Physical Therapist Salary in San Diego, CA
Physical Therapists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $113,850 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $81,085 take-home, or $6,757 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physical therapist salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$16,217
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,059
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,651
- California income tax$6,358
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,480
- Take-home pay$81,085
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 San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,500 | $37.26 | $59,356 | $4,946 |
| 25th percentile | $96,820 | $46.55 | $70,910 | $5,909 |
| Median (50th) | $113,850 | $54.74 | $81,085 | $6,757 |
| 75th percentile | $133,860 | $64.36 | $92,800 | $7,733 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $158,700 | $76.30 | $107,145 | $8,929 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $113,850 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physical therapist's $81,085 take-home pay has the buying power of $72,470 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 San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for physical therapists, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | San Diego, CA | $113,850 | $81,085 | $72,470 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $108,170
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical therapist make in San Diego, CA?
The median physical therapist salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $113,850 a year, or about $54.74 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $96,820 and $133,860.
What is a physical therapist’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $113,850 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $81,085 a year ($6,757 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,839 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a physical therapist?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $102,760. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $72,470 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #15 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physical therapist afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 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 San Diego, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $165,130
- Registered Nurse — $139,520
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $79,720
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $63,770
- Pharmacy Technician — $54,500