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As the population ages and healthcare technology keeps evolving, the demand for physical therapists (PTs) also changes. It’s always beneficial to know where your skills are most in demand before planning a PT career move. Higher demand typically makes securing a job and potentially a higher salary easier, but you mustn’t forget to consider other factors. An area’s overall cost of living can significantly impact what initially appears to be an excellent physical therapist’s salary.
Whether you’re fresh out of school or thinking about relocating to seek better job prospects, knowing which states offer the best opportunities is crucial for maximizing your impact and income. Vivian Health dove into the data to help you explore the best and worst options to ensure you get the most out of your PT career.
RELATED: Which States Need Physical Therapists the Most?
How We Analyzed PT Demand
Vivian unveils the top 10 states for physical therapists today, ranked by a blend of average salary, cost of living and professional demand. We also highlight the five states that might not be the best career move right now.
Our findings were based on mean staff PT salaries from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in May 2023, cost of living data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) for the 2nd Quarter of 2024 and the projected employment change and annual job openings by state between 2023 and 2033 from CareerOneStop (sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor).
When It’s available in Vivian’s salary data, we provide current average physical therapist salaries for specific states being discussed to demonstrate what real jobs posted to our platform are paying today. To provide the most comprehensive perspective, we include a state-by-state comparison featuring average salaries, cost of living indexes, job projections and employment figures. All combined, this data helps physical therapists make more informed career decisions.
Top 10 States for Physical Therapists
The average hourly salary was a major deciding factor in our analysis, so keep in mind that the mean hourly PT salary was $48.29 nationwide in May 2023, per the BLS. The nationwide cost of living would be 100%, so anything under this is considered lower than average, and anything above is higher than average.
Based on our analysis, Texas is the resounding winner as the top state to work as a physical therapist today. Working in Texas nets PTs an average of $51.42 per hour, a little more than $3 above the national average. The state’s cost of living is about 8% less than the norm and for the trifecta, it has the second-highest number of projected job openings annually at 1,100.
Texas has the added appeal in that it doesn’t collect personal income tax on wages, allowing you to stretch your dollars further. Also, it’s part of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, meaning PTs can easily earn privileges to work in other states while working off their Texas PT license.
Other states in the top 10 that are part of the PT Compact include Georgia, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia and New Jersey.
RELATED: The Physical Therapy Licensure Compact & What It Means for PTs
Notable Exceptions
With 1,090 projected job openings annually and no state income tax on wages, Florida should have ranked higher. However, its slightly elevated cost of living at 102.4% and substantially lower-than-average hourly salary of $45.60 dropped it in the ranking to No. 9 instead of No. 2.
New Jersey’s inflated cost of living at 115% should have kept it out of the top 10, but its substantially higher-than-average hourly salary of $52.54 eked out a spot at No. 10. This state is projected to have 480 PT job openings annually, matching or surpassing half the states that made the top 10.
Notable Mentions
Although California didn’t make the list, primarily for having the second-highest cost of living in the nation at 143%, it receives a notable mention for having the most significant number of projected job openings annually at 1,720. It also has the highest average salary nationwide at $54.94, but the inflated cost of living likely influences this rate.
Vivian’s average PT salary in California on September 24, 2024, was $71.46 per hour based on active jobs posted, indicating that average pay is often even higher than expected. Higher salaries and warm year-round temperatures in parts of the state make it a popular option despite increased living costs. However, if you’re considering a move to work in California, keep in mind that it also has some of the highest housing costs at double the national average and the fifth-worst average commute to work based on findings from U.S. News & World Report.
Although Utah had the highest projected employment growth between 2023 and 2033 at 49.8%—significantly higher than most states—this percentage only translates to an expected 220 job openings annually. The state had 2,310 PTs employed in May 2023. Also, Utah’s mean salary was nearly $2 per hour less than the national average, with a slightly elevated cost of living at 105.2%. Altogether, these factors kept it out of the top 10.
Because the newest salary data from the BLS is a little over a year old, we pulled Vivian Health’s salary data based on jobs posted through September 24, 2024, for comparison. The following table includes average salaries in the top 10 states to demonstrate what current jobs could pay:
- Texas: $47.99
- Illinois: $48.77
- Georgia: $50.40
- Pennsylvania: $52.14
- Ohio: $45.96
- Michigan: $23.55
- North Carolina: $45.70
- Virginia: $58.31
- Florida: $47.60
- New Jersey: $55.27
You’ll notice that some salaries are higher than the average posted by the BLS in May 2023, while others are lower. Michigan, in particular, has a significantly lower average than expected due to a handful of low-paying positions posted to the site that bring the average down. Salaries can fluctuate daily based on new physical therapist jobs added hourly to Vivian’s jobs marketplace.
5 Worst States for Physical Therapists
Despite being such a stunningly beautiful place to live, we determined that Hawaii was the top state PTs might want to think carefully about before considering a career move to the island state. While its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters and peaceful ambiance are major draws, the cost of living in the Aloha State can put a real drain on your finances.
Hawaii has the worst cost of living nationwide at 188.4%, and average wages in May 2023 were only $49.52. At only slightly more than $1 per hour higher than the national average, it’ll be challenging to offset the significantly higher living costs. Hawaii is the only state for which CareerOneStop didn’t have projected job growth or annual job openings data, so PTs also won’t know what kind of demand they can expect over the projection decade.
Notable Exceptions
Although Maine has the lowest projected job growth nationwide, at 5.7%, the state still has projected annual openings of 70 jobs, higher than other states in the bottom five. Maine also has a lower average wage than other states on the list, at $44.10, but its cost of living isn’t nearly as bad as Hawaii’s or the District of Columbia’s 140.6%.
Alaska should have made the list with its high cost of living at 123% and second-lowest projected job growth—tied with Ohio at 9.7%—translating to just 30 job openings annually. However, the state has a significantly higher mean hourly salary at $53.28, and Alaska has no state income tax on wages or state sales taxes, with a minimal 1.76% local sales tax. While all these perks keep it out of the bottom 5, demand for PTs could be iffy, and the state presents unique challenges for its residents.
We couldn’t include details on average salaries for the states in the lower 5 on Vivian’s platform today because this information isn’t available due to limited job postings. The lack of jobs on our extensive jobs marketplace is another indication that openings for PTs in these states could be few and far between.
Comprehensive State-by-State Comparison
For those seeking a comprehensive physical therapist job outlook, the following table provides a detailed comparison of all 50 states and D.C. You can easily weigh options with a full overview of average salaries, cost of living, number of PTs employed in each state and projected employment growth and annual job openings over a decade. Whether you’re mapping out potential moves or just curious about how your state stacks up, Vivian provides this go-to resource containing the hard numbers that matter.
PT Shortages Driving Demand
Over the next 15 years (through 2036), the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (NCHWA) projects shortages in many key allied health occupations, including a shortage of 6,510 physical therapists. One healthcare setting where shortages seem to be an ongoing issue is outpatient clinics, despite this industry being touted as the highest paying by the BLS.
A 2023 report released by the American Physical Therapist Association (APTA) cited the continuing hiring challenges in outpatient PT practices. These practices reported a total vacancy rate of 11% among PTs and 12% among physical therapist assistants (PTAs). Clinics in the West reported the most significant vacancy rate at 16.7%, followed closely by clinics in the South at 15.2%, while clinics in the Midwest had the lowest rates at 7.6%. Of the clinics surveyed, 39.3% reported they had the same number of staff openings in 2023 as in 2022, while 39.9% reported more openings than the previous year.
Although clinic growth topped the list of reasons staff vacancies persist in outpatient PT practices, the most cited reason for employees voluntarily leaving was for better pay. Better work-life balance was the second most cited reason. The following table lists some of the highest-paying work settings for PTs in May 2023 and the number of PTs employed nationwide in each one, per the BLS. We only included the settings that employ the most PTs.
|
Work Setting |
# PTs Employed |
Annual Mean Wage |
|
Outpatient Care Centers |
5,180 | $123,900 |
|
Home Health Care Services |
26,360 | $116.500 |
|
General Medical & Surgical Hospitals |
59,310 | $104,520 |
|
Nursing Care Facilities |
12,520 | $101,200 |
|
Office of Physicians |
15,410 | $95,730 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 89,680 | $92,620 |
Finding the Right Balance for Your PT Career
Choosing where to practice involves more than just following the highest salaries—it’s about balancing income with living costs and job opportunities. We hope this guide helps you identify states that not only offer financial benefits but also align with your professional goals and lifestyle preferences. As you consider your options, think about the long-term prospects and quality of life each state offers. Armed with this information, you’re better equipped to make choices that enhance your career and personal satisfaction.
Looking for a new location to practice physical therapy? Vivian Health can help with an up-to-date PT salary guide and the latest list of staff and travel PT job openings nationwide. Download the Vivian app and take the next step in your physical therapist career today!
