Best cities for a registered physical therapist
The best cities for registered physical therapists are San Jose, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Oakland, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for registered physical therapists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for registered physical therapists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a registered physical therapist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for registered physical therapists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for registered physical therapists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a registered physical therapist. While the absolute best city for registered physical therapists is San Jose, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for registered physical therapists in 2024.
If you're looking for a registered physical therapist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for registered physical therapists in 2025
1. San Jose, CA
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $115,985 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 2.69 2. San Francisco, CA
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,057 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Oakland, CA
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $116,804 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Sacramento, CA
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $116,392 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Fremont, CA
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $116,301 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Seattle, WA
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $104,667 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Stockton, CA
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $115,894 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Boston, MA
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $99,786 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 2.13 9. Fresno, CA
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $113,383 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Los Angeles, CA
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $109,365 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for registered physical therapists
- San Jose, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Stockton, CA
- Boston, MA
- Fresno, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
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Detailed list of the best cities for a registered physical therapist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $115,985 | $78,000 | 1,025,350 | 5 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $117,057 | $79,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $116,804 | $79,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $116,392 | $78,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $116,301 | $78,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $104,667 | $71,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | $115,894 | $78,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $99,786 | $66,000 | 673,184 | 4 |
| 9 | Fresno, CA | $113,383 | $76,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $109,365 | $74,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 11 | Anchorage, AK | $97,620 | $66,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 12 | Long Beach, CA | $108,953 | $74,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 13 | Bakersfield, CA | $111,510 | $75,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 14 | Anaheim, CA | $108,828 | $74,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 15 | Santa Ana, CA | $108,708 | $74,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 16 | Irvine, CA | $108,575 | $74,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 17 | Riverside, CA | $108,553 | $73,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 18 | San Diego, CA | $107,276 | $73,000 | 1,406,630 | 2 |
| 19 | Chula Vista, CA | $107,039 | $73,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 20 | Albuquerque, NM | $87,103 | $59,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 21 | Chicago, IL | $83,936 | $58,000 | 2,704,958 | 6 |
| 22 | Fort Wayne, IN | $76,027 | $53,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 23 | Cincinnati, OH | $69,415 | $47,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 24 | Philadelphia, PA | $76,129 | $51,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 25 | Indianapolis, IN | $75,713 | $52,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 26 | Lincoln, NE | $75,646 | $53,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 27 | Pittsburgh, PA | $74,452 | $51,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 28 | Omaha, NE | $75,550 | $53,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 29 | Cleveland, OH | $70,329 | $48,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 30 | Columbus, OH | $69,718 | $48,000 | 860,090 | 2 |
| 31 | Detroit, MI | $73,263 | $51,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 32 | Winston-Salem, NC | $71,054 | $47,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 33 | Toledo, OH | $69,975 | $48,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 34 | Greensboro, NC | $71,028 | $47,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 35 | Saint Paul, MN | $78,927 | $56,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 36 | Durham, NC | $70,962 | $47,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 37 | Minneapolis, MN | $78,920 | $56,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 38 | Raleigh, NC | $70,811 | $47,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 39 | Portland, OR | $81,322 | $55,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 40 | Fort Worth, TX | $71,263 | $47,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 41 | Jersey City, NJ | $85,537 | $57,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 42 | Wichita, KS | $71,764 | $50,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 43 | Arlington, TX | $71,183 | $47,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 44 | Newark, NJ | $85,505 | $57,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 45 | El Paso, TX | $73,922 | $50,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 46 | Irving, TX | $71,177 | $47,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 47 | Plano, TX | $71,140 | $47,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 48 | Milwaukee, WI | $71,275 | $50,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 49 | Dallas, TX | $71,112 | $47,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 50 | Madison, WI | $71,189 | $50,000 | 252,551 | - |
Highest paying cities for registered physical therapists
| Rank | City | Avg. registered physical therapist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, CA | $117,085 |
| 2 | Federal Way, WA | $104,725 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $99,787 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $83,936 |
| 5 | East Providence, RI | $81,907 |
| 6 | Casper, WY | $78,387 |
| 7 | Hilo, HI | $78,367 |
| 8 | Coeur dAlene, ID | $77,862 |
| 9 | Michigan City, IN | $75,880 |
| 10 | Omaha, NE | $75,550 |
| 11 | Rochester Hills, MI | $73,266 |
| 12 | Columbia, SC | $70,281 |
| 13 | Elyria, OH | $70,198 |
| 14 | Pueblo, CO | $70,047 |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $69,989 |
| 16 | New York, NY | $69,963 |
| 17 | Macon, GA | $68,322 |
| 18 | Altamonte Springs, FL | $66,618 |
| 19 | Chandler, AZ | $64,675 |
| 20 | Columbia, TN | $56,730 |
Registered physical therapist best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025