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

A typical Physical Therapist in Montana earns about $43.97 per hour, or $91,450 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That breaks down to roughly $7,621 a month and $1,759 a week, both calculated from the annual figure. Pay varies by city, setting, and experience, but this is the figure most Montana Physical Therapists land on.

Montana's typical pay runs 11% below the national figure of $102,760 a year for Physical Therapists, according to the same May 2025 data. That puts Montana 50th out of 51 states and the District of Columbia for this occupation. About 1,180 Physical Therapists work in Montana, compared with 267,330 nationwide, so the state's pay figure reflects a small but real workforce.

Entry-level Physical Therapists in Montana typically start around $37.74 an hour, or about $78,490 a year, based on the lowest-paid tier in the May 2025 wage data. Early-career pay in this range often reflects new graduates or those just completing licensure. Within a few years, most Physical Therapists in Montana move up toward the state's typical pay of $91,450 a year as they gain experience and take on more independent caseloads.

Experienced Physical Therapists in Montana often earn upwards of $49.75 an hour, or about $103,480 a year, once they've built a few years of practice. The top 10% of earners make over $115,540 a year, which is $37,050 more than entry-level pay. That gap tends to track setting, years of experience, and city, with hospital and specialty roles in higher-paying areas like Bozeman often landing at the top.

Montana's typical Physical Therapist pay rose from $73,080 in 2015 to $91,450 in 2025, a gain of $18,370. That's a 25% increase over the decade, according to the government wage data trend. Pay didn't rise every single year; it dipped slightly in 2021 and again in 2025 after peaking at $92,910 in 2024, but the overall decade movement was upward.

Nationally, Physical Therapist pay rose 22% over the same ten years, so Montana's climb outpaced the national trend even while its dollar figures stayed lower. That upward movement held even through the 2021 dip, suggesting the longer-term direction has stayed positive despite occasional single-year swings. For someone starting a Physical Therapist career in Montana now, this history shows pay has moved up over time, though nothing about future years is guaranteed.

Bozeman pays Physical Therapists the most in Montana, with typical pay of $97,400 a year ($46.83 an hour), about 7% above the state figure of $91,450. Billings follows closely at $97,020 a year, keeping both cities well ahead of the rest of the state. These figures cover each city's full metro area, not just the city center.

Great Falls pays the least among Montana's tracked cities, with typical pay of $81,960 a year ($39.41 an hour), a spread of $15,440 between the highest- and lowest-paying cities. Billings, though not the top payer, has the largest Physical Therapist workforce in the state at 230 workers, more than any other Montana city. Lower pay in cities like Great Falls and Helena often lines up with a lower cost of living than in Bozeman or Billings.

Montana's neighbors mostly pay more for Physical Therapists. Wyoming leads at $100,400 a year, 10% above Montana's figure, and Idaho follows at $99,000, about 8% higher. South Dakota is close to Montana at $92,660, just 1% above, while North Dakota pays less at $85,330, 7% below Montana. Physical Therapist licenses can often be endorsed or transferred between neighboring states, though requirements vary by state.

Physical Therapists in Montana typically earn $91,450 a year, a figure that has climbed 25% over the past decade despite sitting below the national pay level. Anyone considering this career in Montana should check the state licensing board for current requirements and review city-level figures for places like Bozeman, Billings, or Missoula to see how local pay compares before choosing where to work.