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Best states for a physical therapy internship
Quoted expert
Amy G. Schubert and Lisa Steinkamp
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for physical therapy interns in the United States. Physical therapy internship positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for physical therapy interns.In fact, our research shows that Alaska is the best state for physical therapy interns in America. The best city in America for physical therapy interns with the highest pay is Pasadena, CA.
In order to get you the best states for physical therapy interns, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the Midwest is best for physical therapy interns, and the West is the worst. Pasadena, CA is the best city in the country for physical therapy internship jobs, where as Alaska is the best state in the country.
10 best states for physical therapy interns in 2026
1. Alaska
Total physical therapy internship jobs: 68 Average annual salary: $89,766 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
2. New Hampshire
Total physical therapy internship jobs: 401 Average annual salary: $76,480 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 3.49
3. California
Total physical therapy internship jobs: 1,734 Average annual salary: $117,560 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
4. Rhode Island
Total physical therapy internship jobs: 117 Average annual salary: $77,229 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
5. Wyoming
Total physical therapy internship jobs: 61 Average annual salary: $75,501 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.55
6. Massachusetts
Total physical therapy internship jobs: 974 Average annual salary: $80,014 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.61
7. Washington
Total physical therapy internship jobs: 416 Average annual salary: $87,201 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
8. Nevada
Total physical therapy internship jobs: 116 Average annual salary: $83,923 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
9. Mississippi
Total physical therapy internship jobs: 174 Average annual salary: $74,200 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
10. Nebraska
Total physical therapy internship jobs: 204 Average annual salary: $73,163 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
Physical therapy internship jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a physical therapy internship
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a physical therapy internship
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $89,766 | $72,000 | 739,795 | 68 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $76,480 | $57,000 | 1,342,795 | 401 |
| 3 | California | $117,560 | $85,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,734 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $77,229 | $59,000 | 1,059,639 | 117 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $75,501 | $57,000 | 579,315 | 61 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $80,014 | $61,000 | 6,859,819 | 974 |
| 7 | Washington | $87,201 | $66,000 | 7,405,743 | 416 |
| 8 | Nevada | $83,923 | $60,000 | 2,998,039 | 116 |
| 9 | Mississippi | $74,200 | $57,000 | 2,984,100 | 174 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $73,163 | $57,000 | 1,920,076 | 204 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $76,997 | $59,000 | 3,588,184 | 340 |
| 12 | Louisiana | $72,782 | $55,000 | 4,684,333 | 357 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $84,143 | $67,000 | 1,427,538 | 64 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $73,167 | $54,000 | 2,088,070 | 175 |
| 15 | Delaware | $76,648 | $60,000 | 961,939 | 82 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $77,065 | $60,000 | 5,576,606 | 218 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $78,738 | $61,000 | 9,005,644 | 488 |
| 18 | Idaho | $73,858 | $55,000 | 1,716,943 | 115 |
| 19 | Arizona | $74,410 | $54,000 | 7,016,270 | 452 |
| 20 | Alabama | $72,390 | $56,000 | 4,874,747 | 275 |
| 21 | Indiana | $70,299 | $55,000 | 6,666,818 | 530 |
| 22 | Michigan | $71,092 | $56,000 | 9,962,311 | 502 |
| 23 | Maryland | $76,320 | $60,000 | 6,052,177 | 495 |
| 24 | Oregon | $77,667 | $58,000 | 4,142,776 | 182 |
| 25 | Illinois | $74,473 | $58,000 | 12,802,023 | 717 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $67,493 | $53,000 | 1,815,857 | 235 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $71,023 | $54,000 | 3,930,864 | 188 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $70,710 | $55,000 | 5,024,369 | 344 |
| 29 | Maine | $70,265 | $52,000 | 1,335,907 | 127 |
| 30 | Virginia | $75,097 | $59,000 | 8,470,020 | 554 |
| 31 | Texas | $71,758 | $54,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,221 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $70,985 | $55,000 | 12,805,537 | 607 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $71,232 | $56,000 | 5,795,483 | 267 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $77,819 | $61,000 | 693,972 | 55 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $69,243 | $54,000 | 4,454,189 | 260 |
| 36 | Kansas | $69,086 | $53,000 | 2,913,123 | 293 |
| 37 | New York | $74,303 | $58,000 | 19,849,399 | 767 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $70,098 | $55,000 | 755,393 | 47 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $70,301 | $55,000 | 10,273,419 | 505 |
| 40 | Ohio | $68,726 | $54,000 | 11,658,609 | 452 |
| 41 | Colorado | $71,726 | $54,000 | 5,607,154 | 320 |
| 42 | Georgia | $69,243 | $54,000 | 10,429,379 | 628 |
| 43 | Iowa | $67,030 | $52,000 | 3,145,711 | 288 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $67,820 | $53,000 | 6,715,984 | 306 |
| 45 | Vermont | $65,197 | $48,000 | 623,657 | 139 |
| 46 | Florida | $68,661 | $53,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,174 |
| 47 | Montana | $68,679 | $52,000 | 1,050,493 | 69 |
| 48 | Missouri | $67,610 | $52,000 | 6,113,532 | 446 |
| 49 | Utah | $68,858 | $51,000 | 3,101,833 | 65 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $65,631 | $51,000 | 869,666 | 0 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $63,384 | $49,000 | 3,004,279 | 135 |
Highest paying states for physical therapy interns
| Rank | State | Avg. Physical Therapy Internship Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $89,766 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $76,480 |
| 3 | California | $117,560 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $77,229 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $75,501 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $80,014 |
| 7 | Washington | $87,201 |
| 8 | Nevada | $83,923 |
| 9 | Mississippi | $74,200 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $73,163 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $76,997 |
| 12 | Louisiana | $72,782 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $84,143 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $73,167 |
| 15 | Delaware | $76,648 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $77,065 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $78,738 |
| 18 | Idaho | $73,858 |
| 19 | Arizona | $74,410 |
| 20 | Alabama | $72,390 |
| 21 | Indiana | $70,299 |
| 22 | Michigan | $71,092 |
| 23 | Maryland | $76,320 |
| 24 | Oregon | $77,667 |
| 25 | Illinois | $74,473 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $67,493 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $71,023 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $70,710 |
| 29 | Maine | $70,265 |
| 30 | Virginia | $75,097 |
| 31 | Texas | $71,758 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $70,985 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $71,232 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $77,819 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $69,243 |
| 36 | Kansas | $69,086 |
| 37 | New York | $74,303 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $70,098 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $70,301 |
| 40 | Ohio | $68,726 |
| 41 | Colorado | $71,726 |
| 42 | Georgia | $69,243 |
| 43 | Iowa | $67,030 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $67,820 |
| 45 | Vermont | $65,197 |
| 46 | Florida | $68,661 |
| 47 | Montana | $68,679 |
| 48 | Missouri | $67,610 |
| 49 | Utah | $68,858 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $65,631 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $63,384 |
Expert opinions on the best states for physical therapy interns
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for physical therapy internships 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 therapy internship best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025