Physical Therapists Salary
The median pay for a physical therapists in Wisconsin is $101,840/year ($48.96/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $107,961 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 18.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $102K get you in Wisconsin?
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Physical therapists pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $102K locally vs. $103K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 19.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (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, Wisconsin
Entry-level physical therapists (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapists salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan | $104K | +2% | 130 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $103K | +1% | 1,710 |
| Madison | $103K | +1% | 900 |
| Appleton | $102K | +0% | 180 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $101K | -1% | 150 |
| Fond du Lac | $100K | -2% | 60 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $100K | -2% | 120 |
| Wausau | $100K | -2% | 90 |
| Green Bay | $100K | -2% | 340 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $100K | -2% | 160 |
| Kenosha | $99K | -3% | 190 |
| Eau Claire | $99K | -3% | 170 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $98K | -4% | 200 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 19.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical therapists in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical therapists typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,844/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physical therapist a high-paying job in Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $102K locally vs. $103K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for physical therapists?
Wisconsin pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physical therapists make in Wisconsin?
The median is $101,840 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,740, and experienced physical therapists can clear $124,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,307/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 19.1% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $107,961 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.