How to Become a Physical Therapist
Help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain through exercise and rehabilitation. It typically requires a doctoral degree (dpt, doctor of physical therapy), with a median salary of $102,760 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$102,760/yr
Middle half
$86,160 to $121,160
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
13,200
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Patient Assessment
- Rehabilitation
- Exercise Prescription
- Anatomy
- Communication
Helpful certifications
- NPTE (National Physical Therapy Examination)
- State Licensure
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
15/100
Work-life balance
62/100
Stress level
42/100
Satisfaction
76/100
Related careers
- Psychiatrist$281,870 median
- Physician (Family Medicine)$244,180 median
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)$236,590 median
- Dentist$170,950 median
- Pharmacist$140,910 median
- Optometrist$136,570 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Physical Therapist make?
The median pay for a Physical Therapist is $102,760 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $86,160 and $121,160 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Physical Therapist?
The usual entry point is a doctoral degree (dpt, doctor of physical therapy). Common majors are Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Biology, Pre-Physical Therapy, and Athletic Training.
Is Physical Therapist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 13,200 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Physical Therapist use most?
Common skills for this role are Patient Assessment, Rehabilitation, Exercise Prescription, Anatomy, and Communication.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).