Best states for a pediatric physical therapist

Q: What is the best state for pediatric physical therapists?

The best state to be a pediatric physical therapist is Alaska based on pediatric physical therapist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for pediatric physical therapists?

The highest paying state for pediatric physical therapists is Tennessee based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for pediatric physical therapists?

The worst state for pediatric physical therapists is District of Columbia, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Amy G. Schubert and Lisa Steinkamp

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Job opportunities vary from state to state, and healthcare practitioner and technical careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to pediatric physical therapist jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for pediatric physical therapists.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of pediatric physical therapists in America is $103,000.

To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for pediatric physical therapists.If you are currently seeking employment as a pediatric physical therapist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for pediatric physical therapists in 2025

1. Alaska
Total pediatric physical therapist jobs: 142
Average annual salary: $94,284
Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000
Location Quotient:
1.28
Pediatric physical therapist jobs in Alaska
2. Washington
Total pediatric physical therapist jobs: 1,128
Average annual salary: $103,485
Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000
Location Quotient:
1.16
Pediatric physical therapist jobs in Washington
3. California
Total pediatric physical therapist jobs: 4,369
Average annual salary: $99,100
Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Pediatric physical therapist jobs in California
4. Wyoming
Total pediatric physical therapist jobs: 99
Average annual salary: $78,605
Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000
Location Quotient:
1.24
Pediatric physical therapist jobs in Wyoming
5. New Mexico
Total pediatric physical therapist jobs: 266
Average annual salary: $87,084
Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000
Location Quotient:
1.02
Pediatric physical therapist jobs in New Mexico
6. New Hampshire
Total pediatric physical therapist jobs: 380
Average annual salary: $78,458
Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000
Location Quotient:
1.63
Pediatric physical therapist jobs in New Hampshire
7. Rhode Island
Total pediatric physical therapist jobs: 194
Average annual salary: $79,073
Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000
Location Quotient:
1.2
Pediatric physical therapist jobs in Rhode Island
8. Indiana
Total pediatric physical therapist jobs: 1,000
Average annual salary: $77,902
Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Pediatric physical therapist jobs in Indiana
9. Texas
Total pediatric physical therapist jobs: 3,038
Average annual salary: $78,925
Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Pediatric physical therapist jobs in Texas
10. Massachusetts
Total pediatric physical therapist jobs: 1,068
Average annual salary: $96,549
Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000
Location Quotient:
0.87
Pediatric physical therapist jobs in Massachusetts

Pediatric physical therapist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a pediatric physical therapist

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a pediatric physical therapist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Alaska	$94,284	$75,000	739,795	142
2	Washington	$103,485	$79,000	7,405,743	1,128
3	California	$99,100	$73,000	39,536,653	4,369
4	Wyoming	$78,605	$61,000	579,315	99
5	New Mexico	$87,084	$65,000	2,088,070	266
6	New Hampshire	$78,458	$58,000	1,342,795	380
7	Rhode Island	$79,073	$60,000	1,059,639	194
8	Indiana	$77,902	$61,000	6,666,818	1,000
9	Texas	$78,925	$60,000	28,304,596	3,038
10	Massachusetts	$96,549	$72,000	6,859,819	1,068
11	Colorado	$81,964	$63,000	5,607,154	871
12	Connecticut	$84,797	$65,000	3,588,184	409
13	Nebraska	$75,196	$59,000	1,920,076	347
14	New Jersey	$82,453	$64,000	9,005,644	1,112
15	North Dakota	$71,615	$56,000	755,393	175
16	Idaho	$78,529	$60,000	1,716,943	204
17	Oregon	$81,044	$61,000	4,142,776	510
18	Delaware	$78,305	$61,000	961,939	178
19	South Carolina	$72,875	$57,000	5,024,369	698
20	Hawaii	$80,136	$65,000	1,427,538	134
21	Pennsylvania	$73,670	$58,000	12,805,537	1,538
22	Utah	$77,993	$59,000	3,101,833	266
23	Minnesota	$78,917	$62,000	5,576,606	580
24	Maine	$71,957	$52,000	1,335,907	213
25	Kansas	$71,126	$56,000	2,913,123	438
26	West Virginia	$67,860	$53,000	1,815,857	281
27	Wisconsin	$70,947	$56,000	5,795,483	783
28	South Dakota	$67,419	$53,000	869,666	173
29	Montana	$68,371	$53,000	1,050,493	194
30	Georgia	$71,413	$56,000	10,429,379	1,436
31	North Carolina	$72,207	$57,000	10,273,419	1,150
32	Missouri	$68,869	$54,000	6,113,532	900
33	Maryland	$73,104	$57,000	6,052,177	868
34	Vermont	$66,774	$49,000	623,657	168
35	Nevada	$71,981	$53,000	2,998,039	243
36	Ohio	$69,469	$54,000	11,658,609	1,215
37	Illinois	$69,752	$55,000	12,802,023	1,523
38	Alabama	$67,670	$53,000	4,874,747	587
39	Kentucky	$67,793	$53,000	4,454,189	444
40	Arkansas	$65,436	$51,000	3,004,279	355
41	Arizona	$65,958	$49,000	7,016,270	718
42	Florida	$68,054	$52,000	20,984,400	1,658
43	Louisiana	$64,612	$50,000	4,684,333	420
44	Mississippi	$66,845	$52,000	2,984,100	229
45	Iowa	$59,661	$47,000	3,145,711	520
46	Virginia	$66,608	$52,000	8,470,020	1,192
47	New York	$67,498	$52,000	19,849,399	1,477
48	Oklahoma	$58,730	$46,000	3,930,864	414
49	Tennessee	$57,599	$45,000	6,715,984	774
50	Michigan	$62,248	$49,000	9,962,311	871
51	District of Columbia	$65,342	$51,000	693,972	134

Highest paying states for pediatric physical therapists

Rank	State	Avg. Pediatric Physical Therapist Salary
1	Alaska	$94,284
2	Washington	$103,485
3	California	$99,100
4	Wyoming	$78,605
5	New Mexico	$87,084
6	New Hampshire	$78,458
7	Rhode Island	$79,073
8	Indiana	$77,902
9	Texas	$78,925
10	Massachusetts	$96,549
11	Colorado	$81,964
12	Connecticut	$84,797
13	Nebraska	$75,196
14	New Jersey	$82,453
15	North Dakota	$71,615
16	Idaho	$78,529
17	Oregon	$81,044
18	Delaware	$78,305
19	South Carolina	$72,875
20	Hawaii	$80,136
21	Pennsylvania	$73,670
22	Utah	$77,993
23	Minnesota	$78,917
24	Maine	$71,957
25	Kansas	$71,126
26	West Virginia	$67,860
27	Wisconsin	$70,947
28	South Dakota	$67,419
29	Montana	$68,371
30	Georgia	$71,413
31	North Carolina	$72,207
32	Missouri	$68,869
33	Maryland	$73,104
34	Vermont	$66,774
35	Nevada	$71,981
36	Ohio	$69,469
37	Illinois	$69,752
38	Alabama	$67,670
39	Kentucky	$67,793
40	Arkansas	$65,436
41	Arizona	$65,958
42	Florida	$68,054
43	Louisiana	$64,612
44	Mississippi	$66,845
45	Iowa	$59,661
46	Virginia	$66,608
47	New York	$67,498
48	Oklahoma	$58,730
49	Tennessee	$57,599
50	Michigan	$62,248
51	District of Columbia	$65,342

Expert opinions on the best states for pediatric physical therapists

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for pediatric physical therapists to find work opportunities?
Amy G. Schubert and Lisa Steinkamp
Director of Admissions and Program Director, School of Medicine and Public Health
The baby boomer generation continues to impact the need for Physical Therapists, both to provide care to those in that generation, as well as to fill the roles of PT's who are ready to retire. There may be a higher demand for Physical Therapists in areas where this need is greater. Also, rural areas of the United States tend to have a greater need for healthcare providers, as a whole.

Pediatric physical therapist best states FAQs

What is the best state for pediatric physical therapists?

What is the highest paying state for pediatric physical therapists?

What is the worst state for pediatric physical therapists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.

Search for pediatric physical therapist jobs

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Pediatric Physical Therapist
Best states for Pediatric Physical Therapists

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs

Total pediatric physical therapist jobs:	142
Average annual salary:	$94,284
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$75,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$117,000
Location Quotient:	1.28

Best states for a pediatric physical therapist

10 best states for pediatric physical therapists in 2025

1. Alaska

2. Washington

3. California

4. Wyoming

5. New Mexico

6. New Hampshire

7. Rhode Island

8. Indiana

9. Texas

10. Massachusetts