Physical Therapist Salary in St. Louis, MO
Physical Therapists in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $100,600 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,811 take-home, or $6,318 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physical therapist salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,302
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,237
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,459
- Missouri income tax$3,791
- Take-home pay$75,811
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $1,006 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $74,805 ($6,234 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Physical Therapist pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,390 | $37.21 | $60,574 | $5,048 |
| 25th percentile | $81,910 | $39.38 | $63,541 | $5,295 |
| Median (50th) | $100,600 | $48.37 | $75,811 | $6,318 |
| 75th percentile | $110,510 | $53.13 | $82,317 | $6,860 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,190 | $59.71 | $91,250 | $7,604 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,600 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physical therapist's $75,811 take-home pay has the buying power of $79,727 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for physical therapists, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #7 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical therapist make in St. Louis, MO?
The median physical therapist salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $100,600 a year, or about $48.37 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $81,910 and $110,510.
What is a physical therapist’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $100,600 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $75,811 a year ($6,318 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,791 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a physical therapist?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $102,760. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $79,727 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #7 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physical therapist afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 16% of a median physical therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $138,530
- Nurse Practitioner — $131,580
- Registered Nurse — $83,180
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $65,120
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $61,830
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $47,570
- Pharmacy Technician — $45,220