Physical Therapists Salary
The median pay for a physical therapists in Iowa is $97,560/year ($46.9/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $121K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $109,791 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 17.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $98K get you in Iowa?
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What this looks like in Iowa
Physical therapists pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $98K locally vs. $103K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 17.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level physical therapists (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in $121K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapists salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City | $100K | +3% | 100 |
| Dubuque | $100K | +2% | 110 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $99K | +2% | 280 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $98K | +0% | 740 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $97K | -0% | 120 |
| Cedar Rapids | $95K | -3% | 220 |
| Iowa City | $94K | -3% | 180 |
| Ames | $91K | -7% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track physical therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $98K, rent takes 17.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical therapists in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical therapists typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,427/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physical therapist a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $98K locally vs. $103K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for physical therapists?
Iowa pays $98K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $110K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physical therapists make in Iowa?
The median is $97,560 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,780, and experienced physical therapists can clear $120,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,990/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 17.8% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $109,791 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.