Physical Therapists Salary
The median pay for a physical therapists in Pennsylvania is $101,380/year ($48.74/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $127K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $106,749 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 20.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in Pennsylvania?
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Physical therapists pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $101K locally vs. $103K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,351/month, 21.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level physical therapists (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $127K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapists salary by metro in Pennsylvania
16 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $106K | +4% | 6,250 |
| Williamsport | $105K | +4% | 140 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $104K | +3% | 780 |
| Gettysburg | $104K | +2% | 40 |
| Lancaster | $103K | +2% | 430 |
| Reading | $103K | +2% | 300 |
| York-Hanover | $102K | +1% | 270 |
| Lebanon | $102K | +1% | 70 |
| Chambersburg | $100K | -1% | 110 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $100K | -1% | 640 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $100K | -2% | 500 |
| State College | $99K | -2% | 130 |
| Johnstown | $98K | -3% | 130 |
| Pittsburgh | $98K | -4% | 2,120 |
| Altoona | $98K | -4% | 150 |
| Erie | $95K | -6% | 240 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 21.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical therapists in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical therapists typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,618/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physical therapist a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $101K locally vs. $103K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for physical therapists?
Pennsylvania pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physical therapists make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $101,380 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,960, and experienced physical therapists can clear $127,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,383/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 21.2% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $106,749 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.