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Best states for a per diem physical therapist
Quoted expert
Amy G. Schubert and Lisa Steinkamp
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you want to become a per diem physical therapist at Select Medical, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for per diem physical therapists that you can check out, before you begin your journey. Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of per diem physical therapists in America is $108,000.
We figured that the best places for per diem physical therapist jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.Washington is the best state, and Windsor is the city with the highest pay for per diem physical therapists.
10 best states for per diem physical therapists in 2025
1. Washington
Total per diem physical therapist jobs: 1,130 Average annual salary: $102,150 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
2. California
Total per diem physical therapist jobs: 4,171 Average annual salary: $104,404 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
3. Alaska
Total per diem physical therapist jobs: 118 Average annual salary: $93,339 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
4. Rhode Island
Total per diem physical therapist jobs: 220 Average annual salary: $79,008 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
5. New Mexico
Total per diem physical therapist jobs: 282 Average annual salary: $84,617 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
6. Wyoming
Total per diem physical therapist jobs: 98 Average annual salary: $76,622 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
7. Massachusetts
Total per diem physical therapist jobs: 1,151 Average annual salary: $96,028 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
8. Indiana
Total per diem physical therapist jobs: 1,167 Average annual salary: $73,274 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
9. Nebraska
Total per diem physical therapist jobs: 392 Average annual salary: $73,941 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
10. New Jersey
Total per diem physical therapist jobs: 1,210 Average annual salary: $82,612 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
Per diem physical therapist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a per diem physical therapist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a per diem physical therapist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $102,150 | $75,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,130 |
| 2 | California | $104,404 | $73,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,171 |
| 3 | Alaska | $93,339 | $71,000 | 739,795 | 118 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $79,008 | $54,000 | 1,059,639 | 220 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $84,617 | $61,000 | 2,088,070 | 282 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $76,622 | $57,000 | 579,315 | 98 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $96,028 | $65,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,151 |
| 8 | Indiana | $73,274 | $55,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,167 |
| 9 | Nebraska | $73,941 | $56,000 | 1,920,076 | 392 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $82,612 | $59,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,210 |
| 11 | Oregon | $85,433 | $62,000 | 4,142,776 | 529 |
| 12 | Idaho | $76,483 | $55,000 | 1,716,943 | 233 |
| 13 | Arizona | $84,072 | $59,000 | 7,016,270 | 630 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $85,051 | $60,000 | 3,588,184 | 395 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $70,582 | $54,000 | 755,393 | 190 |
| 16 | Texas | $73,489 | $53,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,422 |
| 17 | Delaware | $77,989 | $57,000 | 961,939 | 176 |
| 18 | Kansas | $69,773 | $52,000 | 2,913,123 | 524 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $77,695 | $52,000 | 1,342,795 | 211 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $77,896 | $59,000 | 5,576,606 | 640 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $67,160 | $50,000 | 1,815,857 | 278 |
| 22 | Utah | $75,329 | $54,000 | 3,101,833 | 301 |
| 23 | Virginia | $76,329 | $57,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,273 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $70,117 | $51,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,684 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $71,517 | $54,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,306 |
| 26 | Maine | $70,453 | $46,000 | 1,335,907 | 207 |
| 27 | Georgia | $70,347 | $53,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,565 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $83,371 | $66,000 | 1,427,538 | 96 |
| 29 | Maryland | $72,699 | $54,000 | 6,052,177 | 941 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $71,889 | $54,000 | 5,024,369 | 564 |
| 31 | Iowa | $68,317 | $52,000 | 3,145,711 | 542 |
| 32 | Ohio | $68,823 | $51,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,432 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $70,151 | $53,000 | 5,795,483 | 743 |
| 34 | Vermont | $65,788 | $43,000 | 623,657 | 174 |
| 35 | Missouri | $67,724 | $51,000 | 6,113,532 | 974 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $66,382 | $50,000 | 869,666 | 174 |
| 37 | Nevada | $70,683 | $49,000 | 2,998,039 | 281 |
| 38 | Montana | $66,754 | $50,000 | 1,050,493 | 195 |
| 39 | Illinois | $68,950 | $52,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,760 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $66,833 | $50,000 | 4,454,189 | 506 |
| 41 | Alabama | $66,606 | $50,000 | 4,874,747 | 572 |
| 42 | New York | $67,569 | $48,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,711 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $65,788 | $49,000 | 2,984,100 | 241 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $64,226 | $48,000 | 3,004,279 | 348 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $57,643 | $43,000 | 3,930,864 | 470 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $63,337 | $46,000 | 4,684,333 | 428 |
| 47 | Florida | $65,847 | $48,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,562 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $56,767 | $42,000 | 6,715,984 | 862 |
| 49 | Colorado | $61,388 | $45,000 | 5,607,154 | 842 |
| 50 | Michigan | $61,623 | $46,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,034 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | $64,985 | $48,000 | 693,972 | 112 |
Highest paying states for per diem physical therapists
| Rank | State | Avg. Per Diem Physical Therapist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $102,150 |
| 2 | California | $104,404 |
| 3 | Alaska | $93,339 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $79,008 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $84,617 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $76,622 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $96,028 |
| 8 | Indiana | $73,274 |
| 9 | Nebraska | $73,941 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $82,612 |
| 11 | Oregon | $85,433 |
| 12 | Idaho | $76,483 |
| 13 | Arizona | $84,072 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $85,051 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $70,582 |
| 16 | Texas | $73,489 |
| 17 | Delaware | $77,989 |
| 18 | Kansas | $69,773 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $77,695 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $77,896 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $67,160 |
| 22 | Utah | $75,329 |
| 23 | Virginia | $76,329 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $70,117 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $71,517 |
| 26 | Maine | $70,453 |
| 27 | Georgia | $70,347 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $83,371 |
| 29 | Maryland | $72,699 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $71,889 |
| 31 | Iowa | $68,317 |
| 32 | Ohio | $68,823 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $70,151 |
| 34 | Vermont | $65,788 |
| 35 | Missouri | $67,724 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $66,382 |
| 37 | Nevada | $70,683 |
| 38 | Montana | $66,754 |
| 39 | Illinois | $68,950 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $66,833 |
| 41 | Alabama | $66,606 |
| 42 | New York | $67,569 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $65,788 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $64,226 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $57,643 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $63,337 |
| 47 | Florida | $65,847 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $56,767 |
| 49 | Colorado | $61,388 |
| 50 | Michigan | $61,623 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | $64,985 |
Expert opinions on the best states for per diem physical therapists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for per diem 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.
Per diem physical therapist best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025