Physical Therapists pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,500 a year or less, while the top 10% make $158,700 or more. The middle half of physical therapists in San Diego earn between $96,820 and $133,860.
- $78K10th
- $97K25th
- $114KMedian
- $134K75th
- $159K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $114,510 | $9,542 | $55.05 |
| Median | $113,850 | $9,488 | $54.74 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $96,820 | $8,068 | $46.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $133,860 | $11,155 | $64.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapists pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Physical therapists in San Diego earn 7% less than the California average ($122,580) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($105,280). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $102,760.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $114,510 | $113,850 | $77,500 | $158,700 | 2,680 |
| California | $122,580 | $124,190 | $85,580 | $163,960 | 26,580 |
| United States | $105,280 | $102,760 | $77,140 | $135,140 | 267,330 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physical Therapists salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $114,510, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $82,830 a year, or $6,903 a month and $3,186 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for physical therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $114,510 buys what about $102,344 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 8.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapists salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 21st of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($145,040).
- San Francisco$145,040
- San Jose$140,090
- Napa$136,360
- Santa Rosa$135,520
- Vallejo$132,660
- Merced$132,390
- Santa Maria$129,040
- Sacramento$128,040
- Santa Cruz$126,730
- San Diego$114,510
Highest-paying cities for physical therapists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($145,040).
- San Francisco, CA$145,040
- San Jose, CA$140,090
- Napa, CA$136,360
- Santa Rosa, CA$135,520
- Vallejo, CA$132,660
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Physical Therapists salary in San Diego: questions
How much do physical therapists make an hour in San Diego?
$55.06 an hour on average, and $54.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapists salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,500 a year and the 25th percentile is $96,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapists take-home pay in San Diego?
About $82,830 a year ($6,903 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $114,510. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physical therapists earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. average for this job ($105,280).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1123; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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