Physical Therapist Salary in Riverside, CA
Physical Therapists in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $120,110 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $84,825 take-home, or $7,069 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physical therapist salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$17,594
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,447
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,742
- California income tax$6,941
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,561
- Take-home pay$84,825
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Physical Therapist pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $97,370 | $46.81 | $71,238 | $5,937 |
| 25th percentile | $99,850 | $48.00 | $72,720 | $6,060 |
| Median (50th) | $120,110 | $57.75 | $84,825 | $7,069 |
| 75th percentile | $134,720 | $64.77 | $93,296 | $7,775 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,370 | $79.02 | $110,419 | $9,202 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $120,110 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physical therapist's $84,825 take-home pay has the buying power of $79,692 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 Riverside, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for physical therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #47 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 |
| 47 | Riverside, CA | $120,110 | $84,825 | $79,692 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $139,000
- Sacramento, CA — $131,430
- Fresno, CA — $123,820
- San Francisco, CA — $141,980
- Oxnard, CA — $116,770
- San Diego, CA — $113,850
- Los Angeles, CA — $108,170
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical therapist make in Riverside, CA?
The median physical therapist salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $120,110 a year, or about $57.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $99,850 and $134,720.
What is a physical therapist’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $120,110 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $84,825 a year ($7,069 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,502 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a physical therapist?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $102,760. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $79,692 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #47 of 104 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physical therapist afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median physical therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $169,920
- Physician Assistant — $165,490
- Pharmacist — $161,870
- Veterinarian — $160,860
- Registered Nurse — $133,940
- Optometrist — $129,990
- Dentists, General — $125,230
- Occupational Therapist — $119,530
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $118,560
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $105,860