How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Altoona, PA in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in Altoona, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Pennsylvania.
BLS OES May 2025 · Altoona metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in Altoona, Pennsylvania earns $46.98 per hour, or $97,710 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,143 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $73,400, and the top 10% of earners make over $121,190.
That pay is 4% below the Pennsylvania figure of $101,380 and 5% below the national figure of $102,760. Altoona ranks 15th of 16 metro areas in Pennsylvania for Physical Therapist pay. About 150 Physical Therapists work in the Altoona area.
Physical Therapist pay in Altoona at a glance
- Typical pay is $46.98 an hour, or $97,710 a year.
- That is 4% below the Pennsylvania figure, ranking 15th of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $73,400; the top 10% make over $121,190.
- Typical pay rose +19% from 2015 to 2025, against +24% for Pennsylvania as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Altoona?
Pay in Altoona runs from entry-level positions at around $35.29 an hour to more than $58.26 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Pennsylvania and national figures.
Physical Therapist pay by career stage in Altoona
| Career stage | Altoona | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $73,400$35.29 an hour | $76,960$37.00 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $82,050$39.45 an hour | $82,320$39.58 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $97,710$46.98 an hour | $101,380$48.74 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $110,030$52.90 an hour | $116,650$56.08 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $121,190$58.26 an hour | $127,060$61.09 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Altoona area as BLS defines it
Physical Therapist pay growth in Altoona
Typical (median) annual wage for Physical Therapists in the Altoona area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Physical Therapist pay in Altoona was $82,310 a year. By 2025 it had reached $97,710, a change of +19%, compared with +24% for Pennsylvania over the same years.
How Altoona compares with other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia pays Physical Therapists the most in Pennsylvania at $105,790 a year, $8,080 more than Altoona. The lowest-paying area in the state is Erie at $94,830.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Altoona | Physical Therapists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $105,790 | $50.86 | +8% | 6,250 |
| 2 | Williamsport | $105,340 | $50.65 | +8% | 140 |
| 3 | Allentown | $104,350 | $50.17 | +7% | 780 |
| 4 | Gettysburg | $103,890 | $49.95 | +6% | 40 |
| 5 | Lancaster | $103,240 | $49.63 | +6% | 430 |
| 6 | Reading | $102,950 | $49.49 | +5% | 300 |
| 7 | Hanover metro incl. York | $102,170 | $49.12 | +5% | 270 |
| 8 | Lebanon | $102,020 | $49.05 | +4% | 70 |
| 9 | Chambersburg | $100,260 | $48.20 | +3% | 110 |
| 10 | Harrisburg metro incl. Carlisle | $100,160 | $48.15 | +3% | 640 |
| 11 | Scranton | $99,520 | $47.85 | +2% | 500 |
| 12 | State College | $98,970 | $47.58 | +1% | 130 |
| 13 | Johnstown | $97,870 | $47.05 | 0% | 130 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh | $97,750 | $46.99 | 0% | 2,120 |
| 15 | Altoona | $97,710 | $46.98 | this city | 150 |
| 16 | Erie | $94,830 | $45.59 | -3% | 240 |
Every metro area in Pennsylvania with Physical Therapist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Pennsylvania typical pay $101,380
Is Altoona a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapists in Altoona earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $97,710 a year, 5% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Altoona area, about 2.6 are Physical Therapist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.7. That makes the local economy more reliant on Physical Therapists than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physical Therapist make in Altoona, PA?
- A typical Physical Therapist in Altoona earns $97,710 a year, or $46.98 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $73,400 and the top 10% earn over $121,190.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in Altoona?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in Altoona is $46.98. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $35.29, and the top 10% earn over $58.26 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in Altoona?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in Altoona typically offer around $35.29 an hour, or $73,400 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in Altoona higher than in the rest of Pennsylvania?
- Altoona pay is 4% below the Pennsylvania figure of $101,380 a year, ranking 15th of 16 metro areas in the state. Philadelphia pays the most in Pennsylvania at $105,790.