Physical Therapists
SOC code 29-1123 · O*NET-SOC 29-1123.00 · Extensive preparation needed · Healthcare
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Physical therapy requires a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and a state licence, making it one of the longest training routes on this site — and one of the best paid. The work is hands-on, largely outpatient, and consistently rated among the most satisfying healthcare careers.
Physical Therapists pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$102,760
a year
Hourly
$49.40
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$105,280
$50.62 per hour
Middle 50%
$86,160 – $121,160
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$77,140 – $135,140
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
267,330
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $77,140
- $37.09/hr
- 25th percentile
- $86,160
- $41.42/hr
- Median percentile
- $102,760
- $49.40/hr
- 75th percentile
- $121,160
- $58.25/hr
- 90th percentile
- $135,140
- $64.97/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+11%
Growing much faster than average
267,200
jobs in 2024
296,400
projected for 2034
About 29,200 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does a physical therapist do?
Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
- Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
- Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
- Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
- Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
- Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
- Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
- Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
How to become a physical therapist
Most people in this role hold doctoral degree — 47% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 5 — Extensive preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Doctoral Degree47%
- Master's Degree38%
- Bachelor's Degree8%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree6%
Common questions
How much does a physical therapist earn?
The national median is $102,760 a year. The full range runs from $77,140 at the 10th percentile to $135,140 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a physical therapist without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 5, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is physical therapist in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 11% between 2024 and 2034 — growing much faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Writing3.9/5
- Monitoring3.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.6/5
- Therapy and Counseling4.6/5
- Medicine and Dentistry4.6/5
- Psychology4.1/5
- Education and Training4.0/5
- English Language4.0/5
- Biology3.7/5
- Administration and Management3.2/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management.