Physical Therapist Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Physical Therapists in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $103,030 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $77,232 take-home, or $6,436 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$13,837
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,388
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,494
- Wisconsin income tax$4,080
- Take-home pay$77,232
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.30% state
Physical Therapist pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,090 | $39.95 | $64,261 | $5,355 |
| 25th percentile | $94,810 | $45.58 | $71,884 | $5,990 |
| Median (50th) | $103,030 | $49.53 | $77,232 | $6,436 |
| 75th percentile | $113,560 | $54.60 | $84,081 | $7,007 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,170 | $60.18 | $91,566 | $7,631 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $103,030 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physical therapist's $77,232 take-home pay has the buying power of $79,672 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Milwaukee, WI has 1.2× the national concentration of physical therapist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for physical therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #48 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 |
| 48 | Milwaukee, WI | $103,030 | $77,232 | $79,672 |
*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 Wisconsin
- Madison, WI — $102,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical therapist make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median physical therapist salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $103,030 a year, or about $49.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $94,810 and $113,560.
What is a physical therapist’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $103,030 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $77,232 a year ($6,436 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,080 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a physical therapist?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $102,760. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $79,672 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #48 of 104 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physical therapist afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 for two bedrooms) — 17% of a median physical therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Milwaukee, WI
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Dentists, General — $155,940
- Pharmacist — $153,340
- Physician Assistant — $135,040
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,350
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $105,490
- Dental Hygienist — $98,780
- Registered Nurse — $97,360
- Occupational Therapist — $94,020
- Respiratory Therapist — $89,040
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $88,190