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Physical Therapy Employment Statistics

For Physical Therapists
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): Data reported May 2015

Job Outlook

Employment of physical therapists is expected to increase 39 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Demand for physical therapy services will come, in large part, from the aging baby boomers, who are staying active later in life than previous generations did. Older persons are more likely to suffer heart attacks, strokes, and mobility-related injuries that require physical therapy for rehabilitation.

Advances in medical technology have increased the use of outpatient surgery to treat a variety of injuries and illnesses. Physical therapists will continue to play an important role in helping these patients recover more quickly from surgery.

Medical and technological developments also are expected to permit a greater percentage of trauma victims and newborns with birth defects to survive, creating additional demand for rehabilitative care. In addition, the incidence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, has increased in recent years, and more physical therapists will be needed to help patients manage the effects of these diseases.

Job Prospects

Job opportunities will likely be good for licensed physical therapists in all settings. Job opportunities should be particularly good in acute hospital, skilled nursing, and orthopedic settings, where the elderly are most often treated. Job prospects should be especially favorable in rural areas because many physical therapists live in highly populated urban and suburban areas.

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Physical Therapists:

Employment  

Mean hourly
wage

Mean annual
wage

209,690

  

$41.25

$85,790

 

Percentile wage estimates for Physical Therapists:

Percentile

10%

25%

50%

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$27.47

$33.47

$40.40

$47.56

$57.59

Annual Wage

$57,060

$69,620

$84,020

$98,930

$119,790

Industries with the highest levels of employment for Physical Therapists:

Industry

Employment

Percent of industry employment

Hourly mean wage

Annual mean wage

Offices of Other Health Practitioners

75,360

9.36

$40.29

$83,800

General Medical and Surgical Hospitals

51,280

0.97

$40.96

$85,190

Home Health Care Services

27,500

1.98

$46.42

$96,560

Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities)

13,220

0.80

$43.98

$91,480

Offices of Physicians

12,540

0.50

$40.29

$83,810

States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State

Employment

Hourly mean wage

Annual mean wage

California

19,000

$45.82

$95,300

New York

15,970

$40.93

$85,930

Texas

13,060

$46.62

$96,970

Florida

12,020

$40.92

$85,110

Pennsylvania

10,760

$40.41

$84,060

 

States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State

Employment

Hourly mean wage

Annual mean wage

Vermont

740

$36.09

$75,060

Massachusetts

8,010

$39.90

$83,000

Connecticut

3,780

$41.32

$85,940

Montana

1,010

$36.08

$75,040

New Hampshire

1,430

$38.95

$81,020

Top paying states for this occupation:

State

Employment

Hourly mean wage

Annual mean wage

Nevada

1,530

$58.65

$121,980

Alaska

510

$48.35

$100,560

Texas

13,060

$46.62

$96,970

California

19,000

$45.82

$95,300

New Jersey

7,590

$45.74

$95,150

For more information, see the Licensing and Career page for the Entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

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