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Lead therapist salary
Average lead therapist salary
$75,043
Understanding Lead Therapist Salaries
The role of a Lead Therapist is crucial in the healthcare sector, with an average salary of $75,043 per year. This figure can vary based on factors such as geographic location, specialization, and experience level. For instance, Lead Therapists in states like California and New York tend to earn higher salaries due to demand and cost of living adjustments.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level Lead Therapists may start at approximately $60,000, while those with several years of experience can reach salaries over $90,000. This progression reflects the growing expertise and responsibilities in the field.
Opportunities for Career Advancement
Lead Therapists can find positions in various settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, and private practices. With further education and certifications, professionals can pursue advanced roles, leading to increased salary potential and job satisfaction. Explore the diverse opportunities available in this rewarding career path.
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Where can a Lead Therapist earn more?
Lead therapist salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level lead therapist | $75,200 | $36.16 |
| Mid-level lead therapist | $82,000 | $39.43 |
| Senior-level lead therapist | $94,000 | $45.17 |
Lead therapist salary estimates from across the web
Average lead therapist salary by state
The highest-paying states for lead therapists are California, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The lowest average lead therapist salary states are Colorado, Arkansas, and Maine.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for lead therapists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $87,216 | $41.93 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $78,022 | $37.51 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $67,301 | $32.36 |
| 4 | Washington | $71,524 | $34.39 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $70,663 | $33.97 |
| 6 | Delaware | $73,798 | $35.48 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $78,344 | $37.67 |
| 8 | Louisiana | $68,123 | $32.75 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $60,026 | $28.86 |
| 10 | New York | $73,862 | $35.51 |
| 11 | Alaska | $66,187 | $31.82 |
| 12 | Indiana | $60,496 | $29.08 |
| 13 | Michigan | $60,654 | $29.16 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $65,651 | $31.56 |
| 15 | Nevada | $60,129 | $28.91 |
| 16 | Illinois | $65,192 | $31.34 |
| 17 | Virginia | $69,750 | $33.53 |
| 18 | Arizona | $65,337 | $31.41 |
| 19 | Idaho | $57,668 | $27.73 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $65,984 | $31.72 |
| 21 | Oregon | $67,098 | $32.26 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $57,872 | $27.82 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $56,113 | $26.98 |
| 24 | Maryland | $67,447 | $32.43 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $60,604 | $29.14 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $54,404 | $26.16 |
| 27 | Texas | $56,661 | $27.24 |
| 28 | Ohio | $58,257 | $28.01 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $51,845 | $24.93 |
| 30 | Montana | $49,910 | $24.00 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $58,364 | $28.06 |
| 32 | Alabama | $57,426 | $27.61 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $58,715 | $28.23 |
| 34 | Massachusetts | $65,293 | $31.39 |
| 35 | Kansas | $49,652 | $23.87 |
| 36 | Iowa | $53,506 | $25.72 |
| 37 | Georgia | $55,665 | $26.76 |
| 38 | New Hampshire | $58,231 | $28.00 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $54,616 | $26.26 |
| 40 | Utah | $55,611 | $26.74 |
| 41 | Missouri | $49,754 | $23.92 |
| 42 | Maine | $45,706 | $21.97 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $59,911 | $28.80 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $46,697 | $22.45 |
| 45 | Vermont | $44,439 | $21.36 |
| 46 | Colorado | $49,388 | $23.74 |
| 47 | Florida | $57,385 | $27.59 |
| 48 | District of Columbia | $60,042 | $28.87 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $41,277 | $19.84 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $43,823 | $21.07 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $51,418 | $24.72 |
Highest paying cities for lead therapists
The highest-paying cities for lead therapists are San Jose, CA, Hartford, CT, and Providence, RI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $91,043 | $43.77 |
| 2 | Hartford, CT | $76,598 | $36.83 |
| 3 | Providence, RI | $70,294 | $33.80 |
| 4 | Charlottesville, VA | $67,554 | $32.48 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $66,304 | $31.88 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $65,920 | $31.69 |
| 7 | Indianapolis, IN | $60,518 | $29.10 |
| 8 | Gastonia, NC | $59,333 | $28.53 |
| 9 | Neenah, WI | $59,200 | $28.46 |
| 10 | Morgantown, WV | $58,750 | $28.25 |
| 11 | Garfield Heights, OH | $58,667 | $28.21 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $57,935 | $27.85 |
| 13 | Kendall, FL | $57,638 | $27.71 |
| 14 | Gulfport, MS | $54,038 | $25.98 |
| 15 | Saint Charles, MO | $51,269 | $24.65 |
Lead therapist salary details
A lead therapist's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $124,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a lead therapist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $124,000 | $10,333 | $60 |
| 75th Percentile | $97,000 | $8,083 | $47 |
| Average | $75,043 | $6,254 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
Highest paying lead therapist jobs
The highest paying types of lead therapists are director of physical therapy, counselor/art therapist, and pediatric physical therapist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director Of Physical Therapy | $107,759 | $8,980 | $51.81 | 65,423 |
| Physical Therapy Internship | $71,624 | $5,969 | $34.43 | 127,064 |
| Outpatient Physical Therapist | $66,359 | $5,530 | $31.90 | 119,973 |
| Pediatric Physical Therapist | $75,699 | $6,308 | $36.39 | 98,862 |
| Home Care Physical Therapist | $71,303 | $5,942 | $34.28 | 180,359 |
| Per Diem Physical Therapist | $74,590 | $6,216 | $35.86 | 87,365 |
Top companies hiring lead therapists now:
Which companies pay lead therapists the most?
Lead therapist salaries at University of Maryland Medical System and Auberge Resorts Collection are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average lead therapist salary at companies like University of Maryland, Baltimore and Northwestern Medicine are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Maryland Medical System | $102,976 | $49.51 |
| 2 | Auberge Resorts Collection | $84,952 | $40.84 |
| 3 | University of Maryland, Baltimore | $84,054 | $40.41 |
| 4 | Northwestern Medicine | $81,632 | $39.25 |
| 5 | Alliance Co | $81,237 | $39.06 |
| 6 | PeaceHealth | $78,211 | $37.60 |
| 7 | Hendrick Health | $75,666 | $36.38 |
| 8 | CaroMont Health | $72,997 | $35.09 |
| 9 | Northern Arizona Healthcare Corporation | $70,182 | $33.74 |
| 10 | Vibra Healthcare | $69,559 | $33.44 |
| 11 | Advanced Recovery Systems | $69,193 | $33.27 |
| 12 | Westcare Health Corporation | $68,049 | $32.72 |
| 13 | HealthPRO | $68,031 | $32.71 |
| 14 | Rawhide | $67,554 | $32.48 |
| 15 | Vail Resorts | $65,109 | $31.30 |
| 16 | West Virginia University | $65,003 | $31.25 |
| 17 | Seneca Companies | $63,596 | $30.57 |
| 18 | Care New England Health System | $63,389 | $30.48 |
| 19 | Pyramid Healthcare | $59,300 | $28.51 |
| 20 | Fairmont Schools | $59,054 | $28.39 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Lead therapist salary trends
The average lead therapist salary has risen by $10,505 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average lead therapist earned $64,538 annually, but today, they earn $75,043 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for lead therapists over the last decade.
Compare lead therapist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average lead therapist salary over time
Compare lead therapist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Lead therapist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $75,000 | $36.08 | +1.7% |
| 2025 | $73,700 | $35.46 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $72,500 | $34.86 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $71,600 | $34.43 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $70,400 | $33.85 | +1.6% |
Recently added lead therapist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archdiocese of San Antonio | Lead Therapist-Counseling Services | San Antonio, TX | 06/29/2025 | $78,000 |
| Clean Recovery Centers | Lead Therapist Sarasota | Sarasota, FL | 06/27/2025 | $60,000 |
| Lifepoint Hospitals | Lead Therapist | Englewood, CO | 06/24/2025 | $72,565 |
| Acadia Healthcare | Lead Therapist | Springfield, MO | 06/15/2025 | $70,000 |
| Maple Counseling Center | Lead Therapist | Santa Monica, CA | 06/12/2025 | $92,000 |
| Cornerstones of Care | Lead Therapist-School Based Services | Kansas City, MO | 05/24/2025 | $53,000 |
| Alsana | Lead Therapist-Sunday-Thursday | Carpinteria, CA | 05/22/2025 | $80,000 |
| Denver Springs | Lead Therapist | Englewood, CO | 05/16/2025 | $72,565 |
| Staffosaurus | Clinical Lead Therapist | Jersey City, NJ | 05/13/2025 | $70,000 |
| Southwest Behavioral & Health Services Careers | Lead Therapist | Phoenix, AZ | 04/08/2025 | $60,000 |
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