2019 Best Cities for Physical Therapists

2019 TOP Cities for Physical Therapists!


With more people living active lifestyles, and with an aging baby boomer population, physical therapists are in high demand all over the country.


So where are the best places for physical therapists to work and live?


We teamed up with LinkedPT.com and the PT Network (the largest PT/PTA Network and best place to find PT Jobs) to find the Ten metro areas with the most job listings for physical therapists. LinkedPT.com also provided the average salary data for PTs in those markets from its Network.

We then ranked those cities by the following factors:


Job availability Average annual salary

Median home price 

Median annual rent

Fun factor- activities in the local area

Finally, we combined the rankings to determine an overall ranking. Median home prices and annual rent sourced from Zillow.

#10. Phoenix, AZ 

Phoenix PTs had the lowest pay on our list at $75,000, the cost of living is right in the middle of the pack but rising against last year. There is also a good share of job availability, where the Sunbelt city comes in third.


Percent share of job listings (rounded): 11.3% (Ranked 3rd)
Average annual salary: $78,000 (Ranked 10th)
Median home price: $240,000
Salary as a percentage of home price: 33%
Median annual rent: $15,132
Rent as a percentage of income: 20%
Fun Factor: 7

#9. Los Angeles, CA

The City of Angels earns a spot on our list primarily to the number of job listings for PTs, the highest percent share among cities on our list. Physical therapists in the area also take home good pay for a day’s work, coming in at $95,000 on average. Fun factor is big here as well as proximity to beaches.

Percent share of job listings (rounded): 12.4% (Ranked 1st)
Average annual salary: $95,000 (Ranked 4th)
Median home price: $575,000
Salary as a percentage of home price: 16.5% (Ranked 10th)
Median annual rent: $32,568
Rent as a percentage of income: 34% (Ranked 10th)
Fun Factor: 8



#8. Washington D.C.

With an average salary of $111,000, the nation’s capital lays claim to the highest paid PTs on our list. It also has the second largest share of jobs listings on our list. The downside? The cost of living is higher, housing prices are high, and crime rates are higher.


Percent share of job listings (rounded): 11.6% (Ranked 2nd)
Average annual salary: $111,000 (Ranked 1st)
Median home price: $479,000
Salary as a percentage of home price: 25% (Ranked 9th)
Median annual rent: $30,588
Rent as a percentage of income: 28% (Ranked 6th)
Fun Factor: 6

#7. Portland, OR

Portland might be too weird for some, but others will love stretching out clients in this active city in the Northwest. PTs in Portland make an average salary above the national median.

Percent share of job listings (rounded): 9.2% (Ranked 7th)
Average annual salary: $87,000 (Ranked 8th)
Median home price: $336,000
Salary as a percentage of home price: 26% (Ranked 8th)
Median annual rent: $21,540
Rent as a percentage of income: 25% (Ranked 8th)
Fun Factor: 9


#6. Dallas, Texas

Dallas comes in 6th overall thanks mostly to rental and housing affordability, coming in fourth among other cities on our list.  With local growing communities like Plano and Fort Worth DFW should be a great place for jobs for years to come.


Percent share of job listings (rounded): 9%
Average annual salary: $95,000 (Ranked 7th)
Median home price: $275,000
Salary as a percentage of home price: 33% (Ranked 6th)
Median annual rent: $18,180
Rent as a percentage of income: 20% (Ranked 4th)
Fun Factor: 8

#5. Philadelphia, PA

Philly might have the lowest share of job availability on our list, but it is among the most affordable in terms of buying a home. And while the average salary of $93,000 ranks 5th on our list overall, it is certainly nothing to scoff at.

Percent share of job listings (rounded): 8% (Ranked 10th)
Average annual salary: $102,000 (Ranked 6th)
Median home price: $143,000
Salary as a percentage of home price: 65%
Median annual rent: $18,780
Rent as a percentage of income: 21%
Fun Factor: 8

#4. San Antonio, TX

San Antonio ranked 3rd on both measures of affordability, despite having slightly lower average salary. With many great activities and a large cultural center in the local area including SeaWorld, The Alamo, The River walk and Six Flags,  San Antonio edges up this year to #4.

Percent share of job listings (rounded): 9.2% (Ranked 5th)
Average annual salary: $87,000
Median home price: $210,000
Salary as a percentage of home price: 38% (Ranked 4th)
Median annual rent: $15,588
Rent as a percentage of income: 19.5% (Ranked 3rd)
Fun Factor: 9

#3. Chicago, IL 


High pay and mostly affordable living combine to make the Windy City our top #3 pick for physical therapists in 2019 down one spot from 2018. 

Percent share of job listings (rounded): 9.2% (Ranked 6th)
Average annual salary: $107,000 (Ranked 2nd)
Median home price: $259,000
Salary as a percentage of home price: 45% (Ranked 3rd)
Median annual rent: $22,160
Rent as a percentage of income: 20% (Ranked 2nd)
Fun Factor: 9

#2. Baltimore, MD

Baltimore earns the Secomd spot on our list due largely to the affordability of buying a house. It is also in the top five when it comes to average annual salary.

Percent share of job listings (rounded): 9% (Ranked 9th)

Average annual salary: $94,000 (Ranked 5th)
Median home price: $105,000
Salary as a percentage of home price: 93% (Ranked 1st)
Median annual rent: $20,640
Rent as a percentage of income: 22% (Ranked 7th)
Fun Factor: 8








#1. Houston, TX 

Texas is a great state for PTs, with Houston being one of three Lone Star State cities on our list. Houston TOPS our 2018 list and our 2019 for a first!


With plenty to do in Houston from Museums and cultural events to a growing hip brewery and Music Scene Houston takes the Top mark!


Houston has the most affordable rents for Physical Therapists on our list and boasts an average salary of $100,000 in 2019.
Percent share of job listings (rounded): 11% (Ranked 4th)
Average annual salary: $100,000 (Ranked 3rd)
Median home price: $300,043
Salary as a percentage of home price: 31% (Ranked 7th)
Median annual rent: $15,532
Rent as a percentage of income: 19% (Ranked 1st)

Fun Factor 9 

LinkedPT.com and the PT Network - Physical Therapy - admin@LinkedPT.com