How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in New Jersey in 2026?

A typical Physical Therapist in New Jersey earns about $53.91 per hour, or $112,140 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $9,345 a month and about $2,157 a week. These figures describe the typical worker in the state, not the full range from entry-level to experienced practitioners.

That pay sits 9% above the national annual figure of $102,760, well above the national hourly figure of $49.40, and puts New Jersey 3rd among all 51 states for Physical Therapist pay. Around 9,750 Physical Therapists work in the state, giving the figure a solid base to draw from. Nationally, about 267,330 people work in the profession, making New Jersey's workforce a modest slice of that total.

Entry-level positions in New Jersey typically offer around $40.69 an hour, or $84,640 a year, for those just starting out. Some early-career roles land a bit higher, closer to $46.50 an hour or $96,730 a year, depending on setting and location. Pay generally moves toward the state's typical figure of $112,140 a year within the first few years on the job.

Experienced Physical Therapists in New Jersey often earn upwards of $62.39 an hour, or $129,780 a year, in senior roles. The top 10% of earners make over $140,040 a year, or $67.33 an hour. That gap adds up to a $55,400 spread between entry-level and top-tier pay, shaped mostly by years of experience, practice setting, and which city someone works in.

New Jersey's typical Physical Therapist pay rose from $93,500 in 2015 to $112,140 in 2025, a gain of $18,640. That's a 20% rise over the decade, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). The increase wasn't perfectly steady; pay dipped slightly in 2018 and 2021 before climbing again in the years that followed.

Nationally, Physical Therapist pay rose 22% over the same ten years, a bit faster than New Jersey's climb. Pay in the state has moved up in nine of the past ten years, though nothing about that pattern guarantees future increases. For someone starting out now, it means a decade of history shows pay generally moving in one direction, even if the pace has varied year to year.

Trenton and Princeton post the highest local pay for Physical Therapists in New Jersey, each at $108,280 a year ($52.06 an hour), figures that cover the full metro area around each city. That's about 3% below the state's overall typical pay of $112,140, since the state figure draws from a broader mix of settings and locations. Newark and Jersey City follow closely, both at $107,650 a year ($51.75 an hour).

Hammonton and Atlantic City report the lowest local pay in the state, at $101,430 a year ($48.77 an hour), a spread of $6,850 between the highest- and lowest-paying metro areas. Newark carries the largest Physical Therapist workforce in New Jersey, with about 21,240 people in the role. Cities with higher pay tend to also carry higher living costs, so the gap in take-home value is often narrower than the raw figures suggest.

New Jersey pays Physical Therapists more than each of its neighbors. Delaware's typical pay runs $102,050 a year, about 9% below New Jersey's figure, while Pennsylvania and New York both come in around 10% lower, at $101,380 and $100,660 a year. A Physical Therapist license from New Jersey can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, though requirements vary and should be confirmed with the relevant state board.

Physical Therapists in New Jersey typically earn $112,140 a year, a figure that has climbed 20% over the past decade. Pay varies by experience, setting, and city, from entry-level roles near $84,640 to top earners above $140,040. For state-specific requirements, check New Jersey's physical therapy licensing board page, and see the city-level pages for local pay figures in Trenton, Newark, and elsewhere in the state.