How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Massachusetts in 2026?

A typical Physical Therapist in Massachusetts earns about $49.90 per hour ($103,790 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $8,649 a month and $1,996 a week, figures calculated from the annual median. These numbers describe typical pay across settings and experience levels statewide. Actual paychecks still vary by city, employer, and years of experience.

Massachusetts pay runs about 1% above the national figures of $102,760 a year and $49.40 an hour for Physical Therapists, per the same May 2025 data. That places the state 11th among all 51 states ranked by pay for this profession. About 6,850 Physical Therapists work across Massachusetts, a workforce large enough to staff hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation centers statewide. That gap is modest and tracks closely with the state's overall cost of living.

Entry-level positions in Massachusetts typically offer around $39.79 an hour, or about $82,760 a year, for Physical Therapists just starting out. Pay tends to rise steadily from there as new therapists gain clinical experience and licensure. Within a few years, many reach the state's typical pay of $103,790 a year.

Experienced Physical Therapists often earn upwards of $58.51 an hour ($121,710 a year), and the top 10% make over $130,220 a year. That leaves a spread of $47,460 between entry-level and top-earning Physical Therapists in the state. Setting, years of experience, and city all tend to separate the two ends of that range.

Physical Therapist pay in Massachusetts has risen from $82,980 in 2015 to $103,790 in 2025, a gain of $20,810. That's a 25% increase over the decade for Physical Therapists in the state. Pay dipped briefly in 2020 before climbing again through 2025.

Nationally, Physical Therapist pay rose 22% over the same decade, so Massachusetts' 25% gain outpaced the national trend. Pay for this profession has moved up steadily in the state, though future gains aren't guaranteed. Someone starting a career now enters at a point where pay has already climbed substantially over the past ten years.

Physical Therapist pay runs highest in Amherst Town and Northampton, where the typical rate is $110,620 a year ($53.18 an hour), about 7% above the state figure. Barnstable Town and Pittsfield also pay above the state figure, at $108,110 and $105,750 a year. These figures reflect full metro-area pay, not just city centers.

Warwick pays the least among the state's metro areas, at $100,290 a year ($48.22 an hour), a spread of $10,330 from the top-paying area. Boston employs the most Physical Therapists of any city in the state, with 5,330 working there at a typical $103,550 a year ($49.78 an hour). These differences generally track local living costs, with higher pay in areas where housing and daily expenses run higher.

Among neighboring states, Connecticut pays slightly more, at $104,360 a year, about 1% above Massachusetts. Vermont pays the least of the group, at $97,970 a year, about 6% below the state figure. New York, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island fall in between, each paying a few percent less than Massachusetts. Physical Therapist licenses are often transferable or eligible for endorsement between neighboring states, which can simplify a move across the region.

Physical Therapists in Massachusetts typically earn $103,790 a year, a figure that has climbed 25% over the past decade. Pay varies by city and experience, but the overall trend across the state has been upward. Readers weighing a move or a new career should check the state licensing board's requirements and review city-level pages for local pay figures before making a decision.