Best states for therapist pay / California
Where physical therapists earn the most in California
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont pays the most on paper. Chico is where it goes furthest, at $125,149 after tax and cost of living.
The highest-paying metro for physical therapists in California is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, at a median of $141,980. Adjusted for California income tax and local cost of living, Chico delivers the most real value at $125,149. Across 25 ranked California metro areas, physical therapist pay spans $101,860 to $141,980, a $40,120 difference without leaving the state. Figures are BLS OEWS May 2025 medians adjusted with BEA Regional Price Parities (2024).
Pay after state income tax, divided by local cost of living. Hatched areas have no cost-of-living index.
One dot per metro, sized by how many physical therapists work there.
Hover or tap any area to see its full breakdown.
These are area medians
Your number depends on your experience and practice setting.
See what you should be getting paidEvery California area, ranked
By real value. Each profession ranked on its own.
Physical therapists
| # | Area | Median | After tax | Cost of living | Real value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chico | $134,970 | $126,647 | 101.2 | $125,149 |
| 2 | Vallejo | $141,530 | $132,597 | 108.5 | $122,233 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $140,100 | $131,300 | 107.8 | $121,818 |
| 4 | Merced | $126,000 | $118,512 | 98.3 | $120,592 |
| 5 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $139,000 | $130,303 | 110.4 | $118,003 |
| 6 | Hanford-Corcoran | $127,460 | $119,836 | 101.6 | $117,935 |
| 7 | Bakersfield-Delano | $125,490 | $118,049 | 100.9 | $117,012 |
| 8 | El Centro | $116,950 | $110,303 | 95.2 | $115,896 |
| 9 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $131,430 | $123,437 | 106.7 | $115,718 |
| 10 | Napa | $138,540 | $129,885 | 112.6 | $115,398 |
| 11 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $141,980 | $133,005 | 115.6 | $115,044 |
| 12 | Modesto | $126,600 | $119,056 | 104.1 | $114,358 |
| 13 | Fresno | $123,820 | $116,534 | 102.2 | $114,073 |
| 14 | Stockton-Lodi | $124,260 | $116,933 | 105.1 | $111,271 |
| 15 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $128,680 | $120,942 | 108.8 | $111,162 |
| 16 | Salinas | $127,120 | $119,527 | 109.0 | $109,616 |
| 17 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $124,790 | $117,414 | 109.9 | $106,841 |
| 18 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $120,110 | $113,169 | 106.4 | $106,320 |
| 19 | Redding | $107,980 | $102,167 | 100.7 | $101,473 |
| 20 | Visalia | $105,210 | $99,655 | 99.8 | $99,830 |
| 21 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $116,770 | $110,140 | 110.5 | $99,644 |
| 22 | Yuba City | $106,600 | $100,916 | 104.2 | $96,818 |
| 23 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $113,850 | $107,492 | 111.9 | $96,072 |
| 24 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $108,170 | $102,340 | 113.6 | $90,115 |
| 25 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $101,860 | $96,617 | 108.6 | $88,969 |
| — | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of Californiano COL data | $132,740 | $124,625 | — | — |
| — | North Coast Region of Californiano COL data | $129,370 | $121,568 | — | — |
| — | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of Californiano COL data | $121,220 | $114,176 | — | — |
Ranked by real value: pay after Californiaincome tax, divided by that area's cost of living. Rows marked “no COL data” are BLS nonmetropolitan regions, which BEA publishes no price index for; their pay is shown but they are left unranked rather than compared against a borrowed average.
Occupational therapists
| # | Area | Median | After tax | Cost of living | Real value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chico | $129,260 | $121,468 | 101.2 | $120,032 |
| 2 | Vallejo | $135,000 | $126,675 | 108.5 | $116,773 |
| 3 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $136,870 | $128,371 | 110.4 | $116,254 |
| 4 | Visalia | $122,690 | $115,509 | 99.8 | $115,712 |
| 5 | Bakersfield-Delano | $123,200 | $115,972 | 100.9 | $114,953 |
| 6 | Merced | $117,970 | $111,228 | 98.3 | $113,181 |
| 7 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $128,010 | $120,335 | 107.8 | $111,644 |
| 8 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $130,420 | $122,521 | 109.9 | $111,488 |
| 9 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $136,770 | $128,280 | 115.6 | $110,956 |
| 10 | Stockton-Lodi | $122,990 | $115,782 | 105.1 | $110,175 |
| 11 | Modesto | $121,110 | $114,076 | 104.1 | $109,575 |
| 12 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $125,890 | $118,412 | 108.8 | $108,836 |
| 13 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $122,780 | $115,591 | 106.7 | $108,363 |
| 14 | Fresno | $116,690 | $110,067 | 102.2 | $107,742 |
| 15 | Salinas | $123,180 | $115,954 | 109.0 | $106,339 |
| 16 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $119,530 | $112,643 | 106.4 | $105,826 |
| 17 | Napa | $124,490 | $117,142 | 112.6 | $104,076 |
| 18 | Redding | $110,230 | $104,208 | 100.7 | $103,500 |
| 19 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $120,570 | $113,587 | 110.5 | $102,762 |
| 20 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $121,680 | $114,593 | 111.9 | $102,419 |
| 21 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $122,040 | $114,920 | 113.6 | $101,192 |
| 22 | Yuba City | $107,760 | $101,968 | 104.2 | $97,827 |
| 23 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $110,170 | $104,154 | 108.6 | $95,909 |
| — | North Coast Region of Californiano COL data | $124,800 | $117,423 | — | — |
| — | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of Californiano COL data | $121,110 | $114,076 | — | — |
Ranked by real value: pay after Californiaincome tax, divided by that area's cost of living. Rows marked “no COL data” are BLS nonmetropolitan regions, which BEA publishes no price index for; their pay is shown but they are left unranked rather than compared against a borrowed average.
Speech-language pathologists
| # | Area | Median | After tax | Cost of living | Real value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Centro | $133,760 | $125,550 | 95.2 | $131,916 |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $132,720 | $124,607 | 110.4 | $112,845 |
| 3 | Hanford-Corcoran | $120,550 | $113,568 | 101.6 | $111,767 |
| 4 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $126,360 | $118,838 | 106.7 | $111,407 |
| 5 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $127,470 | $119,845 | 107.8 | $111,190 |
| 6 | Merced | $114,220 | $107,827 | 98.3 | $109,720 |
| 7 | Bakersfield-Delano | $117,350 | $110,666 | 100.9 | $109,694 |
| 8 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $126,850 | $119,283 | 108.8 | $109,637 |
| 9 | Vallejo | $124,440 | $117,097 | 108.5 | $107,944 |
| 10 | Stockton-Lodi | $118,660 | $111,854 | 105.1 | $106,438 |
| 11 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $130,850 | $122,911 | 115.6 | $106,312 |
| 12 | Salinas | $122,770 | $115,582 | 109.0 | $105,998 |
| 13 | Modesto | $116,770 | $110,140 | 104.1 | $105,794 |
| 14 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $118,560 | $111,764 | 106.4 | $104,999 |
| 15 | Napa | $123,870 | $116,580 | 112.6 | $103,577 |
| 16 | Chico | $110,720 | $104,653 | 101.2 | $103,415 |
| 17 | Fresno | $110,960 | $104,870 | 102.2 | $102,655 |
| 18 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $118,670 | $111,863 | 109.9 | $101,790 |
| 19 | Visalia | $106,760 | $101,061 | 99.8 | $101,238 |
| 20 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $119,690 | $112,788 | 111.9 | $100,806 |
| 21 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $115,560 | $109,043 | 108.6 | $100,411 |
| 22 | Yuba City | $109,830 | $103,845 | 104.2 | $99,628 |
| 23 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $115,060 | $108,589 | 110.5 | $98,240 |
| 24 | Redding | $99,210 | $94,213 | 100.7 | $93,573 |
| 25 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $109,740 | $103,764 | 113.6 | $91,369 |
| — | North Coast Region of Californiano COL data | $122,210 | $115,074 | — | — |
| — | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of Californiano COL data | $117,000 | $110,349 | — | — |
| — | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of Californiano COL data | $104,660 | $99,156 | — | — |
Ranked by real value: pay after Californiaincome tax, divided by that area's cost of living. Rows marked “no COL data” are BLS nonmetropolitan regions, which BEA publishes no price index for; their pay is shown but they are left unranked rather than compared against a borrowed average.
Physical therapist assistants
| # | Area | Median | After tax | Cost of living | Real value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $97,190 | $92,381 | 110.4 | $83,661 |
| 2 | Bakersfield-Delano | $84,100 | $80,508 | 100.9 | $79,801 |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $95,920 | $91,229 | 115.6 | $78,909 |
| 4 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $87,300 | $83,411 | 107.8 | $77,387 |
| 5 | Modesto | $83,450 | $79,919 | 104.1 | $76,765 |
| 6 | Visalia | $79,440 | $76,282 | 99.8 | $76,415 |
| 7 | Vallejo | $86,630 | $82,803 | 108.5 | $76,331 |
| 8 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $87,330 | $83,438 | 109.9 | $75,924 |
| 9 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $84,290 | $80,681 | 106.7 | $75,636 |
| 10 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $85,150 | $81,461 | 108.8 | $74,873 |
| 11 | Salinas | $84,850 | $81,189 | 109.0 | $74,456 |
| 12 | Redding | $77,740 | $74,733 | 100.7 | $74,225 |
| 13 | Stockton-Lodi | $81,310 | $77,978 | 105.1 | $74,202 |
| 14 | Chico | $76,580 | $73,666 | 101.2 | $72,794 |
| 15 | Fresno | $77,000 | $74,052 | 102.2 | $72,488 |
| 16 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $79,210 | $76,073 | 106.4 | $71,469 |
| 17 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $82,160 | $78,749 | 111.9 | $70,382 |
| 18 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $78,990 | $75,874 | 108.6 | $69,868 |
| 19 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $82,140 | $78,731 | 113.6 | $69,326 |
| 20 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $79,480 | $76,318 | 110.5 | $69,045 |
| 21 | Yuba City | $73,580 | $70,906 | 104.2 | $68,026 |
| — | North Coast Region of Californiano COL data | $91,230 | $86,975 | — | — |
| — | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of Californiano COL data | $80,440 | $77,189 | — | — |
Ranked by real value: pay after Californiaincome tax, divided by that area's cost of living. Rows marked “no COL data” are BLS nonmetropolitan regions, which BEA publishes no price index for; their pay is shown but they are left unranked rather than compared against a borrowed average.
Occupational therapy assistants
| # | Area | Median | After tax | Cost of living | Real value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bakersfield-Delano | $95,190 | $90,567 | 100.9 | $89,772 |
| 2 | Modesto | $96,210 | $91,492 | 104.1 | $87,882 |
| 3 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $95,180 | $90,558 | 106.7 | $84,895 |
| 4 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $95,370 | $90,730 | 110.4 | $82,166 |
| 5 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $97,860 | $92,989 | 115.6 | $80,431 |
| 6 | Visalia | $81,200 | $77,878 | 99.8 | $78,015 |
| 7 | Stockton-Lodi | $84,400 | $80,780 | 105.1 | $76,869 |
| 8 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $86,440 | $82,631 | 108.8 | $75,949 |
| 9 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $80,070 | $76,853 | 106.4 | $72,202 |
| 10 | Fresno | $76,030 | $73,160 | 102.2 | $71,614 |
| 11 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $82,060 | $78,658 | 110.5 | $71,162 |
| 12 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $82,680 | $79,220 | 111.9 | $70,804 |
| 13 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $78,090 | $75,055 | 113.6 | $66,089 |
Ranked by real value: pay after Californiaincome tax, divided by that area's cost of living. Rows marked “no COL data” are BLS nonmetropolitan regions, which BEA publishes no price index for; their pay is shown but they are left unranked rather than compared against a borrowed average.
What PTs in California actually report
The figures above come from federal wage data, which publishes one median per area covering every physical therapist at once. Below is what clinicians reported themselves, by setting. Different source, different question, and no other site publishes it.
| Setting | Pay | Median | Middle half | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outpatient / private clinic | Salary | $107,000/yr | $96,906/yr – $118,750/yr | 14 |
| Outpatient / private clinic | Hourly | $65.00/hr | $57.57/hr – $70.75/hr | 9 |
| Acute care | Salary | $122,000/yr | $105,500/yr – $138,210/yr | 8 |
| Skilled nursing (SNF) | Hourly | $54.00/hr | $51.00/hr – $62.50/hr | 7 |
| Acute care | Hourly | $52.00/hr | $46.00/hr – $63.77/hr | 5 |
A median hides the things that decide an offer. Each report also carries years of experience, contract length, W2 or 1099, and for school jobs whether it is a district or an agency. Those individual reports are open to clinicians who have added their own.
Add your numbers and see the reports →
Anonymous and self-reported by clinicians using this tool. A convenience sample, not a probability sample, shown only where at least 5 clinicians have reported. One report per clinician, most recent within three years.
How this is calculated
Median pay is the median annual wage from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program (May 2025 release), for each profession in each California area.
After taxsubtracts modeled state income tax for a single filer taking the standard deduction, computed at each area's own median wage rather than copied down from the state figure. Federal tax and FICA are excluded because they don't vary by area, so they don't change the ranking.
Real valuedivides after-tax pay by that metro's own cost of living, using BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024, where the US average is 100. Metro-grain, not the statewide figure used on the national map.
Map areas are the exact areas BLS reports wages for, built by dissolving Census county boundaries with the BLS OEWS area definitions, so the map and the wage data describe the same geography by construction.
Metros that cross a state line, such as the New York and Philadelphia metros on this page, carry one BLS wage figure covering the whole metro, and their state income tax is modeled at Californiarates, which is the right read for a clinician living on this side of the line. They're marked in the table.
Limits: single filer only; BLS blends full-time, part-time and PRN and every experience level into one median; and 3 nonmetropolitan regions carry BLS pay but no cost-of-living index, so they are shown unranked rather than estimated. This is a comparison of typical pay, not personalized tax advice.
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