Physical Therapist Salary in San Francisco, CA
Physical Therapists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $141,980 a year — 38% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $97,489 take-home, or $8,124 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physical therapist salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$22,809
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,803
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,059
- California income tax$8,975
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,846
- Take-home pay$97,489
Marginal rate: 24% 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 Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $103,860 | $49.93 | $75,116 | $6,260 |
| 25th percentile | $123,470 | $59.36 | $86,800 | $7,233 |
| Median (50th) | $141,980 | $68.26 | $97,489 | $8,124 |
| 75th percentile | $160,770 | $77.29 | $108,340 | $9,028 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $188,070 | $90.42 | $124,327 | $10,361 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $141,980 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physical therapist's $97,489 take-home pay has the buying power of $84,324 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 less concentrated in San Francisco, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for physical therapists, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #2 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 |
*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 Diego, CA — $113,850
- Los Angeles, CA — $108,170
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical therapist make in San Francisco, CA?
The median physical therapist salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $141,980 a year, or about $68.26 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $123,470 and $160,770.
What is a physical therapist’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $141,980 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $97,489 a year ($8,124 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $10,820 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a physical therapist?
Pay here is 38% above the national median of $102,760. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $84,324 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #2 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physical therapist afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median physical therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $219,080
- Registered Nurse — $186,610
- Pharmacist — $177,410
- Dental Hygienist — $146,760
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $141,780
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $94,310
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $84,130
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $71,360
- Pharmacy Technician — $60,550
- Emergency Medical Technician — $51,480