Physical therapists

Detailed Occupation

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2020 Workforce

256k

Average Age

41.2

Estimated Job Growth

18.2%

10-year projection

Average Salary

$74,972

Average Male Salary

$88,787

Average Female Salary

$68,176

About

Physical therapists are most often employed by the Outpatient care centers industry. The average yearly wage for Physical therapists was $74,972 in 2016. The top 3 most similar occupations to Physical therapists by wage are Railroad conductors & yardmasters, Technical writers, and Miscellaneous plant & system operators.

Physical therapists are part of the Healthcare practitioners & technical occupations, along with Chiropractors, Dentists, Dietitians & nutritionists, Optometrists, Pharmacists, and 37 more.

The top 3 locations that employ the most Physical therapists are Philadelphia City (Southeast) PUMA, PA, Philadelphia City (Center City) PUMA, PA, and Austin City (Northwest) PUMA, TX. The top 3 locations with a relatively high concentration of Physical therapists are Inside Loop I-410 PUMA, TX (79500US4805902), Philadelphia City (Southeast) PUMA, PA, and Austin City (Northwest) PUMA, TX.

Management, business, science, & arts occupations Healthcare practitioners & technical occupations

Employment

Information on the businesses and industries that employ Physical therapists and on wages and locations for those in the field. Outpatient care centers is the industry that employs the most Physical therapists, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Physical therapists, by average wage, is Pharmacies & drug stores. Physical therapists are paid most in Manitowoc & Kewaunee Counties PUMA, WI but are relatively concentrated in Inside Loop I-410 PUMA, TX (79500US4805902).

Wages

Yearly Wage

$74,972

AVERAGE SALARY

± $2,197

In 2020, Physical therapists earned an average of $74,972, $19,018 more than than the average national salary of $55,954.

Railroad conductors & yardmasters make somewhat more than Physical therapists while Technical writers make somewhat less. This chart shows the various occupations closest to Physical therapists as measured by average annual salary in the US.

Wage Distribution

0.294

WAGE GINI

In 2015, Physical therapists had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.294, which is lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Physical therapists (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

Wage by Location

HIGHEST PAYING PUMAS

This map shows the Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States shaded by average annual wage for Physical therapists.

Spatial Concentration

PUMAs with a Relatively High Concentration of Physical therapists

This map displays which Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States have a relatively high population of Physical therapists.

Industries

Most Common

The most common industries employing Physical therapists, by number of employees, are Outpatient care centers, General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals, Home health care services, Nursing Care Facilities, Offices of physicians, Residential care facilities, except skilled nursing facilities, Elementary & secondary schools, Other health care services, Offices of other health practitioners, Individual & family services, and Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries for Physical therapists, by average wage, are Pharmacies & drug stores, Insurance carriers, and National security & international affairs.

Industries by Share

256k

2020 Workforce

± 12,410

3.51%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 6.68%

The number of people employed as Physical therapists has been growing at a rate of 3.51%, from 247,274 people in 2019 to 255,952 people in 2020.

This graphic shows the share of Physical therapists employed by various industries. Outpatient care centers employs the largest share of Physical therapists at 40.1%, followed by General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals with 28.1% and Home health care services with 9.07%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Physical therapists in the US. The average age of male Physical therapists in the workforce is 41.3 and of female Physical therapists is 41.1, and the most common race/ethnicity for Physical therapists is White (Non-Hispanic).

Composition by Sex

84.4k

MALE WORKFORCE

± 7,130

172k

FEMALE WORKFORCE

± 10,163

67% of Physical therapists are Female, making them the more common sex in the occupation. This chart shows the sex breakdown of Physical therapists.

Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity of Physical therapists

White (Non-Hispanic)
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
Black (Non-Hispanic)

75.6% of Physical therapists are White (Non-Hispanic), making that the most common race or ethnicity in the occupation. Representing 12.2% of Physical therapists, Asian (Non-Hispanic) is the second most common race or ethnicity in this occupation. This chart shows the racial and ethnic breakdown of Physical therapists.

Age by Sex

41.3

AVERAGE MALE AGE

± 0.974

41.1

AVERAGE FEMALE AGE

± 0.689

The median age of Physical therapists is 41.2, and Male employees are generally 0.232 years older than than their Female counterparts.

Education

Data on higher education choices for Physical therapists from The Department of Education and Census Bureau. The most common major for Physical therapists is Health but a relatively high number of Physical therapists hold a major in Parks, Recreation, & Leisure.

Majors

ACS PUMS data only shows the major for bachelor's degrees. However, we can filter the data based on highest degree obtained.

MOST COMMON MAJORS

MOST SPECIALIZED MAJORS

Skills

Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for Physical therapists from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Physical therapists need many skills, but most especially Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, and Speaking. The revealed comparative advantage (RCA) shows that Physical therapists need more than the average amount of Science, Operations Analysis, and Service Orientation.

Radar Distribution

Bar Chart

Projections

Projections on job growth for Physical Therapists from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 10-year national workforce is projected to grow 3.71%, but Physical Therapists are expected to see a growth of 18.2% over the same period. This occupation is expected to grow more than the national average.

Job Growth

18.2%

Estimated Job Growth

10-year Projection

3.71%

National Growth

10-year Projection

This line chart shows the projected 10-year growth in the number of jobs for Physical Therapists. This profession is expected to grow more than than 3.71%, the average rate of national job growth.