Physical Therapist Salary: $100K US Median

The 2026 US national median Physical Therapist salary is $99,710 per year. Entry-level (25th percentile) starts at $75,000, while experienced professionals (90th percentile) earn $130,000 or more. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, blended with 2026 market data from Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, and Robert Half.

Yes — Physical Therapist salaries grew approximately 560.0% year-over-year, from $15,108 in 2025 to $99,710 in 2026 (+$84,602). This reflects the Healthcare sector's 2025-2026 wage growth, driven by demand for Telehealth PT and Sports medicine.

The 5 highest-paying US cities for Physical Therapists: San Francisco, CA ($155K); Oakland, CA ($140K); New York, NY ($135K); Seattle, WA ($132K); Washington, DC ($130K). Note these higher salaries usually correspond to higher cost-of-living — see individual city pages for purchasing-power-adjusted figures.

Lowest-paying metros for Physical Therapists: Wichita ($85K), El Paso ($85K), Tulsa ($88K). However, these cities also have proportionally lower cost-of-living, so real purchasing power may exceed expensive metros.

PT employment projected to grow 14% — among fastest-growing health professions due to aging population. BLS projects 14% employment growth from 2024-2034 — much faster than average compared to all US occupations.

The hottest 2026 skills are: Telehealth PT, Sports medicine, Pelvic health, Manual therapy specialty, Direct access. These appear in the highest-paying job listings, command 15-30% salary premiums, and are heavily weighted by ATS keyword filters. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate.

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). However, the 2026 market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly in Healthcare. Top recognized credentials: DPT, OCS (Orthopedic Specialist), SCS (Sports).

Given the current shortage in this specialty and my certifications, I'm looking for $X base plus shift differential and a sign-on bonus. What flexibility do you have on those line items? Key leverage points for Healthcare: Specialty certifications (CCRN, OCS, BCPS, FNP) command 8-15% premiums; Compact license / multi-state authority and willingness to float between units; Night, weekend, and holiday shift differentials add up to $10K-$25K annually. Beyond base salary, negotiate: Sign-on bonus ($10K-$30K, often $50K+ for hard-to-fill roles), Tuition reimbursement and certification stipends, Loan repayment programs (especially federal/HRSA-eligible), Shift differentials (nights +15%, weekends +10%).

Major US employers hiring Physical Therapists include: Hospital systems, Outpatient clinics, Sports medicine practices, Home health agencies, Schools. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even reach a human recruiter.

Entry-level (0–1 year) Physical Therapists typically earn around $71,760. By year 2–3, salary climbs to $78,000. With 7–10 years of experience, Physical Therapists earn $115,000 on average. Senior/lead roles (15+ years) reach $122,500 or more.