How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Iowa City, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in Iowa City, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa City metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in Iowa City, Iowa earns $45.42 per hour, or $94,480 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,873 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $71,870, and the top 10% of earners make over $123,170.
That pay is 3% below the Iowa figure of $97,560 and 8% below the national figure of $102,760. Iowa City ranks 7th of 8 metro areas in Iowa for Physical Therapist pay. About 180 Physical Therapists work in the Iowa City area.
Physical Therapist pay in Iowa City at a glance
- Typical pay is $45.42 an hour, or $94,480 a year.
- That is 3% below the Iowa figure, ranking 7th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $71,870; the top 10% make over $123,170.
- Typical pay rose +26% from 2015 to 2025, against +26% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Iowa City?
Pay in Iowa City runs from entry-level positions at around $34.55 an hour to more than $59.22 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 Iowa City
| Career stage | Iowa City | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $71,870$34.55 an hour | $73,780$35.47 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $82,930$39.87 an hour | $78,810$37.89 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $94,480$45.42 an hour | $97,560$46.90 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $108,230$52.03 an hour | $106,070$51.00 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $123,170$59.22 an hour | $120,730$58.04 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Iowa City area as BLS defines it
Physical Therapist pay growth in Iowa City
Typical (median) annual wage for Physical Therapists in the Iowa City area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Physical Therapist pay in Iowa City was $75,250 a year. By 2025 it had reached $94,480, a change of +26%, compared with +26% for Iowa over the same years.
How Iowa City compares with other Iowa cities
Sioux City pays Physical Therapists the most in Iowa at $100,380 a year, $5,900 more than Iowa City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Ames at $90,610.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Iowa City | Physical Therapists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sioux City | $100,380 | $48.26 | +6% | 100 |
| 2 | Dubuque | $99,840 | $48.00 | +6% | 110 |
| 3 | Davenport | $99,410 | $47.80 | +5% | 280 |
| 4 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $97,790 | $47.02 | +4% | 740 |
| 5 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $97,180 | $46.72 | +3% | 120 |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids | $94,520 | $45.44 | 0% | 220 |
| 7 | Iowa City | $94,480 | $45.42 | this city | 180 |
| 8 | Ames | $90,610 | $43.56 | -4% | 70 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Physical Therapist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $97,560
Is Iowa City a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapists in Iowa City earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $94,480 a year, 8% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Iowa City area, about 1.9 are Physical Therapist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.8. Physical Therapist jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physical Therapist make in Iowa City, IA?
- A typical Physical Therapist in Iowa City earns $94,480 a year, or $45.42 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $71,870 and the top 10% earn over $123,170.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in Iowa City?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in Iowa City is $45.42. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $34.55, and the top 10% earn over $59.22 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in Iowa City?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in Iowa City typically offer around $34.55 an hour, or $71,870 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in Iowa City higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Iowa City pay is 3% below the Iowa figure of $97,560 a year, ranking 7th of 8 metro areas in the state. Sioux City pays the most in Iowa at $100,380.