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
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 #71 of 104 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen, TX | $103,980 | $81,980 | $95,442 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $116,480 | $90,774 | $90,579 |
| 3 | El Paso, TX | $102,190 | $80,721 | $89,777 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $106,010 | $83,408 | $88,061 |
| 5 | Toledo, OH | $104,750 | $80,423 | $87,938 |
| 6 | Jackson, MS | $103,000 | $77,903 | $87,484 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $139,000 | $95,768 | $86,728 |
| 8 | Memphis, TN | $100,000 | $79,180 | $85,898 |
| 71 | 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 104 metros →
Physical Therapist salaries elsewhere in Michigan
- Ann Arbor, MI — $106,980
- Grand Rapids, MI — $99,100
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 #71 of 104 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
- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- Pediatricians, General — $218,000
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist — $209,550
- Family Medicine Physician — $181,990
- Dentists, General — $167,860
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $149,990
- Optometrist — $142,690
- Pharmacist — $137,770
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,390
- Physician Assistant — $131,830
- Veterinarian — $129,730