Research Summary. After comprehensive research conducted by the Zippia data science team, we identified the following details regarding physical therapist salaries by state in the United States for 2026:
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California maintains the highest average physical therapist salary at $106,493
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Arkansas has the lowest average physical therapist salary at $64,149
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The national average salary for physical therapists is $73,070
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The national hourly pay for physical therapists is $35.13
For a detailed explanation of our data collection methods, check out the specific methodology.
Background
In 2026, salary continues to be the primary concern for job seekers across all demographics, with many asking: how much do physical therapists earn in my area?
While numerous factors influence individual salaries, we have comprehensive data on average salaries for physical therapists by state and seniority level. Although your local market may exhibit variations, these averages provide a clear picture of potential earnings in your profession.
California remains the state with the highest salary for physical therapists.
Here’s an updated snapshot of the top ten states for physical therapist salaries in 2026:
Let’s delve into how we arrived at these figures and provide a complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Physical Therapists By State
| Rank | State | Average Physical Therapist Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $106,493 | $80,000 | $140,000 |
| 2 | Alaska | $95,954 | $77,000 | $118,000 |
| 3 | Washington | $88,437 | $69,000 | $113,000 |
| 4 | Nevada | $85,244 | $64,000 | $111,000 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $81,840 | $66,000 | $101,000 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $79,796 | $62,000 | $101,000 |
| 7 | Oregon | $78,937 | $61,000 | $101,000 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $78,760 | $62,000 | $98,000 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $77,587 | $62,000 | $96,000 |
| 10 | Arizona | $77,008 | $58,000 | $100,000 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $76,988 | $61,000 | $96,000 |
| 12 | Delaware | $76,926 | $61,000 | $96,000 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $76,918 | $60,000 | $97,000 |
| 14 | Maryland | $76,765 | $61,000 | $95,000 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $76,240 | $60,000 | $95,000 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $76,203 | $59,000 | $97,000 |
| 17 | Virginia | $75,627 | $60,000 | $94,000 |
| 18 | Illinois | $75,232 | $60,000 | $93,000 |
| 19 | Mississippi | $75,221 | $60,000 | $93,000 |
| 20 | Idaho | $74,891 | $58,000 | $95,000 |
| 21 | New York | $74,295 | $59,000 | $93,000 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $74,292 | $58,000 | $94,000 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $74,016 | $59,000 | $92,000 |
| 24 | Alabama | $73,562 | $59,000 | $91,000 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $73,531 | $58,000 | $92,000 |
| 26 | Texas | $72,675 | $57,000 | $91,000 |
| 27 | Colorado | $72,634 | $57,000 | $91,000 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $71,849 | $57,000 | $90,000 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $71,769 | $57,000 | $89,000 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $71,724 | $57,000 | $89,000 |
| 31 | Michigan | $71,589 | $57,000 | $89,000 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $71,255 | $56,000 | $89,000 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $70,975 | $56,000 | $88,000 |
| 34 | Indiana | $70,909 | $56,000 | $88,000 |
| 35 | Georgia | $70,314 | $56,000 | $87,000 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $70,298 | $56,000 | $87,000 |
| 37 | Maine | $70,091 | $53,000 | $91,000 |
| 38 | Kansas | $69,896 | $55,000 | $87,000 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $69,892 | $56,000 | $87,000 |
| 40 | Utah | $69,855 | $54,000 | $89,000 |
| 41 | Ohio | $69,275 | $55,000 | $86,000 |
| 42 | Montana | $69,053 | $54,000 | $86,000 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $68,632 | $54,000 | $85,000 |
| 44 | Missouri | $68,447 | $54,000 | $85,000 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $67,957 | $54,000 | $84,000 |
| 46 | Iowa | $67,671 | $54,000 | $84,000 |
| 47 | Florida | $67,478 | $54,000 | $83,000 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $66,170 | $53,000 | $82,000 |
| 49 | Vermont | $65,309 | $50,000 | $83,000 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $64,149 | $51,000 | $80,000 |
Methodology: Physical Therapist Salary By State
To gain insights into physical therapist salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Certification (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This data is further supplemented with actual salaries listed in job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average of these inputs to derive an average pay for physical therapists by state.
We analyzed the average annual salary data for physical therapists and ranked each state accordingly, with the state offering the highest salary ranked at the top.
Physical Therapist Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for physical therapists?
The highest-paid state for physical therapists is California, with an average salary of $106,493 per year.
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What city pays physical therapists the most?
San Francisco, CA offers the highest pay for physical therapists, with an average salary of $109,793 per year.
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What is the worst state for physical therapists?
The lowest-paying state for physical therapists is Arkansas, with an average salary of $64,149 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
