Physical Therapist Salary in St. Petersburg, FL: $104,383 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist in St. Petersburg, FL earns a median $104,383/year (≈ $50.18/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1123). Once you factor in St. Petersburg's price level (1% above national, BEA RPP 100.8), that paycheck buys what $103,555 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.8% above the Florida state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, a physical therapist in St. Petersburg, Florida, is projected to earn a median annual salary of $104,383. This figure reflects the local market’s productivity expectations, where therapists often manage a high volume of patient visits each day, impacting hourly compensation rates. The overall salary range for physical therapists in the area extends from $78,107 at the lower 10th percentile to $145,884 at the upper 90th percentile. These estimates are derived from 2025 BLS data, adapted for regional price adjustments, indicating that while physical therapist salaries in St. Petersburg are competitive, they are slightly below the national median of $105,288. This context emphasizes the dynamic environment local therapists navigate, balancing patient care with the pressures of productivity metrics.
About the St. Petersburg Market
Salary estimated from Florida average ($93,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $78,107 | $37.55 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $87,324 | $41.98 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $104,383 | $50.18 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $123,531 | $59.39 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $145,884 | $70.13 |
Median Salary Position
0.86% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Petersburg
In St. Petersburg, FL, the physical therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $67,777 (2026 est.). At $104,383, the local median is 0.86% below the national median of $105,288.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in St. Petersburg: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How St. Petersburg Physical Therapist Pay Compares
St. Petersburg median: $104,383/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Petersburg Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Average | $102,537 | +1.80% more |
| National Average | $105,288 | -0.86% less |
Physical Therapists in St. Petersburg, FL earn a median of $104,383 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.86% lower than the national median of $105,288 and 1.80% above the Florida state average of $102,537.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Petersburg has a cost of living 0.80% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Petersburg, FL has a cost-of-living index of 100.8 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $104,383 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $103,555 — a 0.79% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$88,671
2025 BLS Actual
$101,877
2026 Current Est.
$104,383
2019–2027 Growth
+20.6%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapists in St. Petersburg (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.46% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $88,671 | Actual |
| 2020 | $90,228 | Actual |
| 2021 | $94,798 | Actual |
| 2022 | $96,880 | Actual |
| 2023 | $98,853 | Actual |
| 2024 | $96,035 | Actual |
| 2025 | $101,877 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $104,383 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $106,951 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Petersburg metropolitan area, the median physical therapist salary grew 14.9% from $88,671 (2019) to $101,877 (2025). At a 2.46% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $106,951 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,280 (20.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Petersburg 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) | $78,107 – $87,324 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $87,324 – $104,383 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $104,383 – $123,531 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $123,531 – $145,884 |
PT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Job Market in St. Petersburg
For those in the profession, St. Petersburg’s local job market, with around 42 employed physical therapists, offers a mix of opportunities, particularly in outpatient orthopedic clinics and hospital systems where pay tends to be more lucrative. The city’s cost of living index at 100.8 suggests that while salaries are competitive, buying power may be squeezed when compared to other markets. Clinics that prioritize cash-pay models or those offering stipends for specialized certifications like OCS or SCS can provide higher compensation. The variation in salaries is largely driven by factors such as productivity expectations and the differences between insurance-based and cash-pay practices. To maximize earning potential, therapists should consider obtaining board specialties, pursuing opportunities in high-paying settings, and strategically managing patient loads to meet productivity benchmarks while maintaining quality care.
More salary data for St. Petersburg, FL:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapists make in St. Petersburg, FL in 2026?
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Can physical therapists make $100K in St. Petersburg?
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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 $101,877 for physical therapistsin the St. Petersburg 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
Salary data for St. Petersburg is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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