How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Connecticut in 2026?

A typical Physical Therapist in Connecticut earns about $50.17 per hour ($104,360 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $8,697 a month or $2,007 a week. These figures cover Physical Therapists across all settings and experience levels statewide. They offer a starting point before looking at experience, location, and city-level differences.

Connecticut pay sits 2% above the national figure of $102,760 a year for Physical Therapists, according to the same May 2025 data. That places Connecticut 10th among all 51 states and the District of Columbia for typical Physical Therapist pay. Roughly 4,060 Physical Therapists work across the state, providing scale for these figures. Higher pay in Connecticut generally lines up with the state's higher cost of living compared with much of the country.

Entry-level Physical Therapists in Connecticut typically start around $39.48 an hour, or about $82,110 a year. This reflects pay for those newer to the field or early in their careers. Within a few years, pay tends to move toward the statewide typical figure of $104,360 a year as experience builds. Newer graduates in high-cost metro areas may see faster movement toward that figure than those in smaller markets.

Experienced Physical Therapists in Connecticut often earn upwards of $54.50 an hour ($113,360 a year), reflecting years in the field or specialized settings. The top 10% of earners make over $61.13 an hour, or $127,150 a year. That leaves a spread of $45,040 between entry-level and top-tier pay. Setting, years of experience, and city all factor into where an individual PT lands within that range.

Connecticut's typical Physical Therapist pay rose from $85,220 in 2015 to $104,360 in 2025, a gain of $19,140 over the decade. That amounts to a 22% increase, according to the same government wage data. Pay climbed most years during that span, with only a small dip between 2022 and 2023.

That 22% rise matches the national decade increase for Physical Therapists, meaning Connecticut pay has kept pace with the broader trend rather than falling behind. Both figures reflect the same underlying government wage data collected each year. For someone starting a Physical Therapy career in Connecticut now, pay has moved steadily upward over the past ten years, though past gains are no guarantee of future increases.

Pay runs highest in the Hartford metro area, where Physical Therapists typically earn $105,230 a year ($50.59 an hour), about 1% above the statewide figure. These city figures reflect each city's full metro area rather than the city alone. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury area follows closely, with typical pay of $105,160 a year.

Shelton has the lowest typical pay among Connecticut's metro areas, at $102,590 a year ($49.32 an hour), putting the statewide city spread at $2,640. Hartford also has the largest Physical Therapist workforce in the state, with about 1,370 employed there. Pay differences between Connecticut cities are modest compared with the swings seen in some other states, and they generally track each area's cost of living.

Connecticut pay compares favorably with its neighbors. Massachusetts pays Physical Therapists $103,790 a year, about 1% below Connecticut, while New York and Rhode Island trail further behind at $100,660 and $99,400 respectively, 4% and 5% lower. Physical Therapy licensure earned in Connecticut can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby state, though requirements vary and should be confirmed with each state's licensing board.

Physical Therapists in Connecticut typically earn $104,360 a year ($50.17 an hour), up 22% over the past decade. Pay is highest in the Hartford metro area and slightly lower in Shelton, with modest variation across the state overall. Readers considering a move or a new license should check Connecticut's licensing and registry requirements, and review city-specific pages for local figures before deciding where to work.