Physical Therapists Salary
The median pay for a physical therapists in Florida is $101,040/year ($48.58/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $123K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $102,495 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,658/month, or 24.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in Florida?
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What this looks like in Florida
Physical therapists pay in Florida tracks closely to the national median, $101K locally vs. $103K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,658/month, 25% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level physical therapists (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $123K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapists salary by metro in Florida
22 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island | $105K | +4% | 300 |
| Port St. Lucie | $105K | +4% | 380 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $104K | +3% | 680 |
| Homosassa Springs | $104K | +2% | 170 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $102K | +1% | 2,350 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $102K | +1% | 630 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $102K | +0% | 1,560 |
| Punta Gorda | $101K | -0% | 160 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | $101K | -0% | 160 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $101K | -0% | 4,950 |
| Jacksonville | $100K | -1% | 1,330 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $100K | -1% | 180 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | $100K | -1% | 80 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $100K | -2% | 440 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $99K | -2% | 450 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $99K | -2% | 360 |
| Gainesville | $99K | -2% | 430 |
| Sebring | $98K | -3% | 60 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $98K | -3% | 400 |
| Tallahassee | $96K | -5% | 250 |
| Ocala | $94K | -7% | 240 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $93K | -8% | 160 |
Showing 1–10 of 22 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 25% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical therapists in Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical therapists typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,418/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Florida?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $101K locally vs. $103K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Florida compare to the national average for physical therapists?
Florida pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $102K — below the national median.
How much do physical therapists make in Florida?
The median is $101,040 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,630, and experienced physical therapists can clear $122,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,622/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 25% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physical therapists salary go in Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physical therapists salary is worth about $102,495 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.