Physical Therapist Salary in Boston, MA
Physical Therapists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $103,550 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $76,720 take-home, or $6,393 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physical therapist salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,951
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,420
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,501
- Massachusetts income tax$4,958
- Take-home pay$76,720
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Physical Therapist pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,220 | $39.05 | $62,127 | $5,177 |
| 25th percentile | $94,750 | $45.55 | $70,969 | $5,914 |
| Median (50th) | $103,550 | $49.78 | $76,720 | $6,393 |
| 75th percentile | $122,380 | $58.84 | $89,014 | $7,418 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,220 | $62.61 | $93,980 | $7,832 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $103,550 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physical therapist's $76,720 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,862 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Physical Therapist jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for physical therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #17 of 21 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $107,700 | $84,597 | $85,773 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $141,980 | $97,489 | $84,324 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $103,630 | $81,734 | $83,346 |
| 4 | Indianapolis, IN | $103,770 | $78,800 | $82,345 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $107,780 | $84,653 | $82,116 |
| 6 | Tampa, FL | $102,430 | $80,890 | $80,176 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $100,600 | $75,811 | $79,727 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $105,790 | $80,006 | $78,013 |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $103,550 | $76,720 | $70,862 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 21 metros →
About the job: physical therapists
Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +11.9% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical therapist make in Boston, MA?
The median physical therapist salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $103,550 a year, or about $49.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $94,750 and $122,380.
What is a physical therapist’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $103,550 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $76,720 a year ($6,393 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,958 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a physical therapist?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $102,760. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,862 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #17 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physical therapist afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median physical therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $229,870
- Nurse Practitioner — $147,480
- Physician Assistant — $142,410
- Pharmacist — $139,660
- Registered Nurse — $106,180
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $104,590
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $102,810
- Dental Hygienist — $101,990
- Occupational Therapist — $101,940
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $82,190
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $79,480