Physical Therapist salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Physical Therapists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $102,980 a year ($49.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,540 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $137,070 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $102,760. Pay here is 1% higher than the District of Columbia statewide median of $101,640. There are 1.4 physical therapists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $110,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physical therapists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,080 | $38.02 |
| 25th percentile | $94,680 | $45.52 |
| Median | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| 75th percentile | $127,020 | $61.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $137,070 | $65.90 |
| Average (mean) | $110,130 | $52.95 |
Half of physical therapists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,581.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,290.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,960.77 |
| Weekly | $1,980.38 |
| Hourly | $49.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $102,980 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Physical Therapist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | $111,780 | 80 |
| Salisbury, MD | $107,290 | 100 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $105,810 | 2,050 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $105,790 | 6,250 |
| Charleston, WV | $103,760 | 140 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $102,840 | 100 |
| Richmond, VA | $102,700 | 1,300 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $102,670 | 220 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $102,450 | 160 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $102,400 | 260 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $101,750 | 120 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $100,920 | 120 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $100,840 | 1,470 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $100,820 | 110 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $100,620 | 180 |
| Roanoke, VA | $98,770 | 270 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $98,690 | 230 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $98,220 | 300 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $96,170 | 90 |
| Morgantown, WV | $96,010 | 210 |
| Beckley, WV | $95,970 | 80 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $94,550 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for physical therapists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $124,190 |
| Alaska | $115,280 |
| New Jersey | $112,140 |
| Nevada | $111,250 |
| Maryland | $106,890 |
| New Mexico | $106,880 |
| Washington | $105,950 |
| Texas | $105,810 |
| Illinois | $105,250 |
| Connecticut | $104,360 |
See Physical Therapist pay in every state or the District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $102,710 | $49.38 |
| Physicians, All Other | $208,710 | $100.34 |
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $166,230 | $79.92 |
| Pharmacist | $150,540 | $72.38 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $134,840 | $64.83 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $99,960 | $48.06 |
| Dentists, General | $184,540 | $88.72 |
| Physician Assistant | $148,200 | $71.25 |
| Occupational Therapist | $102,960 | $49.50 |
| Dental Hygienist | $119,170 | $57.30 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $101,990 | $49.03 |
| Veterinarian | $154,350 | $74.21 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $225,140 | $108.24 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $223,250 | $107.33 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1123. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical therapist make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for physical therapists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $102,980 a year, or $49.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $137,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physical therapists make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of physical therapists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $137,070 a year. The top 25% earn $127,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for physical therapists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,080 a year, and a quarter of physical therapists earn $94,680 or less.
How many physical therapists work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 4,540 physical therapists are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.