Physical Therapist Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Physical Therapists in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $103,220 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $79,074 take-home, or $6,589 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physical therapist salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,878
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,400
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,497
- Arizona income tax$2,372
- Take-home pay$79,074
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Physical Therapist pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,840 | $39.83 | $65,246 | $5,437 |
| 25th percentile | $90,180 | $43.36 | $70,226 | $5,852 |
| Median (50th) | $103,220 | $49.63 | $79,074 | $6,589 |
| 75th percentile | $122,360 | $58.83 | $92,049 | $7,671 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,410 | $64.62 | $99,984 | $8,332 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $103,220 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physical therapist's $79,074 take-home pay has the buying power of $76,536 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 Phoenix, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for physical therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $103,220 | $79,074 | $76,536 |
*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 Phoenix, AZ?
The median physical therapist salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $103,220 a year, or about $49.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $90,180 and $122,360.
What is a physical therapist’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $103,220 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $79,074 a year ($6,589 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,372 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a physical therapist?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $102,760. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $76,536 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #11 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physical therapist afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median physical therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Phoenix, AZ
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Dentists, General — $194,180
- Pharmacist — $144,490
- Nurse Practitioner — $136,270
- Physician Assistant — $134,650
- Dental Hygienist — $102,520
- Registered Nurse — $100,830
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $98,040
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $94,820
- Respiratory Therapist — $79,760
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $78,080
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $62,530