How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Washington, DC in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in Washington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across District of Columbia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Washington · Arlington · Alexandria metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in Washington, District of Columbia earns $49.51 per hour, or $102,980 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,582 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $79,080, and the top 10% of earners make over $137,070.
That pay is 1% above the District of Columbia figure of $101,640 and right at the national figure of $102,760. About 4,540 Physical Therapists work in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area.
Physical Therapist pay in Washington at a glance
- Typical pay is $49.51 an hour, or $102,980 a year.
- That is 1% above the District of Columbia figure.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $79,080; the top 10% make over $137,070.
- Typical pay rose +17% from 2015 to 2025, against +23% for District of Columbia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Washington?
Pay in Washington runs from entry-level positions at around $38.02 an hour to more than $65.90 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the District of Columbia and national figures.
Physical Therapist pay by career stage in Washington
| Career stage | Washington | District of Columbia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $79,080$38.02 an hour | $85,620$41.16 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $94,680$45.52 an hour | $95,940$46.12 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $102,980$49.51 an hour | $101,640$48.87 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $127,020$61.07 an hour | $128,750$61.90 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $137,070$65.90 an hour | $129,470$62.25 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area as BLS defines it
Physical Therapist pay growth in Washington
Typical (median) annual wage for Physical Therapists in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Physical Therapist pay in Washington was $88,340 a year. By 2025 it had reached $102,980, a change of +17%, compared with +23% for District of Columbia over the same years.
Is Washington a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapist pay in Washington sits close to the national figure: $102,980 a year, right at the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area, about 1.4 are Physical Therapist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.7. That makes Physical Therapists a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physical Therapist make in Washington, DC?
- A typical Physical Therapist in Washington earns $102,980 a year, or $49.51 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $79,080 and the top 10% earn over $137,070.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in Washington?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in Washington is $49.51. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $38.02, and the top 10% earn over $65.90 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in Washington?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in Washington typically offer around $38.02 an hour, or $79,080 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in Washington higher than in the rest of District of Columbia?
- Washington pay is 1% above the District of Columbia figure of $101,640 a year, ranking 1st of 1 metro areas in the state.