Physical Therapists Salary
The median pay for a physical therapists in Michigan is $100,900/year ($48.51/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $80K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $107,466 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 19.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in Michigan?
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What this looks like in Michigan
Physical therapists pay in Michigan 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 $1,272/month, 20.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Michigan
Entry-level physical therapists (10th percentile) start around $80K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapists salary by metro in Michigan
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $107K | +6% | 570 |
| Niles | $106K | +5% | 80 |
| Jackson | $104K | +3% | 90 |
| Battle Creek | $104K | +3% | 100 |
| Saginaw | $104K | +3% | 130 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $103K | +2% | 3,770 |
| Monroe | $103K | +2% | 50 |
| Traverse City | $102K | +1% | 240 |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $99K | -2% | 310 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $99K | -2% | 1,460 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage | $98K | -3% | 190 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores | $98K | -3% | 120 |
| Flint | $96K | -5% | 260 |
| Bay City | $93K | -7% | 120 |
| Midland | $93K | -8% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 20.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical therapists in Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical therapists typically earn — is $80K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,776/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physical therapist a high-paying job in Michigan?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $101K locally vs. $103K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for physical therapists?
Michigan pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physical therapists make in Michigan?
The median is $100,900 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,600, and experienced physical therapists can clear $123,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,257/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 20.3% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $107,466 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.