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

A typical Physical Therapist in Michigan earns about $48.51 per hour, or $100,900 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $8,408 a month and $1,940 a week. That figure sits in the middle of the range for the profession in the state, not a fixed rate every employer follows. Pay still varies by city and experience.

Michigan's typical pay for Physical Therapists sits 2% below the national figure of $102,760 a year, or $49.40 an hour. That gap places Michigan 27th out of 51 states and territories ranked for this occupation. About 8,630 Physical Therapists work across the state, giving a sense of scale. Lower pay compared with the national figure often lines up with a lower cost of living.

Entry-level positions in Michigan typically offer around $38.27 an hour, or about $79,600 a year, for Physical Therapists just starting out. Some entry roles reach closer to $41.40 an hour, or $86,120 a year, depending on the employer. Pay typically moves toward the state's typical figure of $100,900 a year within the first several years on the job. Newer therapists can expect steady increases as they build clinical experience.

Experienced Physical Therapists in Michigan often earn upwards of $52.29 an hour, or $108,760 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $59.61 an hour, or $123,980 a year. That leaves a spread of $44,380 between entry-level and top-tier pay in the state. Setting, years of experience, and the city where a therapist works all factor into where someone lands within that range.

Michigan's typical pay for Physical Therapists rose from $81,530 in 2015 to $100,900 in 2025, a gain of $19,370. That amounts to a 24% rise over the decade, though the climb wasn't perfectly steady. Pay dipped in 2020 and 2021 before climbing again through 2022 and 2023, then leveled off slightly in 2024 before reaching its current figure in 2025.

Nationally, typical pay for Physical Therapists rose 22% over the same ten years, close to Michigan's 24% increase. Pay for Physical Therapists in Michigan has moved up over the past decade, though nothing about future pay is guaranteed. Someone starting out now enters a profession where typical pay has trended upward over time, even accounting for the dip during the pandemic years.

Pay runs highest in Ann Arbor, where Physical Therapists typically earn $106,980 a year, about 6% above the statewide figure. Niles and Jackson follow closely, at $106,020 and $104,000 a year. These figures reflect the full metro area around each city, not just the city center.

Midland pays the least among Michigan's metro areas, with typical pay of $92,620 a year, putting the spread between the highest and lowest cities at $14,360. Dearborn holds the largest Physical Therapist workforce in the state, with 3,770 employed at typical pay of $102,970 a year. Cities with higher pay often carry higher living costs, so the gap doesn't necessarily translate into more spending power.

Among Michigan's neighbors, Ohio pays Physical Therapists the most, at $103,050 a year, about 2% above Michigan's figure. Wisconsin and Indiana both pay slightly more as well, at $101,840 and $101,560 a year. None of the bordering states pay notably less than Michigan. A Physical Therapist license from Michigan can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, though requirements vary by state licensing board.

Physical Therapists in Michigan typically earn $100,900 a year, a figure that has climbed 24% over the past decade. Pay varies by city and experience level, from entry-level positions near $79,600 to top earners above $123,980. Readers can check Michigan's physical therapy licensing board for current requirements, and city-specific pay pages for local figures before deciding where to work.