Physical Therapist Hourly Pay (2026): How Much Do PTs Make Per Hour?

The median physical therapist hourly pay is $50.62 per hour in 2026, equivalent to $105,288 annually. PT hourly rates range from low-cost markets up to $71.53 in Oakland, CA — driven by outpatient ortho premiums, per-visit pay structures, travel PT contracts, and APTA specialty board certifications.

$50.62

Median Hourly Rate

$105,288

Annual Equivalent

$38.57

Entry-Level Hourly

1689+

Cities Tracked

2019 BLS

$43.00/hr

2025 BLS

$49.40/hr

2026 Current Est.

$50.62/hr

2019–2027 Growth

+20.6%

National Physical Therapist Hourly Rate Trend

2019–2025: BLS OEWS actual data. 2026+: CAGR 2.46% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Median Hourly Rate	Status
2019	$43.00/hr	Actual
2020	$43.75/hr	Actual
2021	$45.97/hr	Actual
2022	$46.98/hr	Actual
2023	$47.94/hr	Actual
2024	$48.57/hr	Actual
2025	$49.40/hr	Actual
2026(current)	$50.62/hr	Estimated
2027	$51.86/hr	Projected

The national median hourly rate for physical therapists has grown steadily over the past 7 years of BLS data, reflecting strong demand for physical therapy services. At the current 2.46% CAGR, hourly rates are projected to continue rising through 2027.

Note: BLS actual data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. Estimated and projected values are calculated using a 2.46% historical CAGR. Actual compensation may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Physical Therapist Salary Per Hour by State

Hourly rates for physical therapists vary widely by state. Western and Northeastern states consistently top the rankings, while Southeastern states tend to fall below the national median of $50.62/hour.

#	State	Avg Hourly	Annual Equiv	vs National	Cities
1	California	$59.45	$123,662	+17.45%	158
2	Nevada	$56.41	$117,337	+11.44%	9
3	Alaska	$55.38	$115,191	+9.41%	5
4	New Jersey	$54.45	$113,260	+7.57%	61
5	New Mexico	$52.68	$109,577	+4.07%	17
6	Texas	$52.29	$108,758	+3.30%	109
7	Maryland	$52.28	$108,746	+3.28%	28
8	Washington	$52.12	$108,401	+2.96%	50
9	Illinois	$51.72	$107,573	+2.17%	65
10	Hawaii	$51.67	$107,473	+2.08%	10
11	New York	$51.38	$106,863	+1.50%	39
12	Connecticut	$51.32	$106,738	+1.38%	29
13	Oregon	$51.15	$106,400	+1.06%	36
14	Massachusetts	$51.13	$106,358	+1.02%	59
15	New Hampshire	$50.93	$105,943	+0.62%	16
16	Ohio	$50.83	$105,721	+0.41%	67
17	Arizona	$50.78	$105,632	+0.33%	33
18	District of Columbia	$50.73	$105,514	+0.21%	1
19	Pennsylvania	$50.72	$105,490	+0.19%	25
20	South Carolina	$50.33	$104,676	-0.58%	26
21	Georgia	$50.32	$104,664	-0.59%	40
22	Michigan	$50.06	$104,131	-1.10%	54
23	Wisconsin	$50.02	$104,049	-1.18%	46
24	Virginia	$50.02	$104,037	-1.19%	42
25	Indiana	$50.00	$103,990	-1.23%	43
26	Minnesota	$49.96	$103,911	-1.31%	44
27	Colorado	$49.84	$103,660	-1.55%	33
28	Florida	$49.70	$103,385	-1.81%	87
29	Maine	$49.63	$103,235	-1.95%	10
30	Arkansas	$49.59	$103,141	-2.04%	21
31	Utah	$49.48	$102,910	-2.26%	41
32	Rhode Island	$49.41	$102,773	-2.39%	17
33	Mississippi	$49.38	$102,710	-2.45%	20
34	North Carolina	$49.26	$102,468	-2.68%	45
35	Missouri	$49.07	$102,060	-3.07%	33
36	Tennessee	$49.01	$101,932	-3.19%	30
37	Vermont	$48.92	$101,762	-3.35%	9
38	Oklahoma	$48.90	$101,722	-3.39%	27
39	Delaware	$48.67	$101,233	-3.85%	6
40	Kentucky	$48.60	$101,085	-3.99%	21
41	Nebraska	$48.58	$101,038	-4.04%	13
42	Wyoming	$48.57	$101,024	-4.05%	14
43	West Virginia	$48.32	$100,497	-4.55%	11
44	Alabama	$47.85	$99,529	-5.47%	24
45	Iowa	$47.80	$99,416	-5.58%	26
46	Kansas	$47.73	$99,281	-5.71%	22
47	Louisiana	$47.54	$98,874	-6.09%	20
48	Idaho	$47.21	$98,200	-6.73%	16
49	South Dakota	$45.37	$94,372	-10.37%	11
50	Montana	$44.49	$92,533	-12.11%	7
51	North Dakota	$41.89	$87,133	-17.24%	8
52	Puerto Rico	$29.31	$60,975	-42.09%	5

How Much Do Physical Therapists Make Per Hour? Top 20 Cities

These 20 metro areas offer the highest hourly rates for physical therapists in the United States. Rates reflect the median hourly wage reported by BLS, or estimated from annual salary data.

#	City	Hourly Rate	Per 8hr Shift	Annual Equiv
1	Oakland, CA	$71.53	$572.22	$148,777
2	Sunnyvale, CA	$70.08	$560.66	$145,772
3	Fremont, CA	$69.95	$559.60	$145,495
4	San Francisco, CA	$69.94	$559.51	$145,474
5	Vallejo, CA	$69.71	$557.71	$145,005
6	Santa Clara, CA	$69.62	$556.97	$144,813
7	Santa Rosa, CA	$69.02	$552.14	$143,555
8	San Jose, CA	$68.47	$547.79	$142,426
9	Petaluma, CA	$68.35	$546.81	$142,170
10	Napa, CA	$68.25	$545.99	$141,957
11	Chico, CA	$66.49	$531.89	$138,291
12	Santa Ana, CA	$65.49	$523.94	$136,224
13	Folsom, CA	$65.17	$521.40	$135,564
14	Sacramento, CA	$64.74	$517.96	$134,669
15	Roseville, CA	$64.48	$515.82	$134,114
16	Fontana, CA	$64.28	$514.27	$133,709
17	Honolulu, HI	$64.26	$514.10	$133,667
18	Irvine, CA	$64.21	$513.69	$133,560
19	Pomona, CA	$63.90	$511.23	$132,921
20	Simi Valley, CA	$63.86	$510.91	$132,836

Physical Therapist Hourly Rate: Staff, Per Visit, Per Diem, and Travel PT Pay

Physical therapy has more compensation models than most healthcare roles — hourly W-2 staff, per-visit production pay, per diem, locum / travel, cash-pay private practice. Each model produces a very different effective hourly rate, and PTs who understand the trade-offs can dramatically optimize income.

Staff PT hourly rate — the W-2 hospital, SNF, or outpatient clinic baseline. At $50.62/hour median nationally, staff DPTs receive standard benefits (health insurance, PTO, retirement match, continuing education stipend, license / malpractice covered). Outpatient ortho chains and academic medical centers anchor the staff hourly distribution.

Per-visit pay (productivity model) — most outpatient ortho clinics pay per-visit ($65–$110 per completed visit). At 10–14 visits/day, per-visit PTs earn effective hourly rates of $45–$85+/hour depending on caseload. Drawback: pay swings with patient volume, no-shows hurt income, productivity pressure can be intense. Major per-visit chains: Athletico, ATI Physical Therapy, Select Physical Therapy, Drayer Physical Therapy, FYZICAL, Physio Inc., Confluent Health, Ivy Rehab, U.S. Physical Therapy. Strong rates at Bardavon-tracked workers' comp clinics.

Home health per-visit PT — typically $80–$160 per OASIS-completed visit including documentation and travel time. At 5–7 visits/day, home health PTs earn $400–$1,000/day. Major employers: Encompass Health (home health subsidiary post-spin-off), Amedisys, BAYADA, Aveanna, LHC Group, Bayada, AccentCare. Mileage typically reimbursed at IRS rate.

SNF / skilled nursing PT hourly rate — Aegis Therapies, Genesis Rehab Services, Encompass Health, Powerback Rehabilitation, Reliant Rehabilitation, RehabCare (Kindred) typically pay competitive hourly with strong benefits. Some SNF chains offer minute-based productivity bonuses.

Per diem PT — typically 25–50% premium over staff base for same-day or short-notice coverage. Per diem PTs at hospitals and outpatient clinics fill scheduling gaps.

Travel PT — contract assignments through agencies (Aya Healthcare, AMN Healthcare / Med Travelers, Cross Country, Travel Therapy Trio, NurseFly, Vivian Health, Soliant Health) typically pay $40–$75/hour during normal markets, plus non-taxable per-diem (housing, meals, incidentals). Total effective rate often reaches $55–$110/hour during 13-week assignments. SNF travel and rural critical-access PT contracts command top travel rates.

Cash-pay private practice / 1099 contractor PT — niche but lucrative for established PTs with strong referral networks. Bills $120–$300+/hour for cash-pay performance / sports / pelvic floor / specialty PT in HNW markets. No benefits, but full revenue retention.

Schedule	Weekly	Monthly	Annual (50 wks)
3 days/week (24 hrs)	$1,215	$5,260	$60,743
4 days/week (32 hrs)	$1,620	$7,014	$80,991
Full-time (40 hrs)	$2,025	$8,767	$101,238

* Based on the national median hourly rate of $50.62. Actual earnings vary by location.

Physical Therapist Pay Per Hour vs Similar Healthcare Roles

How does physical therapist hourly pay compare to similar allied health professions? Here's a side-by-side comparison using BLS 2025 national median data:

Occupation	Hourly	Annual	BLS Code
Physical Therapist ★	$50.62	$105,288	29-1123
Physical Therapist Assistant	$31.26	$65,020	31-2021
Occupational Therapist	$47.00	$97,750	29-1122
Chiropractor	$36.85	$76,630	29-1011
Exercise Physiologist	$26.75	$55,640	29-1128

★ = Physical Therapist (2026 projected). Other roles: BLS OEWS 2025 national median wages.

Factors That Drive Physical Therapist Hourly Pay Differences

Physical therapist hourly pay isn't a single number — it's a range driven by location, employer setting, compensation model (hourly vs per-visit), specialty certification, and experience level. Understanding what moves your hourly rate up or down helps you target the highest-paying combinations of state + setting + certification + employment structure. The national median sits at $50.62/hour, but PT hourly rates reach $71.53 in top markets like Oakland, CA and exceed $65/hour with specialty board certifications and travel premiums.

This guide breaks down the five biggest drivers of PT hourly pay differences across 1689+ U.S. metropolitan areas tracked here. If you're a CAPTE-accredited DPT graduate evaluating first job, a working PT considering per-visit vs hourly switch, or a clinic director benchmarking competitive wages, the framework below is the central reference.

1. State and Metro Cost-of-Living Premium

Location is the largest non-setting driver of PT hourly pay. PT Compact membership (30+ states) plus state cost of living shape the distribution:

California ($48–$70/hour staff) — Bay Area, LA, San Diego, Sacramento markets lead. High COL plus strong PT demand.
Nevada, Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon ($40–$58/hour staff) — Las Vegas / Hawaii / Anchorage / Seattle / Portland support strong rates.
Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey ($38–$55/hour staff) — NYC, Boston, Hartford, Bergen-Morris-Somerset NJ lead.
Mid-Atlantic / Midwest / South $32–$45/hour staff — Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Ohio. Strong real purchasing power.
PT Compact membership — 30+ states have enacted the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact. Multi-state practice and travel-PT eligibility expanded in compact states.

2. Setting: Outpatient Ortho vs SNF vs Home Health vs Hospital

Setting drives 20–40% pay variation:

Outpatient orthopedic clinic (per-visit model) — Athletico, ATI, Select PT, FYZICAL, Drayer, Confluent, Ivy Rehab, U.S. Physical Therapy. Per-visit pay $65–$110. Effective hourly $45–$85+ at 10–14 visits/day. Productivity pressure significant.
Hospital / academic medical center — typically W-2 hourly with strong benefits and lower productivity demand. Acute care, ICU rehab, post-surgical, neurorehab settings. Strong pension benefits at union hospitals (CA, NY, NJ, IL, MA).
SNF / skilled nursing — Aegis Therapies, Genesis Rehab, Encompass Health, Powerback, Reliant Rehab, RehabCare. Hourly base plus minute-based productivity bonuses. CMS PDPM payment model affects PT scheduling intensity.
Home health — per-visit pay $80–$160 per OASIS-completed visit. Mileage reimbursement. Major: Encompass Home Health, Amedisys, BAYADA, Aveanna, LHC Group, AccentCare. Lifestyle flexibility but documentation-heavy.
Acute rehabilitation (CARF-accredited inpatient rehab) — Encompass Health, Select Medical (Kessler / Bryn Mawr / NovaCare), Shepherd Center. Strong pay for senior CARF-experienced PTs.
School-based PT (IDEA) — Soliant Health, Cross Country Education, EBS Healthcare, TherapyTravelers, Procare Therapy. Contract rates 15–25% above district direct hire.
Industrial / occupational PT — onsite industrial PT at manufacturers (Toyota, Ford, GM, Boeing, Tesla, Amazon). Premium hourly plus regular schedule.
Cash-pay private practice — performance / sports / pelvic floor specialty bills $120–$300+/hour in HNW markets.

3. APTA Specialty Board Certifications

APTA American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) credentials drive specialty premiums:

OCS (Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist) — most widely held; strong premium at outpatient ortho clinics.
SCS (Sports Clinical Specialist) — premium at sports medicine clinics and pro sports team contracts.
NCS (Neurologic Clinical Specialist) — premium at neurorehab and academic medical center settings.
GCS (Geriatric Clinical Specialist) — premium at SNF and home health settings serving elderly populations.
PCS (Pediatric Clinical Specialist) — premium at children's hospital and pediatric outpatient settings.
CCS (Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Clinical Specialist) — premium at cardiac rehab and pulmonary rehab settings.
WCS (Women's Health Clinical Specialist) — premium at pelvic floor and women's health cash-pay practices.
OncologyCS (Oncology Clinical Specialist) — premium at NCI cancer center rehab.
SCS / Sports Residency / Fellowship — residency-trained PTs command 10–25% above non-residency-trained peers.
FAAOMPT (Fellowship) — manual therapy fellowship; premium at manual therapy clinics.

4. Experience and Education

PT experience and education progression add meaningful per-hour value:

New graduate DPT ($32–$42/hour starting) — fresh CAPTE-accredited DPT graduates.
2–5 year DPT ($38–$50/hour) — most reach state median by year 3–5.
5–10 year DPT ($45–$58/hour) — senior staff with specialty cross-training and mentor / preceptor responsibilities.
10+ year DPT ($50–$70/hour staff) — established with diverse setting experience, clinic / department leadership.
DPT residency / fellowship-trained — APTA-accredited residency or fellowship adds 10–25% to base rate.
Bilingual differential — Spanish fluency adds $1–$3/hour in markets serving diverse populations.

5. Per Diem, Travel, and 1099 Strategy

Non-staff employment structures consistently outperform staff hourly rates:

Per diem rates — 25–50% premium over staff base.
Travel PT — $40–$75/hour plus non-taxable per-diem reaches $55–$110/hour effective.
Cash-pay private practice — $120–$300+/hour for established specialty PTs in HNW markets.
1099 industrial / corporate contractor — onsite industrial PT at Tier 1 manufacturers commands premium hourly.
Government PT (VA, IHS, military, BOP) — VA PT competitive at senior levels plus federal pension and PSLF.
NHSC / IHS loan repayment — PTs at HPSA-designated FQHC, IHS facilities, or rural community health qualify for loan repayment.

2026 Physical Therapist Hourly Pay Outlook

PT pay has grown at a compound annual rate of 2.46% nationally over the past five years — driven by sustained outpatient ortho demand, aggressive PE-backed outpatient PT consolidation (ATI, Athletico, U.S. Physical Therapy mergers), expanding home health rehab demand, aging-population-driven SNF / home health growth, growing pelvic floor and performance PT cash-pay markets, and structural PT shortage. The BLS projects PT employment growth at 14% through 2033 — much faster than average — keeping strong upward pressure on hourly pay especially for specialty-board-certified DPTs.

More Salary Resources

National OverviewComplete salary data for 1689+ cities Entry-Level SalariesStarting pay for new graduates Salary by StateAll 52 states compared Highest Paying StatesTop states ranked by salary

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do physical therapists make per hour?

The national median physical therapist hourly pay is $50.62 per hour in 2026. Hourly rates range from approximately $22.10 in lower-paying areas to $71.53 in Oakland, CA.

What is the highest hourly rate for physical therapists?

The highest physical therapist hourly rate is $71.53 in Oakland, CA. The top 5 highest-paying metros all offer rates above $55/hour.

Do physical therapists make more per hour than registered nurses?

Yes, on average. Physical Therapists earn a median of $50.62/hour nationally, compared to approximately $42.80/hour for registered nurses (BLS 2025). However, RNs may earn more with overtime, shift differentials, and specialty certifications.

Can physical therapists make $50 an hour?

Yes. Many metro areas — particularly in California, Washington, and Alaska — offer median hourly rates above $50. In Oakland, the median rate is $71.53/hour.

How much does a part-time physical therapist make per year?

A physical therapist working 3 days per week (24 hours) at the national median of $50.62/hour earns approximately $60,743 per year. At 4 days per week (32 hours), annual earnings reach approximately $80,991.

Written by Alex Morgan, DPT

Career Analyst

Alex Morgan has over 10 years of experience in physical therapy. They specialize in orthopedic rehabilitation. Alex works in a private practice setting.

Clinically reviewed by Jordan Lee, DPTData verified by Maria Garcia, DPT

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS 2025, released May 2026.

Compiled and verified by Alex Morgan, DPT, a licensed physical therapist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Methodology & Data Source

Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. We applied a 2.46% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS trends, to estimate current 2026 compensation.