Physical Therapist.
Los Angeles.
$120,000
median salary, 19% above the national average
$99,000 to $139,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Physical Therapist pay in Los Angeles ranges from $99,000 to $139,000 in 2026. The median is $120,000, 19% above the national average. Los Angeles blends a thriving entertainment industry with a growing tech and startup ecosystem, often called Silicon Beach. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Physical Therapist in Los Angeles, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $108,170 for Physical Therapists (SOC 29-1123) in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan area, based on 9,750 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$85,580
25th percentile
$97,850
Median
$108,170
75th percentile
$134,160
90th percentile
$160,070
Workers surveyed
9,750
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Physical Therapists (SOC 29-1123) rather than Physical Therapist specifically. The Los Angelesrange at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 29-1123Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $108,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$78,000
to $96,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$102,000
to $126,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$132,000
to $156,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$150,000
to $186,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $30,000 to the total package.
Base
$120,000
Equity
$17,000
Bonus
$11,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $150,000
How Los Angeles compares.
Los Angeles, CA
$120,000
Cost of living: 18% above average
National Average
$101,000
Los Angeles is $19,000 above
Physical Therapist salary by city.
Salary by role in Los Angeles.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for Physical Therapist roles in Los Angeles, here is what you are walking into. Los Angeles blends a thriving entertainment industry with a growing tech and startup ecosystem, often called Silicon Beach. The city's diverse economy spans aerospace, healthcare, fashion, and gaming. LA offers strong salaries that, while below San Francisco levels, pair with a broader lifestyle appeal and lower housing costs relative to the Bay Area. Setting drives the biggest pay differences, with home health and travel PT positions paying 15 to 25% above outpatient clinics. Board-certified specialists in areas like orthopedics or neurology earn premiums. Geographic cost of living and state reimbursement rates also create significant variance across markets.
New-graduate PTs start at $70,000 to $80,000 in outpatient settings. With board certification and five years of experience, salaries reach $90,000 to $105,000. Clinical directors and practice owners can earn $110,000 to $130,000 depending on practice size and revenue. In Los Angeles, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 18% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. Benefits typically include CEU reimbursement of $1,500 to $3,000, student loan repayment assistance, and health insurance. Travel PTs receive housing stipends and per diems that can add $15,000 to $25,000 in effective annual compensation. And on the tax side: california's 13.3% top state income tax rate applies to LA earners as well. There is no city income tax, but the high state rate makes take home pay lower than cities in no income tax states. When someone quotes you $120,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight cross industry skills. LA employers value candidates who bridge entertainment and tech, so framing your experience across verticals can unlock higher offers. The range for Physical Therapists in Los Angeles runs from $99,000 to $139,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
Physical Therapist salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Los Angeles.
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