Physical Therapists Salary
The median pay for a physical therapists in California is $124,190/year ($59.71/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $86K at the entry level to $164K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $117,006 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 33.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $124K get you in California?
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for physical therapists, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $103K. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level physical therapists (10th percentile) start around $86K. Mid-career wages sit at $124K. Top earners bring in $164K or more, a $78K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapists salary by metro in California
25 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $142K | +14% | 3,140 |
| Vallejo | $142K | +14% | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $140K | +13% | 290 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $139K | +12% | 1,460 |
| Napa | $139K | +12% | 50 |
| Chico | $135K | +9% | 180 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $131K | +6% | 1,610 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $129K | +4% | 310 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $127K | +3% | 40 |
| Salinas | $127K | +2% | 190 |
| Modesto | $127K | +2% | 400 |
| Merced | $126K | +1% | 60 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $125K | +1% | 310 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $125K | +0% | 160 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $124K | +0% | 350 |
| Fresno | $124K | -0% | 620 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $120K | -3% | 2,240 |
| El Centro | $117K | -6% | 70 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $117K | -6% | 550 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $114K | -8% | 2,680 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $108K | -13% | 9,750 |
| Redding | $108K | -13% | 150 |
| Yuba City | $107K | -14% | 70 |
| Visalia | $105K | -15% | 230 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $102K | -18% | 190 |
Showing 1–10 of 25 metros
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Track physical therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $124K, rent takes 33.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical therapists in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical therapists typically earn — is $86K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,135/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is physical therapist a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $124K here vs. $103K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for physical therapists?
California pays $124K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $117K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physical therapists make in California?
The median is $124,190 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,580, and experienced physical therapists can clear $163,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $124K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,329/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 33.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a physical therapists salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physical therapists salary is worth about $117,006 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physical therapists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.