There were just over 240,800 physical therapists (PTs) working in the U.S. as of May 2023 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Physical therapists work in varied healthcare settings, including offices of non-physician practitioners, hospitals, home healthcare agencies, skilled nursing facilities, and physician offices. Like many other healthcare professionals with advanced technical skills and training, PTs generally earn more money than most occupations. According to BLS estimates, as of May 2023, the national mean wage for physical therapists was $100,440 per year. That said, there is a significant disparity from state to state in the average annual wages earned by PTs. A more extensive examination of BLS annual mean wage data reveals that, as of May 2023, the following were the ten best and worst states for physical therapist pay.
The Best and Worst States for Physical Therapist Pay
| Best Paying States | |
| California | $114,270 |
| Nevada | $111,460 |
| Alaska | $110,830 |
| New Jersey | $109,280 |
| Texas | $106,960 |
| Maryland | $105,520 |
| Illinois | $104,640 |
| Delaware | $104,530 |
| Connecticut | $103,870 |
| District of Columbia | $103,550 |
| Worst Paying States | |
| Idaho | $92,400 |
| Arkansas | $92,270 |
| Iowa | $91,850 |
| Maine | $91,720 |
| Missouri | $91,030 |
| Nebraska | $90,870 |
| South Dakota | $89,050 |
| North Dakota | $88,430 |
| Kentucky | $87,480 |
| Montana | $85,550 |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 27, 2024
