Best cities for a staff physical therapist
The best cities for staff physical therapists are Fremont, CA, Bakersfield, CA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for staff physical therapists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for staff physical therapists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a staff physical therapist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for staff physical therapists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for staff physical therapists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a staff physical therapist. While the absolute best city for staff physical therapists is Fremont, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for staff physical therapists in 2024.
If you're looking for a staff physical therapist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for staff physical therapists in 2025
1. Fremont, CA
Total staff physical therapist jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $108,981 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 5.58 2. Bakersfield, CA
Total staff physical therapist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $106,882 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 4.51 3. San Jose, CA
Total staff physical therapist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $109,120 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 0.43 4. San Francisco, CA
Total staff physical therapist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $109,172 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 0.10 5. Sacramento, CA
Total staff physical therapist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $106,823 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 0.49 6. Chandler, AZ
Total staff physical therapist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $78,204 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location quotient: 2.05 7. Mesa, AZ
Total staff physical therapist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $78,185 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location quotient: 2.16 8. Detroit, MI
Total staff physical therapist jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $70,144 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 5.79 9. Albuquerque, NM
Total staff physical therapist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $84,065 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 0.76 10. Oakland, CA
Total staff physical therapist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $108,949 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for staff physical therapists
- Fremont, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- San Jose, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- Mesa, AZ
- Detroit, MI
- Albuquerque, NM
- Oakland, CA
- (11 staff physical therapist jobs)
- (2 staff physical therapist jobs)
- (3 staff physical therapist jobs)
- (1 staff physical therapist jobs)
- (1 staff physical therapist jobs)
- (2 staff physical therapist jobs)
- (1 staff physical therapist jobs)
- (12 staff physical therapist jobs)
- (1 staff physical therapist jobs)
- (0 staff physical therapist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a staff physical therapist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fremont, CA | $108,981 | $82,000 | 233,136 | 11 |
| 2 | Bakersfield, CA | $106,882 | $80,000 | 376,380 | 2 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $109,120 | $82,000 | 1,025,350 | 3 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $109,172 | $82,000 | 870,887 | 1 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $106,823 | $81,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 6 | Chandler, AZ | $78,204 | $59,000 | 247,477 | 2 |
| 7 | Mesa, AZ | $78,185 | $59,000 | 484,587 | 1 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $70,144 | $55,000 | 672,795 | 12 |
| 9 | Albuquerque, NM | $84,065 | $65,000 | 559,277 | 1 |
| 10 | Oakland, CA | $108,949 | $82,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $91,073 | $70,000 | 704,352 | 9 |
| 12 | Stockton, CA | $107,650 | $81,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 13 | Irvine, CA | $104,279 | $78,000 | 266,122 | 1 |
| 14 | Fresno, CA | $107,449 | $80,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 15 | Laredo, TX | $71,883 | $56,000 | 257,156 | 7 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $78,758 | $59,000 | 1,615,017 | 3 |
| 17 | Long Beach, CA | $104,812 | $78,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $79,313 | $63,000 | 2,704,958 | 23 |
| 19 | Anaheim, CA | $104,635 | $78,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 20 | Santa Ana, CA | $104,471 | $78,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 21 | Anchorage, AK | $92,881 | $75,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 22 | Corpus Christi, TX | $71,513 | $56,000 | 325,733 | 2 |
| 23 | Los Angeles, CA | $105,328 | $79,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 24 | Lubbock, TX | $70,932 | $55,000 | 252,506 | 2 |
| 25 | Riverside, CA | $104,247 | $78,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 26 | Tucson, AZ | $76,207 | $58,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 27 | New Orleans, LA | $83,217 | $66,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 28 | Glendale, AZ | $78,817 | $59,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 29 | Milwaukee, WI | $80,021 | $63,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 30 | San Diego, CA | $102,137 | $77,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 31 | Madison, WI | $80,006 | $63,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 32 | Scottsdale, AZ | $78,653 | $59,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 33 | Chula Vista, CA | $101,659 | $76,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 34 | San Antonio, TX | $71,293 | $56,000 | 1,492,510 | 5 |
| 35 | Gilbert, AZ | $78,116 | $59,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 36 | Fort Wayne, IN | $73,125 | $58,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 37 | Cincinnati, OH | $68,451 | $54,000 | 298,800 | 1 |
| 38 | Indianapolis, IN | $73,095 | $58,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 39 | Portland, OR | $82,898 | $64,000 | 639,863 | 1 |
| 40 | Omaha, NE | $74,040 | $59,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 41 | Lincoln, NE | $74,022 | $59,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 42 | Columbus, OH | $68,497 | $54,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 43 | Cleveland, OH | $68,489 | $54,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 44 | Austin, TX | $70,921 | $56,000 | 947,890 | 4 |
| 45 | Philadelphia, PA | $69,300 | $55,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 46 | Toledo, OH | $68,454 | $54,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 47 | El Paso, TX | $72,678 | $56,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 48 | Minneapolis, MN | $77,315 | $61,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 49 | Durham, NC | $71,128 | $56,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 50 | Saint Paul, MN | $77,314 | $61,000 | 302,398 | - |
Highest paying cities for staff physical therapists
| Rank | City | Avg. staff physical therapist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale, CA | $109,242 |
| 2 | East Hartford, CT | $83,165 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $82,898 |
| 4 | Bayonne, NJ | $80,533 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $79,313 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $78,502 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $76,693 |
| 8 | Oakton, VA | $75,517 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $71,985 |
| 10 | Laredo, TX | $71,883 |
| 11 | Portland, ME | $70,477 |
| 12 | Dearborn, MI | $70,147 |
| 13 | Lancaster, OH | $68,511 |
| 14 | Melbourne, FL | $67,336 |
Staff physical therapist best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025