Physical Therapists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical · SOC 29-1123 · O*NET 29-1123.00
Physical Therapists fall under the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category in the U.S. occupational classification. Physical Therapists earn a median salary of $101,020 per year, ranking in the top 13% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +10.9% job growth through 2034, projected to grow faster than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's or doctoral degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do physical therapists earn?
The median annual wage for physical therapists is $101,020. That puts physical therapists at #103 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is physical therapists a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for physical therapists is +10.9%, projected to grow faster than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 267K positions in 2024 to 296K in 2034, a net change of 29K. Faster-than-average growth means hiring is consistently outpacing the labor market overall. New entrants generally find their first roles faster than peers in stable fields.
What education does my child need to become physical therapist?
Becoming a physical therapist typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's, doctoral, or professional degree, plus state licensure or board certification depending on specialty. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about physical therapists
What is the median salary for physical therapists?
The median annual salary for physical therapists is $101,020 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is physical therapists a growing career?
BLS projects +10.9% growth for physical therapists from 2024 through 2034, which is fast growth projected to grow faster than the US average.
What education does my child need to become physical therapist?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's or doctoral degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to physical therapists?
Related occupations within the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.