Physical Therapists pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $91,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $158,340 or more. The middle half of physical therapists in Santa Cruz earn between $103,690 and $144,840.
- $92K10th
- $104K25th
- $125KMedian
- $145K75th
- $158K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $126,730 | $10,561 | $60.93 |
| Median | $124,790 | $10,399 | $60.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $103,690 | $8,641 | $49.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $144,840 | $12,070 | $69.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapists pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Physical therapists in Santa Cruz earn 3% more than the California average ($122,580) and 20% more than the U.S. average ($105,280). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $102,760.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $126,730 | $124,790 | $91,980 | $158,340 | 160 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $126,730, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $90,192 a year, or $7,516 a month and $3,469 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% 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 Santa Cruz a good place for physical therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $126,730 buys what about $115,318 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 9.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapists salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 9th 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
- Bakersfield$124,100
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Physical Therapists salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do physical therapists make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$60.93 an hour on average, and $60.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapists salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $91,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $103,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapists take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $90,192 a year ($7,516 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $126,730. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physical therapists earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 0.96, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.