How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Ames, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in Ames, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Ames metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in Ames, Iowa earns $43.56 per hour, or $90,610 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,551 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $67,530, and the top 10% of earners make over $119,890.
That pay is 7% below the Iowa figure of $97,560 and 12% below the national figure of $102,760. Ames ranks 8th of 8 metro areas in Iowa for Physical Therapist pay. About 70 Physical Therapists work in the Ames area.
Physical Therapist pay in Ames at a glance
- Typical pay is $43.56 an hour, or $90,610 a year.
- That is 7% below the Iowa figure, ranking 8th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $67,530; the top 10% make over $119,890.
- Typical pay rose +22% from 2015 to 2025, against +26% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Ames?
Pay in Ames runs from entry-level positions at around $32.47 an hour to more than $57.64 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
Physical Therapist pay by career stage in Ames
| Career stage | Ames | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $67,530$32.47 an hour | $73,780$35.47 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $75,190$36.15 an hour | $78,810$37.89 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $90,610$43.56 an hour | $97,560$46.90 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $101,250$48.68 an hour | $106,070$51.00 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $119,890$57.64 an hour | $120,730$58.04 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Ames area as BLS defines it
Physical Therapist pay growth in Ames
Typical (median) annual wage for Physical Therapists in the Ames area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Physical Therapist pay in Ames was $74,570 a year. By 2025 it had reached $90,610, a change of +22%, compared with +26% for Iowa over the same years.
How Ames compares with other Iowa cities
Sioux City pays Physical Therapists the most in Iowa at $100,380 a year, $9,770 more than Ames. The lowest-paying area in the state is Ames at $90,610.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Ames | Physical Therapists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sioux City | $100,380 | $48.26 | +11% | 100 |
| 2 | Dubuque | $99,840 | $48.00 | +10% | 110 |
| 3 | Davenport | $99,410 | $47.80 | +10% | 280 |
| 4 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $97,790 | $47.02 | +8% | 740 |
| 5 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $97,180 | $46.72 | +7% | 120 |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids | $94,520 | $45.44 | +4% | 220 |
| 7 | Iowa City | $94,480 | $45.42 | +4% | 180 |
| 8 | Ames | $90,610 | $43.56 | this city | 70 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Physical Therapist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $97,560
Is Ames a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapists in Ames earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $90,610 a year, 12% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Ames area, about 1.3 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 Ames, IA?
- A typical Physical Therapist in Ames earns $90,610 a year, or $43.56 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $67,530 and the top 10% earn over $119,890.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in Ames?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in Ames is $43.56. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $32.47, and the top 10% earn over $57.64 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in Ames?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in Ames typically offer around $32.47 an hour, or $67,530 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in Ames higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Ames pay is 7% below the Iowa figure of $97,560 a year, ranking 8th of 8 metro areas in the state. Sioux City pays the most in Iowa at $100,380.