How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Waterbury, CT in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in Waterbury, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Connecticut.
BLS OES May 2025 · Waterbury · Shelton metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in Waterbury, Connecticut earns $49.32 per hour, or $102,590 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,549 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $80,820, and the top 10% of earners make over $126,330.
That pay is 2% below the Connecticut figure of $104,360 and right at the national figure of $102,760. Waterbury ranks 5th of 5 metro areas in Connecticut for Physical Therapist pay. About 480 Physical Therapists work in the Waterbury · Shelton area. Waterbury is part of the Waterbury · Shelton metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Shelton share these figures.
Physical Therapist pay in Waterbury at a glance
- Typical pay is $49.32 an hour, or $102,590 a year.
- That is 2% below the Connecticut figure, ranking 5th of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $80,820; the top 10% make over $126,330.
- Typical pay rose +21% from 2015 to 2025, against +22% for Connecticut as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Waterbury?
Pay in Waterbury runs from entry-level positions at around $38.86 an hour to more than $60.74 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Connecticut and national figures.
Physical Therapist pay by career stage in Waterbury
| Career stage | Waterbury | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $80,820$38.86 an hour | $82,110$39.48 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $95,720$46.02 an hour | $96,560$46.42 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $102,590$49.32 an hour | $104,360$50.17 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $109,910$52.84 an hour | $113,360$54.50 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $126,330$60.74 an hour | $127,150$61.13 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Waterbury · Shelton area as BLS defines it
Physical Therapist pay growth in Waterbury
Typical (median) annual wage for Physical Therapists in the Waterbury · Shelton area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Physical Therapist pay in Waterbury was $85,070 a year. By 2025 it had reached $102,590, a change of +21%, compared with +22% for Connecticut over the same years.
How Waterbury compares with other Connecticut cities
Hartford pays Physical Therapists the most in Connecticut at $105,230 a year, $2,640 more than Waterbury. The lowest-paying area in the state is Shelton at $102,590.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Waterbury | Physical Therapists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartford metro incl. West Hartford · East Hartford | $105,230 | $50.59 | +3% | 1,370 |
| 2 | Bridgeport | $105,160 | $50.56 | +3% | 1,030 |
| 3 | New Haven | $103,000 | $49.52 | 0% | 610 |
| 4 | Norwich metro incl. New London · Willimantic | $102,880 | $49.46 | 0% | 290 |
| 5 | Waterbury metro incl. Shelton | $102,590 | $49.32 | this city | 480 |
Every metro area in Connecticut with Physical Therapist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Connecticut typical pay $104,360
Is Waterbury a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapist pay in Waterbury sits close to the national figure: $102,590 a year, right at the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Waterbury · Shelton area, about 3.0 are Physical Therapist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.7. That makes the local economy more reliant on Physical Therapists than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physical Therapist make in Waterbury, CT?
- A typical Physical Therapist in Waterbury earns $102,590 a year, or $49.32 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $80,820 and the top 10% earn over $126,330.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in Waterbury?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in Waterbury is $49.32. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $38.86, and the top 10% earn over $60.74 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in Waterbury?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in Waterbury typically offer around $38.86 an hour, or $80,820 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in Waterbury higher than in the rest of Connecticut?
- Waterbury pay is 2% below the Connecticut figure of $104,360 a year, ranking 5th of 5 metro areas in the state. Hartford pays the most in Connecticut at $105,230.