How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Appleton, WI in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in Appleton, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Wisconsin.
BLS OES May 2025 · Appleton metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in Appleton, Wisconsin earns $49.00 per hour, or $101,920 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,493 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $78,530, and the top 10% of earners make over $121,420.
That pay is right at the Wisconsin figure of $101,840 and 1% below the national figure of $102,760. Appleton ranks 5th of 14 metro areas in Wisconsin for Physical Therapist pay. About 180 Physical Therapists work in the Appleton area.
Physical Therapist pay in Appleton at a glance
- Typical pay is $49.00 an hour, or $101,920 a year.
- That is right at the Wisconsin figure, ranking 5th of 14 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $78,530; the top 10% make over $121,420.
- Typical pay rose +34% from 2015 to 2025, against +27% for Wisconsin as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Appleton?
Pay in Appleton runs from entry-level positions at around $37.75 an hour to more than $58.38 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Wisconsin and national figures.
Physical Therapist pay by career stage in Appleton
| Career stage | Appleton | Wisconsin | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $78,530$37.75 an hour | $80,740$38.82 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $85,260$40.99 an hour | $88,320$42.46 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $101,920$49.00 an hour | $101,840$48.96 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $108,980$52.39 an hour | $114,070$54.84 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $121,420$58.38 an hour | $124,640$59.92 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Appleton area as BLS defines it
Physical Therapist pay growth in Appleton
Typical (median) annual wage for Physical Therapists in the Appleton area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Physical Therapist pay in Appleton was $75,790 a year. By 2025 it had reached $101,920, a change of +34%, compared with +27% for Wisconsin over the same years.
How Appleton compares with other Wisconsin cities
Sheboygan pays Physical Therapists the most in Wisconsin at $104,110 a year, $2,190 more than Appleton. The lowest-paying area in the state is La Crosse at $97,550.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Appleton | Physical Therapists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheboygan | $104,110 | $50.05 | +2% | 130 |
| 2 | Waukesha metro incl. Milwaukee | $103,030 | $49.53 | +1% | 1,710 |
| 3 | Madison | $102,810 | $49.43 | +1% | 900 |
| 4 | St. Paul metro incl. Bloomington | $102,450 | $49.26 | +1% | 3,360 |
| 5 | Appleton | $101,920 | $49.00 | this city | 180 |
| 6 | Beloit metro incl. Janesville | $100,830 | $48.48 | -1% | 150 |
| 7 | Fond du Lac | $100,130 | $48.14 | -2% | 60 |
| 8 | Neenah metro incl. Oshkosh | $100,050 | $48.10 | -2% | 120 |
| 9 | Wausau | $99,910 | $48.03 | -2% | 90 |
| 10 | Green Bay | $99,850 | $48.01 | -2% | 340 |
| 11 | Racine metro incl. Mount Pleasant | $99,710 | $47.94 | -2% | 160 |
| 12 | Kenosha | $99,160 | $47.67 | -3% | 190 |
| 13 | Eau Claire | $98,610 | $47.41 | -3% | 170 |
| 14 | Onalaska metro incl. La Crosse | $97,550 | $46.90 | -4% | 200 |
Every metro area in Wisconsin with Physical Therapist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Wisconsin typical pay $101,840
Is Appleton a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapist pay in Appleton sits close to the national figure: $101,920 a year, 1% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Appleton area, about 1.4 are Physical Therapist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.7. That makes Physical Therapists a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physical Therapist make in Appleton, WI?
- A typical Physical Therapist in Appleton earns $101,920 a year, or $49.00 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $78,530 and the top 10% earn over $121,420.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in Appleton?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in Appleton is $49.00. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $37.75, and the top 10% earn over $58.38 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in Appleton?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in Appleton typically offer around $37.75 an hour, or $78,530 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in Appleton higher than in the rest of Wisconsin?
- Appleton pay is right at the Wisconsin figure of $101,840 a year, ranking 5th of 14 metro areas in the state. Sheboygan pays the most in Wisconsin at $104,110.