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Best states for a registered physical therapist
Quoted expert
Amy G. Schubert and Lisa Steinkamp
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- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for registered physical therapists in the United States. Registered physical therapist 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 registered physical therapists.Our research found that Alaska is the best state for registered physical therapists, while California and Washington are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Alaska has a median salary of $96,792 and California has the highest median salary among all 50 states for registered physical therapists.
The median salary for registered physical therapists in Alaska is $96,792. Compare that to the median salary in District of Columbia of $66,432, which ranked worst for registered physical therapists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a registered physical therapist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for registered physical therapists in 2026
1. Alaska
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 130 Average annual salary: $96,792 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
2. New Mexico
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 328 Average annual salary: $86,642 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
3. Washington
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 1,047 Average annual salary: $103,911 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
4. California
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 4,139 Average annual salary: $111,144 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
5. New Hampshire
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 387 Average annual salary: $80,872 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
6. Wyoming
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 111 Average annual salary: $78,750 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
7. Rhode Island
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 203 Average annual salary: $81,884 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
8. Illinois
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 1,734 Average annual salary: $83,821 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
9. Indiana
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 1,160 Average annual salary: $75,689 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
10. Massachusetts
Total registered physical therapist jobs: 1,104 Average annual salary: $99,759 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
Registered physical therapist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a registered physical therapist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a registered physical therapist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $96,792 | $65,000 | 739,795 | 130 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $86,642 | $59,000 | 2,088,070 | 328 |
| 3 | Washington | $103,911 | $71,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,047 |
| 4 | California | $111,144 | $75,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,139 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $80,872 | $53,000 | 1,342,795 | 387 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $78,750 | $55,000 | 579,315 | 111 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $81,884 | $54,000 | 1,059,639 | 203 |
| 8 | Illinois | $83,821 | $59,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,734 |
| 9 | Indiana | $75,689 | $52,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,160 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $99,759 | $66,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,104 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $85,419 | $57,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,183 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $75,654 | $53,000 | 1,920,076 | 389 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $88,056 | $59,000 | 3,588,184 | 379 |
| 14 | Idaho | $77,718 | $53,000 | 1,716,943 | 228 |
| 15 | Delaware | $80,416 | $54,000 | 961,939 | 171 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $71,255 | $50,000 | 755,393 | 194 |
| 17 | Maine | $73,625 | $48,000 | 1,335,907 | 210 |
| 18 | Oregon | $81,555 | $56,000 | 4,142,776 | 521 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $75,891 | $51,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,535 |
| 20 | Kansas | $71,597 | $50,000 | 2,913,123 | 508 |
| 21 | Utah | $77,115 | $53,000 | 3,101,833 | 252 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $78,889 | $56,000 | 5,576,606 | 612 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $67,975 | $46,000 | 1,815,857 | 285 |
| 24 | Michigan | $73,147 | $51,000 | 9,962,311 | 984 |
| 25 | Texas | $70,874 | $47,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,950 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $69,901 | $46,000 | 5,024,369 | 746 |
| 27 | Vermont | $68,484 | $44,000 | 623,657 | 173 |
| 28 | Ohio | $69,901 | $48,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,407 |
| 29 | Missouri | $69,091 | $48,000 | 6,113,532 | 985 |
| 30 | Maryland | $74,618 | $50,000 | 6,052,177 | 895 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $70,622 | $47,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,285 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $79,657 | $63,000 | 1,427,538 | 114 |
| 33 | Georgia | $68,724 | $45,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,538 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $66,181 | $47,000 | 869,666 | 174 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $71,161 | $50,000 | 5,795,483 | 690 |
| 36 | Nevada | $70,412 | $47,000 | 2,998,039 | 277 |
| 37 | Montana | $67,856 | $47,000 | 1,050,493 | 184 |
| 38 | Colorado | $69,828 | $49,000 | 5,607,154 | 838 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $67,437 | $46,000 | 4,454,189 | 497 |
| 40 | New York | $69,891 | $47,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,618 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $64,910 | $44,000 | 3,004,279 | 354 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $65,321 | $43,000 | 2,984,100 | 282 |
| 43 | Alabama | $65,540 | $43,000 | 4,874,747 | 562 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $62,654 | $41,000 | 4,684,333 | 467 |
| 45 | Iowa | $59,763 | $42,000 | 3,145,711 | 542 |
| 46 | Florida | $66,025 | $42,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,864 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $58,927 | $40,000 | 3,930,864 | 458 |
| 48 | Arizona | $64,673 | $44,000 | 7,016,270 | 702 |
| 49 | Virginia | $66,723 | $44,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,122 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $56,826 | $38,000 | 6,715,984 | 782 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | $66,432 | $45,000 | 693,972 | 112 |
Highest paying states for registered physical therapists
| Rank | State | Avg. Registered Physical Therapist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $96,792 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $86,642 |
| 3 | Washington | $103,911 |
| 4 | California | $111,144 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $80,872 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $78,750 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $81,884 |
| 8 | Illinois | $83,821 |
| 9 | Indiana | $75,689 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $99,759 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $85,419 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $75,654 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $88,056 |
| 14 | Idaho | $77,718 |
| 15 | Delaware | $80,416 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $71,255 |
| 17 | Maine | $73,625 |
| 18 | Oregon | $81,555 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $75,891 |
| 20 | Kansas | $71,597 |
| 21 | Utah | $77,115 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $78,889 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $67,975 |
| 24 | Michigan | $73,147 |
| 25 | Texas | $70,874 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $69,901 |
| 27 | Vermont | $68,484 |
| 28 | Ohio | $69,901 |
| 29 | Missouri | $69,091 |
| 30 | Maryland | $74,618 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $70,622 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $79,657 |
| 33 | Georgia | $68,724 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $66,181 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $71,161 |
| 36 | Nevada | $70,412 |
| 37 | Montana | $67,856 |
| 38 | Colorado | $69,828 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $67,437 |
| 40 | New York | $69,891 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $64,910 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $65,321 |
| 43 | Alabama | $65,540 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $62,654 |
| 45 | Iowa | $59,763 |
| 46 | Florida | $66,025 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $58,927 |
| 48 | Arizona | $64,673 |
| 49 | Virginia | $66,723 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $56,826 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | $66,432 |
Expert opinions on the best states for registered physical therapists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for registered 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.
Registered 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