How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in West Des Moines, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in West Des Moines, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in West Des Moines, Iowa earns $47.02 per hour, or $97,790 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,149 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $75,510, and the top 10% of earners make over $120,730.
That pay is right at the Iowa figure of $97,560 and 5% below the national figure of $102,760. West Des Moines ranks 4th of 8 metro areas in Iowa for Physical Therapist pay. About 740 Physical Therapists work in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area. West Des Moines is part of the Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Des Moines share these figures.
Physical Therapist pay in West Des Moines at a glance
- Typical pay is $47.02 an hour, or $97,790 a year.
- That is right at the Iowa figure, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $75,510; the top 10% make over $120,730.
- Typical pay rose +18% from 2015 to 2025, against +26% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in West Des Moines?
Pay in West Des Moines runs from entry-level positions at around $36.30 an hour to more than $58.04 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 West Des Moines
| Career stage | West Des Moines | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $75,510$36.30 an hour | $73,780$35.47 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $78,810$37.89 an hour | $78,810$37.89 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $97,790$47.02 an hour | $97,560$46.90 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $106,070$51.00 an hour | $106,070$51.00 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $120,730$58.04 an hour | $120,730$58.04 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Des Moines · West Des Moines area as BLS defines it
Physical Therapist pay growth in West Des Moines
Typical (median) annual wage for Physical Therapists in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Physical Therapist pay in West Des Moines was $82,890 a year. By 2025 it had reached $97,790, a change of +18%, compared with +26% for Iowa over the same years.
How West Des Moines compares with other Iowa cities
Sioux City pays Physical Therapists the most in Iowa at $100,380 a year, $2,590 more than West Des Moines. The lowest-paying area in the state is Ames at $90,610.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs West Des Moines | Physical Therapists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sioux City | $100,380 | $48.26 | +3% | 100 |
| 2 | Dubuque | $99,840 | $48.00 | +2% | 110 |
| 3 | Davenport | $99,410 | $47.80 | +2% | 280 |
| 4 | West Des Moines metro incl. Des Moines | $97,790 | $47.02 | this city | 740 |
| 5 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $97,180 | $46.72 | -1% | 120 |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids | $94,520 | $45.44 | -3% | 220 |
| 7 | Iowa City | $94,480 | $45.42 | -3% | 180 |
| 8 | Ames | $90,610 | $43.56 | -7% | 70 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Physical Therapist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $97,560
Is West Des Moines a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapists in West Des Moines earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $97,790 a year, 5% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area, about 1.8 are Physical Therapist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.7. 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 West Des Moines, IA?
- A typical Physical Therapist in West Des Moines earns $97,790 a year, or $47.02 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $75,510 and the top 10% earn over $120,730.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in West Des Moines?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in West Des Moines is $47.02. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $36.30, and the top 10% earn over $58.04 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in West Des Moines?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in West Des Moines typically offer around $36.30 an hour, or $75,510 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in West Des Moines higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- West Des Moines pay is right at the Iowa figure of $97,560 a year, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state. Sioux City pays the most in Iowa at $100,380.