How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Milwaukee, WI in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in Milwaukee, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Wisconsin.
BLS OES May 2025 · Milwaukee · Waukesha metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin earns $49.53 per hour, or $103,030 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,586 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $83,090, and the top 10% of earners make over $125,170.
That pay is 1% above the Wisconsin figure of $101,840 and right at the national figure of $102,760. Milwaukee ranks 2nd of 14 metro areas in Wisconsin for Physical Therapist pay. About 1,710 Physical Therapists work in the Milwaukee · Waukesha area. Milwaukee is part of the Milwaukee · Waukesha metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Waukesha share these figures.
Physical Therapist pay in Milwaukee at a glance
- Typical pay is $49.53 an hour, or $103,030 a year.
- That is 1% above the Wisconsin figure, ranking 2nd of 14 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $83,090; the top 10% make over $125,170.
- Typical pay rose +29% from 2015 to 2025, against +27% for Wisconsin as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Milwaukee?
Pay in Milwaukee runs from entry-level positions at around $39.95 an hour to more than $60.18 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 Milwaukee
| Career stage | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $83,090$39.95 an hour | $80,740$38.82 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $94,810$45.58 an hour | $88,320$42.46 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $103,030$49.53 an hour | $101,840$48.96 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $113,560$54.59 an hour | $114,070$54.84 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $125,170$60.18 an hour | $124,640$59.92 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Milwaukee · Waukesha area as BLS defines it
Physical Therapist pay growth in Milwaukee
Typical (median) annual wage for Physical Therapists in the Milwaukee · Waukesha area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Physical Therapist pay in Milwaukee was $79,850 a year. By 2025 it had reached $103,030, a change of +29%, compared with +27% for Wisconsin over the same years.
How Milwaukee compares with other Wisconsin cities
Sheboygan pays Physical Therapists the most in Wisconsin at $104,110 a year, $1,080 more than Milwaukee. The lowest-paying area in the state is La Crosse at $97,550.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Milwaukee | Physical Therapists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheboygan | $104,110 | $50.05 | +1% | 130 |
| 2 | Milwaukee metro incl. Waukesha | $103,030 | $49.53 | this city | 1,710 |
| 3 | Madison | $102,810 | $49.43 | 0% | 900 |
| 4 | St. Paul metro incl. Bloomington | $102,450 | $49.26 | -1% | 3,360 |
| 5 | Appleton | $101,920 | $49.00 | -1% | 180 |
| 6 | Beloit metro incl. Janesville | $100,830 | $48.48 | -2% | 150 |
| 7 | Fond du Lac | $100,130 | $48.14 | -3% | 60 |
| 8 | Neenah metro incl. Oshkosh | $100,050 | $48.10 | -3% | 120 |
| 9 | Wausau | $99,910 | $48.03 | -3% | 90 |
| 10 | Green Bay | $99,850 | $48.01 | -3% | 340 |
| 11 | Racine metro incl. Mount Pleasant | $99,710 | $47.94 | -3% | 160 |
| 12 | Kenosha | $99,160 | $47.67 | -4% | 190 |
| 13 | Eau Claire | $98,610 | $47.41 | -4% | 170 |
| 14 | Onalaska metro incl. La Crosse | $97,550 | $46.90 | -5% | 200 |
Every metro area in Wisconsin with Physical Therapist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Wisconsin typical pay $101,840
Is Milwaukee a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapist pay in Milwaukee sits close to the national figure: $103,030 a year, right at the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Milwaukee · Waukesha area, about 2.1 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 Milwaukee, WI?
- A typical Physical Therapist in Milwaukee earns $103,030 a year, or $49.53 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $83,090 and the top 10% earn over $125,170.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in Milwaukee?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in Milwaukee is $49.53. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $39.95, and the top 10% earn over $60.18 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in Milwaukee?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in Milwaukee typically offer around $39.95 an hour, or $83,090 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in Milwaukee higher than in the rest of Wisconsin?
- Milwaukee pay is 1% above the Wisconsin figure of $101,840 a year, ranking 2nd of 14 metro areas in the state. Sheboygan pays the most in Wisconsin at $104,110.