There were just over 225,000 physical therapists (PTs) working in the U.S. as of May 2021 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 health care 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 2021, the national mean wage for physical therapists was $92,920 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 data reveals that, as of May 2021, the following were the ten best and worst states for physical therapist pay.
The Best and Worst States for Physical Therapist Pay
| State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
| NV | 1,860 | $104,210 | 1st |
| CA | 23,840 | $103,510 | 2nd |
| CT | 3,410 | $101,180 | 3rd |
| DE | 870 | $100,490 | 4th |
| NJ | 7,400 | $99,530 | 5th |
| TX | 14,040 | $98,340 | 6th |
| RI | 920 | $97,580 | 7th |
| WA | 4,750 | $97,420 | 8th |
| NM | 1,370 | $97,190 | 9th |
| AK | 680 | $96,980 | 10th |
| U.S. | 225,350 | $92,920 | ------- |
| NC | 6,910 | $85,750 | 42nd |
| ME | 1,420 | $85,620 | 43rd |
| VT | 630 | $85,440 | 44th |
| MO | 4,580 | $84,230 | 45th |
| IA | 2,490 | $83,860 | 46th |
| SD | 810 | $83,820 | 47th |
| SC | 3,520 | $83,270 | 48th |
| MI | 8,000 | $83,160 | 49th |
| MT | 1,120 | $82,660 | 50th |
| ND | 720 | $81,480 | 51st |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on August 3, 2022
