Physical therapists
help to diagnose and treat injuries and conditions related to issues that affect daily physical functioning, such as reduced mobility of the limbs. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are 174,490 people working as physical therapists in the United States as of 2009 and projects that this will increase to 241,700 by 2018. The average yearly salary earned by these workers varies depending on where they're employed or live. All cited wage data comes from the bureau's 2010-2011 Occupational Outlook Handbook.
National Average
The national average salary for a physical therapist is $76,220 a year, which equates to an average hourly rate of $36.34. Therapists in the bottom 10th percentile of earnings bring in just $52,170, while those in the top 90th percentile earn $105,900.
Industries
The top three employers of physical therapists are the offices of health practitioners like chiropractors, general hospitals and home health care providers. Health practitioners pay an annual average of $75,760. Meanwhile, hospitals typically pay their physical therapists $75,030, while therapists working for home health care providers net $83,500.
States
The three states that employ the greatest number of physical therapists are Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire. Massachusetts employs more therapists than the other two combined, hosting 3 percent of all physical therapists in the country. Here, they earn an average annual salary of $73,320. Connecticut's physical therapists typically earn $79,250, while those in New Hampshire bring in $70,370.
Cities and Pay Scales
The three highest-paying cities in which physical therapists work are Jackson, Michigan; McAllen, Texas; and San Francisco, California. In Jackson, the average salary for a physical therapist is $144,730 -- almost double the national average. McAllen's therapists receive an average of $111,790, while those in San Francisco net $95,500.
Tags: physical therapists, while those, average salary, average salary physical, care providers, health care
