Physical Therapist Salary in San Francisco, CA: $145,473 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist in San Francisco, CA earns a median $145,473/year (≈ $69.94/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1123). Once you factor in San Francisco's price level (16% above national, BEA RPP 115.6), that paycheck buys what $125,828 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 13.1% above the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In San Francisco, physical therapists can expect to earn an impressive median annual salary of $145,473 in 2026, significantly higher than the national median of $105,288. This competitive compensation reflects the unique challenges of the local market, where therapists handle a demanding volume of patient visits each day, influencing how effectively they can capitalize on their hourly rates. The salary range for physical therapists in this region spans from $106,415 at the 10th percentile to $192,697 at the 90th percentile, indicating substantial earning potential based on experience, settings, and productivity metrics. These figures are drawn from 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, highlighting the ongoing growth and investment in healthcare roles within San Francisco.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $106,415 | $51.16 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $126,507 | $60.82 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $145,473 | $69.94 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $164,725 | $79.19 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $192,697 | $92.64 |
Median Salary Position
38.17% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in San Francisco
In San Francisco, CA, the physical therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $86,282 (2026 est.). At $145,473, the local median is 38.17% above the national median of $105,288.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in San Francisco: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How San Francisco Physical Therapist Pay Compares
San Francisco median: $145,473/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | San Francisco Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $128,623 | +13.10% more |
| National Average | $105,288 | +38.17% more |
Physical Therapists in San Francisco, CA earn a median of $145,473 per year (2026 est.), which is 38.17% higher than the national median of $105,288 and 13.10% above the California state average of $128,623.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
San Francisco has a cost of living 15.61% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
San Francisco, CA has a cost-of-living index of 115.613 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $145,473 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $125,828 — a 13.5% reduction.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$106,090
2025 BLS Actual
$141,980
2026 Current Est.
$145,473
2019–2027 Growth
+40.5%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapists in San Francisco (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.46% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $106,090 | Actual |
| 2020 | $107,690 | Actual |
| 2021 | $120,060 | Actual |
| 2022 | $124,500 | Actual |
| 2023 | $131,050 | Actual |
| 2024 | $136,200 | Actual |
| 2025 | $141,980 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $145,473 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $149,051 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the San Francisco metropolitan area, the median physical therapist salary grew 33.8% from $106,090 (2019) to $141,980 (2025). At a 2.46% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $149,051 by 2027 — a total increase of $42,961 (40.49%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the San Francisco metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.46% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $106,415 – $126,507 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $126,507 – $145,473 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $145,473 – $164,725 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $164,725 – $192,697 |
PT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Job Market in San Francisco
The physical therapy job market in San Francisco is robust, with approximately 3,140 professionals currently employed in the field. However, the high cost of living, indicated by a cost-of-living index of 115.613, can impact take-home purchasing power. While outpatient orthopedic clinics, including well-known chains like ATI and Athletico, are among the predominant employers, those working in hospital inpatient rehabilitation or skilled nursing facilities may find the highest salaries. The disparity in pay is largely driven by factors such as productivity expectations, the financial implications of board certification stipends, clinic ownership stakes, and the differences between cash-pay models versus insurance-dependent practices. Given these dynamics, therapists seeking to maximize their earnings should consider pursuing board specialization, exploring high-demand settings, and understanding how productivity metrics influence compensation in this competitive San Francisco market.
More salary data for San Francisco, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapists make in San Francisco, CA in 2026?
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a physical therapist?
Can physical therapists make $100K in San Francisco?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physical therapist salary in San Francisco?
How much does a physical therapist make per hour in San Francisco?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in California
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.
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $141,980 for physical therapistsin the San Francisco metropolitan area. A 2.46% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.46%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physical therapists (SOC 29-1123).
Compiled and verified by Alex Morgan, DPT, a licensed physical therapist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov