Physical Therapy Technicians

Median Salary: $23,900

Many physical therapy technicians across the country share a handful of important professional attributes. For example, integrity, attention to detail, and self control can be critical for success in the industry, especially when mixed with career training. Around 44,160 people were employed as physical therapy technicians nationwide in 2009. With that much workplace competition, it's crucial to build on these traits and receive good training, particularly if you're looking to advance in the field.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual income for physical therapy technicians in the U.S. was $23,900 in 2009, which works out to a median hourly wage of $11.50. Of course, income can vary with training and by location. Below, you'll find more data about physical therapy technicians, including wages and job density for metropolitan areas all over the country.

Physical therapy technicians should be skilled in:

Oral Expression
Oral Comprehension
Speech Clarity
Written Comprehension
Written Expression

Different people go into different careers; physical therapy technicians are typically:

Social
Realistic

Working as a physical therapy technician requires knowledge in subjects like:

Customer and Personal Service
English Language
Therapy and Counseling
Public Safety and Security
Medicine and Dentistry

Related Occupations

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Below, you'll see links to more information on the top cities for this occupation (based on the number of people employed as physical therapy technicians). Note: "Job density" refers to the proportion of physical therapy technicians in each city as compared to the national average.

Alabama
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Birmingham	270	$23,500	$11.30	$27,000	$13.00	64.2%
Mobile	90	$21,500	$10.30	$24,500	$11.80	49.7%
Montgomery	60	$18,000	$8.70	$21,600	$10.40	15.4%

Arizona
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Phoenix	650	$24,200	$11.60	$29,100	$14.00	8.6%
Prescott	40	$24,200	$11.60	$27,900	$13.40	125.4%
Tucson	110	$26,500	$12.70	$31,400	$15.10	-9.2%

Arkansas
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Fayetteville	60	$21,100	$10.20	$23,200	$11.20	-15.7%
Little Rock	150	$19,600	$9.40	$22,900	$11.00	34.6%

California
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Bakersfield	120	$23,200	$11.10	$25,800	$12.40	33.1%
Chico	80	$24,000	$11.50	$28,200	$13.60	256.8%
Fresno	160	$24,900	$12.00	$29,300	$14.10	43.8%
Los Angeles (Area)	2,290	$26,800	$12.90	$32,000	$15.40	26.6%
Merced	50	$22,100	$10.60	$24,100	$11.60	165.4%
Modesto	60	$27,800	$13.40	$31,800	$15.30	13.9%
Oakland	250	$28,700	$13.80	$37,200	$17.90	-24.6%
Oxnard	320	$26,200	$12.60	$32,600	$15.70	218.9%
Redding	70	$23,200	$11.20	$32,600	$15.70	234%
Riverside	500	$26,100	$12.60	$31,100	$15.00	24%
Sacramento	260	$23,600	$11.30	$26,700	$12.80	-10.7%
Salinas	70	$32,400	$15.60	$38,500	$18.50	28.7%
San Diego	490	$21,300	$10.20	$25,500	$12.30	12.7%
San Francisco (Area)	480	$27,700	$13.30	$35,500	$17.10	-27.8%
San Francisco (City)	230	$26,600	$12.80	$33,800	$16.30	-31.1%
San Jose	280	$33,200	$16.00	$40,500	$19.50	-7.1%
San Luis Obispo	80	$22,100	$10.60	$24,100	$11.60	136.1%
Santa Barbara	60	$23,700	$11.40	$30,600	$14.70	9.8%
Santa Rosa	NA	$30,200	$14.50	$35,800	$17.20	NA
Stockton	80	$23,600	$11.30	$27,400	$13.20	9.8%
Vallejo	50	$28,100	$13.50	$30,700	$14.80	31.1%
Visalia	30	$22,500	$10.80	$25,800	$12.40	-21.6%

Colorado
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Boulder	NA	$28,400	$13.70	$33,500	$16.10	NA
Denver	250	$28,600	$13.70	$34,300	$16.50	-39.6%
Fort Collins	NA	$20,700	$9.90	$25,400	$12.20	NA

Connecticut
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Bridgeport	140	$32,300	$15.50	$39,500	$19.00	82.8%
Hartford	130	$23,900	$11.50	$31,400	$15.10	-31.4%
New Haven	130	$23,200	$11.10	$26,400	$12.70	38.8%

District of Columbia
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Washington (Area)	630	$25,000	$12.00	$30,200	$14.50	-10.4%

Florida
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Bradenton	NA	$21,600	$10.40	$25,300	$12.20	NA
Cape Coral	40	$23,200	$11.10	$26,600	$12.80	-44.4%
Deltona	NA	$27,500	$13.20	$29,900	$14.40	NA
Jacksonville	80	$23,400	$11.20	$26,900	$12.90	-61.8%
Miami (Area)	1,360	$24,100	$11.60	$27,600	$13.30	53.8%
Ocala	30	$21,800	$10.50	$24,100	$11.60	3.6%
Orlando	140	$23,300	$11.20	$26,200	$12.60	-57.1%
Palm Bay	40	$23,400	$11.20	$27,300	$13.10	-34.6%
Pensacola	30	$21,000	$10.10	$23,400	$11.20	-35.5%
Port St. Lucie	30	$24,500	$11.80	$28,600	$13.70	-21.9%
Tallahassee	50	$23,700	$11.40	$26,800	$12.90	-15.7%
Tampa	230	$24,000	$11.50	$27,700	$13.30	-39.9%

Georgia
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Athens	40	$16,900	$8.10	$21,400	$10.30	40.5%
Atlanta	290	$25,600	$12.30	$33,000	$15.80	-62.7%
Augusta	60	$20,900	$10.10	$24,700	$11.90	-8.3%
Brunswick	NA	$17,600	$8.50	$28,200	$13.60	NA
Gainesville	40	$27,400	$13.20	$30,800	$14.80	72.5%
Savannah	50	$22,400	$10.80	$23,800	$11.40	-1.5%

Hawaii
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Honolulu	60	$30,800	$14.80	$35,300	$17.00	-55.9%

Idaho
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Boise City	190	$25,100	$12.10	$29,200	$14.10	109.8%
Coeur d'Alene	60	$21,600	$10.40	$24,100	$11.60	209.5%
Idaho Falls	NA	$19,900	$9.60	$22,500	$10.80	NA

Illinois
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Chicago (Area)	2,010	$24,000	$11.50	$28,400	$13.70	21.9%
Peoria	NA	$28,900	$13.90	$32,200	$15.50	NA
Rockford	60	$29,300	$14.10	$35,800	$17.20	25.7%

Indiana
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Evansville	90	$28,800	$13.80	$42,400	$20.40	56.8%
Indianapolis	NA	$19,600	$9.40	$21,700	$10.40	NA
Lafayette	40	$21,000	$10.10	$25,000	$12.00	31.1%
South Bend	40	$28,300	$13.60	$39,000	$18.80	-15.1%

Iowa
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Davenport	NA	$25,200	$12.10	$30,300	$14.60	NA
Des Moines	40	$30,200	$14.50	$32,900	$15.80	-66.3%
Sioux City	NA	$22,800	$11.00	$27,100	$13.00	NA

Kansas
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Topeka	50	$20,800	$10.00	$24,600	$11.80	27.8%
Wichita	90	$22,900	$11.00	$27,600	$13.30	-10.4%

Kentucky
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Lexington	60	$23,900	$11.50	$29,200	$14.00	-29%
Louisville	230	$21,100	$10.10	$25,500	$12.30	13.6%

Louisiana
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Alexandria	30	$25,000	$12.00	$32,600	$15.70	48.2%
Baton Rouge	190	$20,200	$9.70	$22,500	$10.80	51.2%
Houma	40	$21,000	$10.10	$25,900	$12.40	29.9%
Lafayette	90	$18,000	$8.70	$19,500	$9.40	83.7%
Lake Charles	40	$23,400	$11.30	$26,000	$12.50	21.3%
Monroe	30	$16,200	$7.80	$20,100	$9.70	29.9%
New Orleans	240	$24,100	$11.60	$28,000	$13.50	36.7%
Shreveport	90	$23,300	$11.20	$34,500	$16.60	60.1%

Maryland
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Baltimore	490	$24,200	$11.60	$29,600	$14.20	13.9%
Salisbury	30	$22,700	$10.90	$25,500	$12.30	84.9%

Massachusetts
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Barnstable Town	40	$27,100	$13.00	$29,800	$14.30	12.4%
Boston (Area)	420	$29,700	$14.30	$35,200	$16.90	22.8%
Springfield	40	$23,600	$11.30	$27,100	$13.00	-55%
Worcester	60	$30,700	$14.70	$50,700	$24.40	-20.1%

Michigan
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Ann Arbor	90	$27,600	$13.30	$30,200	$14.50	33.4%
Detroit (Area)	NA	$25,500	$12.30	$31,300	$15.10	NA
Flint	40	$20,000	$9.60	$24,800	$11.90	-8%
Grand Rapids	120	$24,400	$11.70	$28,800	$13.90	-4.4%
Holland	NA	$28,700	$13.80	$32,200	$15.50	NA
Saginaw	NA	$20,000	$9.60	$23,700	$11.40	NA

Minnesota
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Minneapolis	240	$20,400	$9.80	$30,600	$14.70	-59.2%

Mississippi
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Gulfport	NA	$23,500	$11.30	$25,900	$12.50	NA
Hattiesburg	70	$19,700	$9.50	$21,700	$10.40	254.7%
Jackson	70	$22,400	$10.80	$26,300	$12.70	-12.7%
Pascagoula	50	$23,000	$11.10	$26,100	$12.60	163%

Missouri
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Joplin	30	$18,600	$9.00	$20,600	$9.90	28.1%
Kansas City	120	$24,300	$11.70	$27,900	$13.40	-64.5%
Springfield	40	$20,500	$9.90	$24,300	$11.70	-32.2%
St. Louis	340	$22,400	$10.80	$28,800	$13.90	-23.4%

Nebraska
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Lincoln	140	$18,900	$9.10	$21,600	$10.40	151.2%
Omaha	210	$22,700	$10.90	$24,700	$11.90	36.1%

Nevada
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Las Vegas	220	$22,700	$10.90	$28,800	$13.90	-22.8%
Reno	90	$25,400	$12.20	$30,000	$14.40	32.5%

New Jersey
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Atlantic City	60	$23,600	$11.40	$27,900	$13.40	28.1%
Trenton	90	$22,100	$10.60	$25,100	$12.10	17.2%

New Mexico
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Albuquerque	140	$29,200	$14.00	$31,900	$15.30	10.9%

New York
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Albany	90	$30,000	$14.40	$33,200	$16.00	-40.8%
Buffalo	150	$26,800	$12.90	$30,300	$14.60	-19.2%
New York (Area)	3,510	$25,400	$12.20	$30,700	$14.80	53%
Poughkeepsie	50	$23,900	$11.50	$26,500	$12.70	-39.3%
Rochester	NA	$25,100	$12.10	$32,100	$15.40	NA
Syracuse	100	$26,400	$12.70	$29,800	$14.30	0%
Utica	80	$24,700	$11.90	$26,800	$12.90	84.9%

North Carolina
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Charlotte	90	$25,700	$12.30	$29,000	$14.00	-69.5%
Durham	40	$28,000	$13.50	$31,800	$15.30	-55.3%
Fayetteville	40	$19,400	$9.30	$23,300	$11.20	-17.8%
Greensboro	70	$25,600	$12.30	$30,100	$14.50	-39.9%
Winston-Salem	110	$25,600	$12.30	$29,500	$14.20	55.9%

North Dakota
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Bismarck	40	$20,700	$10.00	$25,900	$12.50	111.2%

Ohio
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Akron	60	$24,400	$11.70	$29,200	$14.00	-45.9%
Canton	30	$26,000	$12.50	$29,500	$14.20	-44.7%
Cincinnati	250	$23,500	$11.30	$27,300	$13.10	-25.1%
Cleveland	240	$25,200	$12.10	$28,500	$13.70	-29.3%
Columbus	160	$19,500	$9.40	$24,300	$11.70	-48.8%
Dayton	50	$22,400	$10.80	$24,800	$11.90	-60.7%
Toledo	110	$23,800	$11.40	$30,000	$14.40	8.6%
Youngstown	60	$28,200	$13.60	$35,600	$17.10	-18.9%

Oklahoma
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Lawton	60	$18,000	$8.70	$20,500	$9.90	299.7%
Oklahoma City	310	$18,600	$8.90	$21,900	$10.50	60.1%
Tulsa	130	$23,800	$11.40	$27,100	$13.00	-8%

Oregon
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Bend	70	$22,900	$11.00	$25,900	$12.50	247%
Eugene	30	$22,700	$10.90	$25,700	$12.30	-30.5%
Medford	30	$21,000	$10.10	$26,800	$12.90	21.9%
Portland	360	$25,700	$12.40	$28,800	$13.90	8.3%
Salem	30	$26,700	$12.80	$31,500	$15.20	-32.5%

Pennsylvania
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Allentown	110	$25,700	$12.40	$30,200	$14.50	2.1%
Altoona	50	$28,200	$13.60	$31,300	$15.10	138.2%
Erie	50	$24,000	$11.50	$26,500	$12.70	24%
Harrisburg	90	$26,000	$12.50	$29,300	$14.10	-9.8%
Lancaster	70	$27,700	$13.30	$33,500	$16.10	-8.3%
Philadelphia (Area)	1,220	$26,100	$12.50	$31,900	$15.30	50.9%
Pittsburgh	430	$24,500	$11.80	$28,900	$13.90	14.8%
Reading	50	$26,500	$12.80	$29,500	$14.20	-10.4%
Scranton	90	$22,000	$10.60	$25,100	$12.10	3.8%
York	30	$28,100	$13.50	$30,600	$14.70	-46.4%

Rhode Island
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Providence	120	$25,300	$12.20	$28,700	$13.80	-37%

South Carolina
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Charleston	120	$25,800	$12.40	$29,600	$14.20	26%
Columbia	NA	$20,400	$9.80	$23,600	$11.30	NA
Greenville	40	$25,300	$12.20	$35,900	$17.20	-58.6%
Spartanburg	40	$23,200	$11.20	$43,300	$20.80	2.7%

South Dakota
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Sioux Falls	50	$23,400	$11.20	$25,600	$12.30	1.5%

Tennessee
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Chattanooga	NA	$19,800	$9.50	$22,500	$10.80	NA
Jackson	60	$19,600	$9.40	$23,300	$11.20	200.9%
Kingsport	NA	$21,000	$10.10	$24,700	$11.90	NA
Knoxville	170	$21,800	$10.50	$24,400	$11.70	51.2%
Memphis	180	$21,200	$10.20	$27,100	$13.00	-13.6%
Morristown	50	$21,800	$10.50	$29,000	$14.00	228.4%
Nashville	170	$26,500	$12.70	$30,300	$14.60	-31.4%

Texas
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Abilene	50	$20,200	$9.70	$24,000	$11.50	110.7%
Amarillo	60	$24,000	$11.50	$28,000	$13.50	61.5%
Austin	170	$21,500	$10.30	$26,800	$12.90	-36.1%
Beaumont	50	$19,400	$9.30	$23,400	$11.30	-7.1%
Brownsville	120	$21,600	$10.40	$25,700	$12.40	191.7%
College Station	50	$18,800	$9.00	$21,500	$10.30	47.9%
Dallas (Area)	640	$21,100	$10.10	$25,400	$12.20	-34%
El Paso	230	$21,500	$10.30	$23,400	$11.20	150.9%
Houston	400	$22,800	$11.00	$27,800	$13.40	-54.4%
Lubbock	100	$20,400	$9.80	$24,300	$11.70	141.7%
McAllen	280	$19,200	$9.20	$22,500	$10.80	271.3%
San Antonio	270	$21,500	$10.30	$25,500	$12.30	-3%
Sherman	40	$19,000	$9.10	$21,600	$10.40	153.3%
Tyler	70	$22,700	$10.90	$25,600	$12.30	136.1%
Victoria	NA	$20,800	$10.00	$24,400	$11.70	NA
Waco	30	$22,200	$10.70	$24,600	$11.80	-6.8%
Wichita Falls	80	$19,900	$9.60	$23,000	$11.00	323.7%

Utah
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Ogden	200	$18,600	$8.90	$21,300	$10.20	197.9%
Provo	190	$18,100	$8.70	$20,800	$10.00	221.9%
Salt Lake City	270	$21,600	$10.40	$23,900	$11.50	33.1%
St. George	60	$20,600	$9.90	$23,200	$11.10	241.1%

Vermont
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Burlington	NA	$30,400	$14.60	$32,800	$15.80	NA

Virginia
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Lynchburg	30	$27,600	$13.30	$38,700	$18.60	-8.9%
Richmond	200	$25,800	$12.40	$31,500	$15.10	-1.5%
Virginia Beach	190	$19,800	$9.50	$24,500	$11.80	-24.6%

Washington
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Bremerton	40	$27,900	$13.40	$31,100	$14.90	43.2%
Mount Vernon	50	$27,600	$13.30	$29,500	$14.20	264.8%
Seattle (Area)	NA	$24,400	$11.70	$27,100	$13.00	NA
Spokane	170	$23,600	$11.30	$26,900	$12.90	141.1%
Wenatchee	30	$26,300	$12.60	$30,000	$14.40	138.8%
Yakima	70	$29,000	$13.90	$42,000	$20.20	160.9%

West Virginia
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Huntington	70	$18,100	$8.70	$23,800	$11.50	94.7%
Morgantown	30	$18,900	$9.10	$21,600	$10.40	78.7%

Wisconsin
City/Area	Employees	Median Annual Salary	Median Hourly Wage	Top 25% Annual Salary	Top 25% Hourly Wage	Job Density
Eau Claire	60	$25,400	$12.20	$29,100	$14.00	150.3%
Madison	50	$28,200	$13.60	$33,300	$16.00	-52.7%
Milwaukee	310	$24,300	$11.70	$27,900	$13.40	11.5%
Racine	40	$21,000	$10.10	$23,400	$11.30	70.7%
Sheboygan	NA	$24,000	$11.60	$26,800	$12.90	NA