It’s one of the biggest questions when entering the field – how much can you expect to earn as a physical therapist?
But it can also be tricky to figure out as many people are hesitant (or not allowed) to discuss their salaries and you may not know many physical therapists to ask.
Here are some resources I know of to combat this lack of information:
- WebPT’s State of Rehab for 2023. You must give your email to download this 101-page report, which breaks down what work is like, salary, and demographic information for PTs.
- The Job Market Pulse by UpDoc Media. You must provide your name and email to download this 25-page report for 2023, which includes average pay range for PTs of all experience levels across many settings compiled by surveys.
- This Google Doc by my friend DPT Steph that shows what new grads make across the country in different settings.
- This report by APTA that includes information about wages. You must be an APTA member to access it.
There is also the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is the most-cited source of salary information. They report a median salary of $97,720 per year or $46.98 per hour for US physical therapists in 2022. Keep in mind, that this is most likely not what you’ll make as an entry-level new grad PT. This Reddit post breaks down these statistics further.
The biggest variables that influence physical therapists’ salaries are setting, experience, and geographic location. PTs tend to make more money in less desirable settings and less money in popular settings like outpatient ortho. You can make more money by traveling, owning a clinic, or working certain states. There are other variables that impact a PT’s salary such as whether or not you work fulltime, parttime, or per diem.
With the cost of becoming a physical therapist so high, even if you attend a relatively inexpensive PT school and apply for scholarships, it is important to be educated on what you can expect from your future salary.