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Physical therapy internship salary
Average physical therapy internship salary
$71,624
Understanding Physical Therapy Internship Salaries
The average salary for a Physical Therapy Internship in the United States is approximately $71,624 annually. Interns typically earn around $34 per hour, but this can vary based on several factors including geographic location, the type of healthcare facility, and the intern's level of experience.
Interns in states such as California and New York often receive higher pay due to the cost of living and demand for physical therapy services. Additionally, specialized internships in areas like sports medicine or pediatric therapy may offer enhanced pay rates. As interns gain experience, their earning potential may increase significantly.
To help prospective interns, we've compiled salary estimates from various sources to provide a comprehensive view of expected earnings. Understanding these factors can aid in making informed career decisions as you pursue opportunities in physical therapy.
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Where can a Physical Therapy Internship earn more?
Physical therapy internship salary estimates from across the web
Average physical therapy internship salary by state
The average physical therapy internship salary in California, Alaska, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average physical therapy internship salary states are Missouri, West Virginia, and Iowa.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for physical therapy interns
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $89,766 | $43.16 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $76,480 | $36.77 |
| 3 | California | $117,560 | $56.52 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $77,229 | $37.13 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $75,501 | $36.30 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $80,014 | $38.47 |
| 7 | Washington | $87,201 | $41.92 |
| 8 | Nevada | $83,923 | $40.35 |
| 9 | Mississippi | $74,200 | $35.67 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $73,163 | $35.17 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $76,997 | $37.02 |
| 12 | Louisiana | $72,782 | $34.99 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $84,143 | $40.45 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $73,167 | $35.18 |
| 15 | Delaware | $76,648 | $36.85 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $77,065 | $37.05 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $78,738 | $37.85 |
| 18 | Idaho | $73,858 | $35.51 |
| 19 | Arizona | $74,410 | $35.77 |
| 20 | Alabama | $72,390 | $34.80 |
| 21 | Indiana | $70,299 | $33.80 |
| 22 | Michigan | $71,092 | $34.18 |
| 23 | Maryland | $76,320 | $36.69 |
| 24 | Oregon | $77,667 | $37.34 |
| 25 | Illinois | $74,473 | $35.80 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $67,493 | $32.45 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $71,023 | $34.15 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $70,710 | $34.00 |
| 29 | Maine | $70,265 | $33.78 |
| 30 | Virginia | $75,097 | $36.10 |
| 31 | Texas | $71,758 | $34.50 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $70,985 | $34.13 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $71,232 | $34.25 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $77,819 | $37.41 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $69,243 | $33.29 |
| 36 | Kansas | $69,086 | $33.21 |
| 37 | New York | $74,303 | $35.72 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $70,098 | $33.70 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $70,301 | $33.80 |
| 40 | Ohio | $68,726 | $33.04 |
| 41 | Colorado | $71,726 | $34.48 |
| 42 | Georgia | $69,243 | $33.29 |
| 43 | Iowa | $67,030 | $32.23 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $67,820 | $32.61 |
| 45 | Vermont | $65,197 | $31.34 |
| 46 | Florida | $68,661 | $33.01 |
| 47 | Montana | $68,679 | $33.02 |
| 48 | Missouri | $67,610 | $32.50 |
| 49 | Utah | $68,858 | $33.10 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $65,631 | $31.55 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $63,384 | $30.47 |
Highest paying cities for physical therapy interns
The highest-paying cities for physical therapy interns are Pasadena, CA, El Centro, CA, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pasadena, CA | $117,013 | $56.26 |
| 2 | El Centro, CA | $110,675 | $53.21 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $87,657 | $42.14 |
| 4 | Jackson, NJ | $78,782 | $37.88 |
| 5 | Corvallis, OR | $77,971 | $37.49 |
| 6 | Rochester, MN | $77,058 | $37.05 |
| 7 | Woodbridge, VA | $75,215 | $36.16 |
| 8 | Charlottesville, VA | $75,088 | $36.10 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $74,745 | $35.94 |
| 10 | Northbrook, IL | $74,604 | $35.87 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $74,592 | $35.86 |
| 12 | La Grange, IL | $74,583 | $35.86 |
| 13 | Massapequa, NY | $74,417 | $35.78 |
| 14 | New York, NY | $74,343 | $35.74 |
| 15 | Twin Falls, ID | $73,646 | $35.41 |
| 16 | Pineville, LA | $72,837 | $35.02 |
| 17 | Opelika, AL | $72,387 | $34.80 |
| 18 | Broomfield, CO | $71,810 | $34.52 |
| 19 | Beaumont, TX | $71,567 | $34.41 |
| 20 | Kenosha, WI | $71,269 | $34.26 |
Physical therapy internship salary details
A physical therapy internship's salary ranges from $52,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $96,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a physical therapy internship's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $96,000 | $8,000 | $46 |
| 75th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| Average | $71,624 | $5,969 | $34 |
| 25th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| 10th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
Highest paying physical therapy internship jobs
The highest paying types of physical therapy interns are director of physical therapy, pediatric physical therapist, and lead therapist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In Home Therapist | $51,706 | $4,309 | $24.86 | 113,993 |
| Therapist | $55,943 | $4,662 | $26.90 | 159,770 |
| Clinical Therapist | $57,864 | $4,822 | $27.82 | 136,898 |
| Outpatient Physical Therapist | $66,359 | $5,530 | $31.90 | 119,973 |
| Registered Physical Therapist | $72,910 | $6,076 | $35.05 | 85,771 |
| Director Of Physical Therapy | $107,759 | $8,980 | $51.81 | 65,423 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for physical therapy internships, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Todd Roach D.C.
Assistant Professor of Biology, Aurora University
Top companies hiring physical therapy interns now:
Which companies pay physical therapy interns the most?
Physical therapy internship salaries at Oracle and Mayo Clinic are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average physical therapy internship salary at companies like Gillette and Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oracle | $89,614 | $43.08 |
| 2 | Mayo Clinic | $85,909 | $41.30 |
| 3 | Gillette | $84,963 | $40.85 |
| 4 | Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas | $79,533 | $38.24 |
| 5 | P&G | $78,903 | $37.93 |
| 6 | St. Luke's Health System | $76,885 | $36.96 |
| 7 | East Alabama Health | $76,650 | $36.85 |
| 8 | El Centro Regional Medical Center | $76,077 | $36.58 |
| 9 | Henry Ford Health System | $76,061 | $36.57 |
| 10 | Lehigh Valley Health Network | $75,155 | $36.13 |
| 11 | CSL Plasma | $74,568 | $35.85 |
| 12 | Kforce | $74,321 | $35.73 |
| 13 | Mount Sinai Health System | $74,029 | $35.59 |
| 14 | Froedtert South | $73,658 | $35.41 |
| 15 | ON Semiconductor | $73,588 | $35.38 |
| 16 | YAI | $73,514 | $35.34 |
| 17 | EXOS | $73,136 | $35.16 |
| 18 | MedPro Healthcare Staffing | $72,812 | $35.01 |
| 19 | AdventHealth | $69,794 | $33.55 |
| 20 | Youth Villages | $69,446 | $33.39 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Physical therapy internship salary trends
The average physical therapy internship salary has risen by $10,026 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average physical therapy internship earned $61,598 annually, but today, they earn $71,624 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for physical therapy interns over the last decade.
Compare physical therapy internship salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average physical therapy internship salary over time
Compare physical therapy internship salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Physical therapy internship salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $71,600 | $34.43 | +1.7% |
| 2025 | $70,400 | $33.84 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $69,200 | $33.27 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $68,400 | $32.86 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $67,200 | $32.31 | +1.6% |
Recently added physical therapy internship salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Select Medical | Rehab Therapy Extern | Saint Louis, MO | 06/02/2025 | $37,566 |
| Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, Inc. | Physical Modeling Intern | Irvine, CA | 05/22/2025 | $54,262 |
| Heritage Schools | Therapy Internship | Spark Academy | Provo, UT | 05/06/2025 | $31,305 |
| Lake Region Healthcare | Therapy Student Intern-Physical Therapy-Biweekly | Fergus Falls, MN | 05/04/2025 | $31,305 |
| First Solar | Device Physics Intern (Summer 2025) | Perrysburg, OH | 04/28/2025 | $81,393 |
| Penn State University | Arboretum/Opp Horticulture Intern-Office of Physical Plant | Parkesburg, PA | 04/22/2025 | $29,218 |
| Sri International | Intern, Applied Physics | Boulder, CO | 03/31/2025 | $41,740 |
| Intermountain Healthcare | Post-Masters Family Therapy Intern (Addiction Medicine Focus) | Grand Junction, CO | 03/29/2025 | $53,385 |
| Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. | Physical Modeling Intern | Irvine, CA | 03/29/2025 | $54,262 |
| Insight Therapy Solutions | Marriage and Family Therapy Intern | Las Vegas, NV | 03/28/2025 | $85,567 |
Physical therapy internship salary FAQs
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