Physical Therapist Salary in Detroit, MI
Physical Therapists in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $102,970 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $77,144 take-home, or $6,429 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physical therapist salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,823
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,384
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,493
- Michigan income tax$4,125
- Take-home pay$77,144
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Detroit? City residents also pay Detroit’s city income tax — about $2,471 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $74,673 ($6,223 a month). Choose “Detroit” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Physical Therapist pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,690 | $38.79 | $62,417 | $5,201 |
| 25th percentile | $88,190 | $42.40 | $67,374 | $5,615 |
| Median (50th) | $102,970 | $49.50 | $77,144 | $6,429 |
| 75th percentile | $112,120 | $53.90 | $83,192 | $6,933 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,140 | $63.05 | $95,577 | $7,965 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $102,970 buys in Detroit, MI
Prices in Detroit, MI are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physical therapist's $77,144 take-home pay has the buying power of $76,915 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 Detroit, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for physical therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $102,970 | $77,144 | $76,915 |
*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 Detroit, MI?
The median physical therapist salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $102,970 a year, or about $49.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $88,190 and $112,120.
What is a physical therapist’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $102,970 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $77,144 a year ($6,429 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,125 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a physical therapist?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $102,760. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $76,915 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #9 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physical therapist afford rent in Detroit, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Detroit, MI is $1,128 a month ($1,413 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median physical therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- Pharmacist — $137,770
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,390
- Physician Assistant — $131,830
- Registered Nurse — $97,280
- Dental Hygienist — $84,480
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $77,530
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $69,300
- Physicians, All Other — $68,220
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $58,910
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $49,340
- Pharmacy Technician — $43,330