BLS OEWS May 2023, SOC 29-1123 Physical Therapists
Percentiles: P10 $72,260; P25 $81,970; P50 $99,710; P75 $113,630; P90 $130,870; mean $100,440; setting data for outpatient care centers, home health, hospitals, SNF, and outpatient offices.
[2] PT salary guide 2025
State salary benchmarks: CA $114,270; NV $111,460; AK $110,830; NJ $109,280; TX $106,960; LA $65,500; historical trend 2020-2025.
[3] APTA Incomes in the Profession, 2025
PT salaries have not kept pace with inflation since 2016; certification and setting affect income; hospitals and inpatient rehab pay more; women see wider gaps later in career.