How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in District of Columbia in 2026?

A typical Physical Therapist in Washington, D.C. earns about $48.87 per hour ($101,640 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down further, that comes to roughly $8,470 a month or $1,955 a week, based on the annual figure. Pay in the district covers physical therapists working in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and rehabilitation centers throughout the city.

That figure sits about 1% below the national typical pay of $102,760 a year, per the same May 2025 data. District pay ranks 21st among the 51 states and territories tracked for this occupation. Around 610 Physical Therapists work in the district, a modest workforce compared to some larger states, which keeps the local figures close to the national norm.

Entry-level positions in Washington, D.C. typically offer around $41.16 an hour ($85,620 a year) for Physical Therapists just starting out. Pay tends to move toward the district's typical figure of $48.87 an hour within the first few years on the job. New graduates often start in outpatient or hospital settings before moving into higher-paying specialties or leadership roles.

Experienced Physical Therapists in the district often earn upwards of $61.90 an hour ($128,750 a year), reflecting years of practice and specialization. The top 10% of earners make over $62.25 an hour, or about $129,470 a year. That's a spread of $43,850 between entry-level and top pay, a gap shaped mostly by years of experience, practice setting, and whether a therapist works in a specialty clinic versus general outpatient care.

Over the past decade, typical pay for Physical Therapists in the district climbed from $82,600 in 2015 to $101,640 in 2025. That's a gain of $19,040, or 23%, over ten years. The increase wasn't perfectly steady; pay dipped slightly in 2016 before climbing more consistently through the following years.

That 23% rise slightly outpaces the national decade gain of 22% for this occupation. Pay for Physical Therapists in the district has moved up consistently over the past ten years, though a decade of growth doesn't guarantee future increases. Someone starting a career in physical therapy today enters a field where typical pay has trended upward over time.

Because Washington, D.C. is itself a single metro area, pay for Physical Therapists is fairly uniform across the district. Washington reports typical pay of $102,980 a year ($49.51 an hour), about 1% above the district-wide figure of $101,640. This is the only metro area reported for the district, and it also has the largest Physical Therapist workforce, with 4,540 employed.

Since Washington is the only reported metro area, there's no lowest-paying city to compare it against, and the city-to-city spread doesn't apply here. Pay levels reflect the district's cost of living, which runs higher than much of the country, a factor that tends to lift wages alongside expenses. Physical Therapists elsewhere in the district can expect pay close to this citywide figure.

Neighboring states show a mixed picture. Maryland pays Physical Therapists more, with typical pay of $106,890 a year, about 5% higher than the district. Virginia runs close to even, at $101,450 a year, roughly matching district pay. Physical therapy licenses can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, which can make it easier to compare opportunities across the region.

Physical Therapists in Washington, D.C. typically earn $101,640 a year ($48.87 an hour), a figure that has climbed 23% over the past decade. Pay sits close to the national figure and varies by experience more than by location within the district. Readers considering a move or a new license should check the D.C. Board of Physical Therapy for licensing requirements and review city-specific pages for local pay details.