Physical Therapists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

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 do physical therapists do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working physical therapists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
2. 2.Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
3. 3.Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
4. 4.Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
5. 5.Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
6. 6.Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
7. 7.Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
8. 8.Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.

Top skills for physical therapists

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

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.

How to become physical therapist: step by step

The typical education and licensing pathway from high school into this profession. Total time to entry is about 6-7 years (about 6 years via 3+3 accelerated programs). Steps marked optional are common for advancement but not required to start.

1. 1

   Bachelor's Degree with PT Prerequisites

   ~4 years

   Earn a bachelor's degree while completing the science prerequisites and observation hours that CAPTE-accredited DPT programs require for admission.

   • •Complete prerequisite coursework: anatomy, physiology, chemistry, physics, biology, psychology, statistics
   • •No specific major required; common majors include biology, kinesiology, exercise science
   • •Accumulate documented observation/volunteer hours in PT settings for DPT admission
   • •3+3 accelerated model can compress undergrad to 3 years feeding directly into the DPT
2. 2

   Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

   ~3 years

   Complete the professional doctorate, now the sole entry-level degree for physical therapists, from a CAPTE-accredited program combining classroom study and clinical rotations.

   • •Graduate from a program accredited by CAPTE (Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education)
   • •Complete didactic coursework in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, neuroscience, and pathology
   • •Complete supervised full-time clinical education rotations
   • •CAPTE accreditation is mandatory for NPTE eligibility, licensure, and Medicare patient treatment
3. 3

   National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE)

   ~0.5 years

   Pass the national licensing examination administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), required for licensure in every jurisdiction.

   • •Be a graduate of (or graduating from) a CAPTE-accredited program or a credential-evaluated substantially-equivalent foreign program
   • •5-hour computer-based test of 225 questions (200 scored) covering musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, integumentary, and non-systems content
   • •Achieve a passing scaled score of 600 (on a 200-800 scale)
   • •Exam fee $485; up to 3 attempts in a rolling 12-month period

   National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), administered by FSBPT
4. 4

   State Licensure

   ~0.5 years

   Obtain a license from the state PT board to practice legally, meeting state-specific requirements such as a jurisprudence exam and background checks.

   • •Apply for licensure by examination through the state board of residence to obtain an Authorization to Test (ATT)
   • •Pass any required state jurisprudence exam on PT law and rules
   • •Complete fingerprinting and state/federal background checks
   • •Maintain licensure with continuing education (0 to about 40 contact hours per two-year cycle depending on state)
   • •PT Compact allows practice across participating states via a compact privilege

   State jurisprudence exam (where required)
5. 5

   Residency, Fellowship, and Board Specialization

   Optional~1 year

   Optional post-professional advancement through ABPTRFE-accredited residency or fellowship and ABPTS board specialization, which is associated with consistently higher wages across clinical settings.

   • •Residency: approximately 1-year planned post-professional learning experience in a defined specialty (governed by ABPTRFE)
   • •Fellowship: subspecialty training, usually after a residency or board certification
   • •ABPTS board certification requires an accredited residency OR 2,000 hours of direct patient care in the specialty within the last 10 years (500 hours within the last 3 years) plus passing the specialty exam
   • •Specialty areas include orthopaedics, neurology, sports, geriatrics, pediatrics, and cardiovascular/pulmonary

   ABPTS specialty certification examination

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Common questions parents ask about physical therapists