How does this advertised range compare to official federal wage estimates?

Advertised ranges derive directly from active vacancy postings and employer hiring offers. In contrast, official federal wage estimates rely on retrospective survey data compiled across national workforces. We do not publish federal wage estimates in this guide.

What practice settings employ physical therapists?

Roles in our vacancy inventory sit across pediatric clinics, schools, rehab hospitals, early intervention programs, and home health settings.

What credentials are required to earn a physical therapist salary?

Physical therapists must possess a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and active state licensure under the standards of state licensing boards and the FSBPT.

What factors determine where an offer falls between $80k and $112k?

Offers are influenced by the specific clinical setting, daily caseload targets, supervisory duties over support staff, and the facility's underlying payer mix.

What are current market hiring conditions for physical therapists?

Market conditions are moderate overall, while remaining tight in pediatric and school-based settings. Open roles in our inventory are full-time positions.

Physical Therapist Salary Guide

Advertised physical therapist compensation ranges from $80k to $112k across clinical, educational, and rehabilitative settings.

Pay · Last reviewed August 2026 · Take a Seat People editorial team

What is the typical physical therapist salary range?

Across the roles we recruit for in the United States, the advertised physical therapist salary range is $80k to $112k. Ranges reflect what we typically see advertised on roles we recruit for in the US. They are a market guide, not a survey, and vary by setting, caseload and experience. Reviewed August 2026. This range represents advertised vacancy data rather than official federal wage estimates. Current market hiring conditions remain moderate overall, though supply is tight in pediatric and school-based work. Roles require state licensure and a Doctor of Physical Therapy credential.

Advertised Ranges vs. Official Wage Estimates

When evaluating a physical therapist salary, it is essential to distinguish between advertised job vacancy ranges and official federal wage estimates. The figures presented here reflect active vacancy postings managed through our recruiting service, establishing an advertised baseline of $80k to $112k.

Ranges reflect what we typically see advertised on roles we recruit for in the US. They are a market guide, not a survey, and vary by setting, caseload and experience. Reviewed August 2026.

In contrast, official federal wage estimates compile historical, retrospective payroll data across national surveys. We do not publish federal wage survey figures here. Advertised pay bands capture current employer offers designed to attract qualified clinical professionals in an active market.

Advertised pay range: $80k – $112k based on employer job vacancy postings
Official federal wage estimates are retrospective survey tools and are not utilized in this guide
Advertised ranges correspond to full-time employment contracts

Practice Settings and Operational Context

Physical therapist salary offers vary according to the environment in which care is delivered. In our vacancy inventory, physical therapist roles appear across five distinct operating environments.

Each setting presents specific operational demands, patient populations, and service delivery methods that directly shape the compensation structure offered by employers.

Pediatric clinics: Focused on developmental, neurological, and sensory motor needs
Schools: Providing educationally relevant physical therapy within academic districts
Rehab hospitals: High-acuity inpatient or post-acute physical rehabilitation
Early intervention: In-home and community-focused therapy for infants and toddlers
Home health: Community-based care delivered directly in private residences

Factors Influencing Individual Compensation Offers

An individual physical therapist salary offer within the $80k to $112k range is determined by specific operational and clinical factors. Employers establish pay levels based on the service delivery model, patient volume expectations, and revenue structures.

Setting is a primary determinant. Roles in specialized environments, such as rehab hospitals or home health, involve different productivity metrics compared to school districts or outpatient clinics. The physical demands, schedule flexibility, and travel expectations associated with each environment affect base offers.

Caseload expectations also move compensation. Positions with higher billable hour quotas or intensive treatment plans generally offer higher base compensation to balance the documentation burden and clinical pace. Conversely, settings with shared caseloads or built-in planning time may adjust direct compensation accordingly.

Supervision responsibilities alter pay bands. Physical therapists tasked with overseeing physical therapist assistants, directing clinical support teams, or mentoring fieldwork students typically command compensation toward the upper limits of the range.

Payer mix directly affects provider budgets. Facilities that bill commercial insurance, Medicaid, school funding allocations, or Medicare face varied reimbursement constraints, which dictate available compensation budgets for clinical staff.

Clinical setting: Practice environments dictate schedule, travel, and pacing
Caseload volume: Required patient contact hours and documentation burdens influence offer structures
Supervision scope: Oversight of support staff or clinical trainees broadens responsibilities
Payer mix: Revenue sources, including commercial plans, Medicaid, and educational budgets, define operational limits

Market Hiring Conditions and Credentials

Current market conditions for physical therapists are moderate overall, but hiring is notably tight in pediatric and school-based work. Employers in these segments face ongoing competition for specialized clinical professionals.

To practice, clinicians must meet rigorous standards established by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) and respective state licensing boards. All candidates must hold a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree alongside active state licensure to practice within clinical or educational facilities.

Within our live vacancy inventory, we are recruiting for 1 open physical therapist role. This position is structured as a full-time contract.

Credential requirement: Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Licensure requirement: State licensure through state licensing boards and FSBPT governance
Hiring market status: Moderate overall, tight in pediatric and school-based work
Live vacancy inventory: 1 open full-time role

Navigating Full-Time Physical Therapist Contracts

Contract terms for physical therapists in our inventory focus on full-time commitments. Clinicians reviewing offers should evaluate the balance between total advertised compensation and daily performance requirements.

Understanding how an employer sets clinical documentation standards, patient scheduling expectations, and supervision workflows ensures candidates can assess whether an offer at a specific tier of the $80k to $112k range reflects the demands of the assignment.

Focus on full-time employment terms within our current role inventory
Alignment of documented caseload targets against baseline salary offers
Verification of active state licensing and required degree qualifications

Questions people ask

What is the advertised physical therapist salary range?: The advertised physical therapist salary range on roles we recruit for is $80k to $112k. Ranges reflect what we typically see advertised on roles we recruit for in the US. They are a market guide, not a survey, and vary by setting, caseload and experience. Reviewed August 2026.
How does this advertised range compare to official federal wage estimates?: Advertised ranges derive directly from active vacancy postings and employer hiring offers. In contrast, official federal wage estimates rely on retrospective survey data compiled across national workforces. We do not publish federal wage estimates in this guide.
What practice settings employ physical therapists?: Roles in our vacancy inventory sit across pediatric clinics, schools, rehab hospitals, early intervention programs, and home health settings.
What credentials are required to earn a physical therapist salary?: Physical therapists must possess a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and active state licensure under the standards of state licensing boards and the FSBPT.
What factors determine where an offer falls between $80k and $112k?: Offers are influenced by the specific clinical setting, daily caseload targets, supervisory duties over support staff, and the facility's underlying payer mix.
What are current market hiring conditions for physical therapists?: Market conditions are moderate overall, while remaining tight in pediatric and school-based settings. Open roles in our inventory are full-time positions.

Sources and method

Take a Seat People live vacancy inventoryTake a Seat People

Take a Seat People is a recruitment business, not a clinical or licensing authority. Certification requirements come from the BACB and wage statistics from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics; our own figures are advertised ranges and vacancy observations, labelled as such. Full research methodology.