Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Doctoral or professional degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Physical therapists work in a well-defined healthcare profession with substantial national demand. With 267,000 people employed in this role and a national median salary of $101,020, it offers a combination of scale and strong earning power. The field is projected to grow by 10.9%, and there are 13,000 annual openings, signaling consistent hiring needs across the country. Succeeding as a physical therapist draws on a wide mix of strengths, including interpersonal skills, problem solving and decision making, science, and physical strength and stamina. Skills such as adaptability, leadership, critical and analytical thinking, customer service, and strong writing and reading are also important, along with creativity and innovation. Typical education for this occupation is a doctoral or professional degree, reflecting the advanced level of knowledge and responsibility involved. For students, career changers, and experienced healthcare workers, physical therapy offers a clearly defined professional path with measurable opportunity indicators at both the national and local levels.
Physical therapists earn a national median annual salary of $101,020, indicating strong earning potential in this profession. Salaries vary across states and metropolitan areas, creating meaningful options for those open to relocation. Among the top states by opportunity score, California stands out with a median salary of $124,190, while Washington offers $105,950, Colorado $102,030, Massachusetts $103,790, and New York $100,660. At the metro level, some markets report even higher pay. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro has a median salary of $141,980, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA reports $139,000. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro shows $107,650, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV offers $102,980, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH provides $103,550. These figures highlight that earnings can differ substantially by location, giving physical therapists flexibility to weigh pay levels against other personal and professional priorities.
Physical therapy shows a solid overall employment footprint and clear indicators of future hiring. National employment stands at 267,000, providing a sizable base of practicing professionals across the country. Projected employment growth of 10.9% signals an expanding field over the forecast period. In addition, there are 13,000 annual openings, which reflect a combination of new positions and turnover in existing roles. Together, these numbers suggest a career where new entrants and experienced practitioners can expect ongoing opportunities to compete for positions. The consistent 10.9% growth rate appears not only at the national level but is also reflected in the top states and metro areas by opportunity score, indicating broadly aligned projections across different regions. For individuals considering training or transition into this role, the combination of current employment scale, measurable growth, and regular annual openings supports viewing physical therapy as a forward-looking career choice.
Location decisions can significantly shape a physical therapist’s career, with notable differences across states and metropolitan areas. Among states, California ranks highly with a median salary of $124,190, employment of 26,580, and a CareerGPS opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York also offer strong profiles, with opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78 and median salaries of $103,790 and $100,660, respectively. Colorado and Washington round out the top states, each combining five-figure median salaries, several thousand employed therapists, and opportunity scores in the mid‑50s. At the metro level, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area has an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $139,000, while San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports $141,980 and an opportunity score of 68.75. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ posts an opportunity score of 77.27 and employment of 21,240. The Washington, DC and Boston metros also present solid combinations of salaries, employment levels, and opportunity scores, giving physical therapists multiple high-opportunity urban markets to consider.
Becoming a physical therapist typically requires a doctoral or professional degree, reflecting the advanced preparation needed for this role. This educational path supports the development of a broad and demanding skill set. Successful physical therapists rely heavily on interpersonal skills to work effectively with patients and colleagues, as well as strong problem solving and decision making to address complex situations. Science knowledge underpins much of the professional training, while physical strength and stamina are important for the physical aspects of the work. Additional skills enhance long-term career success, including adaptability, leadership, and critical and analytical thinking. Customer service skills help support patient-centered interactions, and writing and reading are important for documentation and professional communication. Creativity and innovation also contribute to finding effective solutions within the scope of practice. Taken together, the required doctoral or professional education and this mix of skills define a rigorous but well-structured path into the profession.
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