Data released recently from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there were more than 248,000 physical therapists (PTs) at work in the United States as of May 2024. Nearly 27,300 of those working as physical therapists in the U.S. lived in the four-state Southwest region. The Southwest region was a relatively good one for physical therapist pay, with the two largest states in the region, Arizona and Texas, both recording PT annual mean wage levels that ranked among the top 10 states nationally for the profession. A deeper dive into BLS data from May 2024 reveals the following about PT employment and physical therapist pay in the U.S. Southwest:
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Physical Therapist Pay in the U.S. Southwest |
| State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
| AZ | 4,540 | $104,250 | 10th |
| NM | 1,350 | $99,360 | 24th |
| OK | 2,4300 | $97,760 | 32nd |
| TX | 18,930 | $106,450 | 9th |
| U.S. | 248,620 | $99,913 | ------- |
(*) 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 20, 2026
