Salary · CA · SOC 29-1123

Physical Therapist (PT) salary in California, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for physical therapists in California, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for physical therapists in California was $124,190 a year, or $59.71 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $85,580 to $163,960. About 26,580 were employed.

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Physical Therapist pay in California vs the US

Physical Therapist wages in California and the US, May 2025
Measure	CA annual	CA hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$124,190	$59.71	$102,760
Mean (average)	$122,580	$58.93	$105,280
10th percentile	$85,580	$41.15	$77,140
25th percentile	$100,790	$48.46	$86,160
75th percentile	$141,260	$67.91	$121,160
90th percentile	$163,960	$78.83	$135,140

Employment in California: 26,580. Location quotient: 0.85 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Physical Therapist salary by metro area in California

Physical Therapist median wage by metro area, California
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$108,170	$52.01	9,750
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$141,980	$68.26	3,140
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$113,850	$54.74	2,680
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$120,110	$57.74	2,240
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$131,430	$63.19	1,610
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$139,000	$66.83	1,460
Fresno, CA	$123,820	$59.53	620
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$116,770	$56.14	550
Modesto, CA	$126,600	$60.86	400
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$124,260	$59.74	350
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$125,490	$60.33	310
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$128,680	$61.87	310
Vallejo, CA	$141,530	$68.04	300
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$140,100	$67.36	290
Visalia, CA	$105,210	$50.58	230
Salinas, CA	$127,120	$61.12	190
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$101,860	$48.97	190
Chico, CA	$134,970	$64.89	180
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$124,790	$60.00	160
Redding, CA	$107,980	$51.91	150
El Centro, CA	$116,950	$56.22	70
Yuba City, CA	$106,600	$51.25	70
Merced, CA	$126,000	$60.58	60
Napa, CA	$138,540	$66.61	50
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$127,460	$61.28	40

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Physical Therapist salary in California

Median pay: $124,190 a year ($59.71 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $85,580 to $163,960 a year

Employed: 26,580

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Physical Therapist salary in California</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$124,190</strong> a year ($59.71 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $85,580 to $163,960 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 26,580</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/physical-therapist/ca" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a PT make per hour in California?

The median hourly wage was $59.71 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $41.15 and the 90th was $78.83.

What is the average PT salary in California?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $122,580 a year and a median of $124,190 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do physical therapists in California earn more than the US median?

The California median of $124,190 is 21% higher than the US median of $102,760 (BLS, May 2025).

How does California rank for physical therapist pay?

California ranks 1 of 51 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for physical therapists (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 29-1123. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.