Physical Therapist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Physical Therapists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $108,170 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $77,691 take-home, or $6,474 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physical therapist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,967
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,707
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,568
- California income tax$5,830
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,406
- Take-home pay$77,691
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Physical Therapist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,580 | $41.14 | $64,194 | $5,349 |
| 25th percentile | $97,850 | $47.04 | $71,525 | $5,960 |
| Median (50th) | $108,170 | $52.00 | $77,691 | $6,474 |
| 75th percentile | $134,160 | $64.50 | $92,973 | $7,748 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,070 | $76.96 | $107,936 | $8,995 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $108,170 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physical therapist's $77,691 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,411 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 Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for physical therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #21 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 |
| 21 | Los Angeles, CA | $108,170 | $77,691 | $68,411 |
*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.
Physical Therapist salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $141,980
- San Diego, CA — $113,850
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical therapist make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median physical therapist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $108,170 a year, or about $52.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $97,850 and $134,160.
What is a physical therapist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $108,170 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $77,691 a year ($6,474 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,236 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a physical therapist?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $102,760. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,411 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #21 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physical therapist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median physical therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $196,760
- Pediatricians, General — $176,900
- Physician Assistant — $161,890
- Nurse Practitioner — $161,470
- Veterinarian — $160,080
- Pharmacist — $157,440
- Dentists, General — $139,990
- Optometrist — $138,940
- Registered Nurse — $135,560
- Dental Hygienist — $122,980
- Occupational Therapist — $122,040
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $119,430