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Best states for a physical therapist
Quoted expert
Amy G. Schubert and Lisa Steinkamp
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Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for physical therapists? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for physical therapist jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Our research shows that Washington is the best state in the country for physical therapists.
Washington is the best state for jobs for physical therapists, and Florida is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $88,437, while the median pay in Florida is $67,478.We found that the South is best for physical therapists, and the West is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for physical therapist jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for physical therapists in 2025
1. Washington
Total physical therapist jobs: 1,143 Average annual salary: $88,437 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
2. Alaska
Total physical therapist jobs: 118 Average annual salary: $95,954 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
3. California
Total physical therapist jobs: 4,108 Average annual salary: $106,493 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
4. New Hampshire
Total physical therapist jobs: 369 Average annual salary: $76,203 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
5. Nevada
Total physical therapist jobs: 282 Average annual salary: $85,244 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
6. Rhode Island
Total physical therapist jobs: 193 Average annual salary: $76,918 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
7. Wyoming
Total physical therapist jobs: 96 Average annual salary: $76,240 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
8. Nebraska
Total physical therapist jobs: 395 Average annual salary: $74,016 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
9. New Jersey
Total physical therapist jobs: 1,183 Average annual salary: $78,760 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
10. Idaho
Total physical therapist jobs: 233 Average annual salary: $74,891 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
Physical therapist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a physical therapist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a physical therapist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $88,437 | $69,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,143 |
| 2 | Alaska | $95,954 | $77,000 | 739,795 | 118 |
| 3 | California | $106,493 | $80,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,108 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $76,203 | $59,000 | 1,342,795 | 369 |
| 5 | Nevada | $85,244 | $64,000 | 2,998,039 | 282 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $76,918 | $60,000 | 1,059,639 | 193 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $76,240 | $60,000 | 579,315 | 96 |
| 8 | Nebraska | $74,016 | $59,000 | 1,920,076 | 395 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $78,760 | $62,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,183 |
| 10 | Idaho | $74,891 | $58,000 | 1,716,943 | 233 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $77,587 | $62,000 | 5,576,606 | 642 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $74,292 | $58,000 | 2,088,070 | 281 |
| 13 | Oregon | $78,937 | $61,000 | 4,142,776 | 533 |
| 14 | Delaware | $76,926 | $61,000 | 961,939 | 177 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $79,796 | $62,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,082 |
| 16 | Mississippi | $75,221 | $60,000 | 2,984,100 | 238 |
| 17 | Texas | $72,675 | $57,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,459 |
| 18 | Illinois | $75,232 | $60,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,768 |
| 19 | Arizona | $77,008 | $58,000 | 7,016,270 | 628 |
| 20 | Indiana | $70,909 | $56,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,181 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $71,849 | $57,000 | 3,930,864 | 471 |
| 22 | Alabama | $73,562 | $59,000 | 4,874,747 | 572 |
| 23 | Maryland | $76,765 | $61,000 | 6,052,177 | 936 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $70,298 | $56,000 | 755,393 | 191 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $73,531 | $58,000 | 4,684,333 | 428 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $81,840 | $66,000 | 1,427,538 | 96 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $76,988 | $61,000 | 3,588,184 | 380 |
| 28 | Michigan | $71,589 | $57,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,029 |
| 29 | Virginia | $75,627 | $60,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,269 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $67,957 | $54,000 | 1,815,857 | 277 |
| 31 | Kansas | $69,896 | $55,000 | 2,913,123 | 523 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $71,255 | $56,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,643 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $71,769 | $57,000 | 5,795,483 | 740 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $78,179 | $62,000 | 693,972 | 112 |
| 35 | Colorado | $72,634 | $57,000 | 5,607,154 | 843 |
| 36 | Maine | $70,091 | $53,000 | 1,335,907 | 209 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $69,892 | $56,000 | 4,454,189 | 509 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $68,632 | $54,000 | 6,715,984 | 862 |
| 39 | Georgia | $70,314 | $56,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,572 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $71,724 | $57,000 | 5,024,369 | 562 |
| 41 | New York | $74,295 | $59,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,646 |
| 42 | Ohio | $69,275 | $55,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,429 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $70,975 | $56,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,314 |
| 44 | Montana | $69,053 | $54,000 | 1,050,493 | 192 |
| 45 | Missouri | $68,447 | $54,000 | 6,113,532 | 985 |
| 46 | Iowa | $67,671 | $54,000 | 3,145,711 | 551 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $66,170 | $53,000 | 869,666 | 175 |
| 48 | Vermont | $65,309 | $50,000 | 623,657 | 168 |
| 49 | Utah | $69,855 | $54,000 | 3,101,833 | 299 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $64,149 | $51,000 | 3,004,279 | 348 |
| 51 | Florida | $67,478 | $54,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,487 |
Highest paying states for physical therapists
| Rank | State | Avg. Physical Therapist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $88,437 |
| 2 | Alaska | $95,954 |
| 3 | California | $106,493 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $76,203 |
| 5 | Nevada | $85,244 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $76,918 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $76,240 |
| 8 | Nebraska | $74,016 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $78,760 |
| 10 | Idaho | $74,891 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $77,587 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $74,292 |
| 13 | Oregon | $78,937 |
| 14 | Delaware | $76,926 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $79,796 |
| 16 | Mississippi | $75,221 |
| 17 | Texas | $72,675 |
| 18 | Illinois | $75,232 |
| 19 | Arizona | $77,008 |
| 20 | Indiana | $70,909 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $71,849 |
| 22 | Alabama | $73,562 |
| 23 | Maryland | $76,765 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $70,298 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $73,531 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $81,840 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $76,988 |
| 28 | Michigan | $71,589 |
| 29 | Virginia | $75,627 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $67,957 |
| 31 | Kansas | $69,896 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $71,255 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $71,769 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $78,179 |
| 35 | Colorado | $72,634 |
| 36 | Maine | $70,091 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $69,892 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $68,632 |
| 39 | Georgia | $70,314 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $71,724 |
| 41 | New York | $74,295 |
| 42 | Ohio | $69,275 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $70,975 |
| 44 | Montana | $69,053 |
| 45 | Missouri | $68,447 |
| 46 | Iowa | $67,671 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $66,170 |
| 48 | Vermont | $65,309 |
| 49 | Utah | $69,855 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $64,149 |
| 51 | Florida | $67,478 |
Expert opinions on the best states for physical therapists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for 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.
Physical therapist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025