How Much Do Physical Therapists/Athletic Trainers Make?
Having a clear understanding of earnings potential is important, especially if you are researching career paths or considering changing jobs. If you're one of those people, and you're curious what kind of salary physical therapists/athletic trainers make, you've come to the right place.
Using data from Lightcast,™ the Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled rich information about salary for physical therapists/athletic trainers and related jobs, including details about average compensation, salary trends and job growth. We've also gathered advertised salaries from actual job postings to provide insight into what employers of physical therapists/athletic trainers are offering as compensation.
Keep reading to learn more about how much physical therapists/athletic trainers can expect to make in the United States.
At a Glance: Salary & Jobs for Physical Therapists/Athletic Trainers
According to data from 2023, there were about 32,324 positions for physical therapists/athletic trainers in the United States. In terms of salary, the national median salary for physical therapists/athletic trainers was reported to be $57,930. Additionally, when examining job demand, employers across the country posted 31,122 job postings related to positions for physical therapists/athletic trainers.
How Much Money Do Physical Therapists/Athletic Trainers Make?
Median salary is just one data point. To build a better understanding of how much money physical therapists/athletic trainers and related positions can expect to make in the United States, it can be helpful to look at the full range of compensation for those jobs.
Let's look more deeply at data that was reported to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for detail into the lowest and highest salary earnings for physical therapists/athletic trainers.
Annual Salary for Physical Therapists/Athletic Trainers
According to the BLS, the lowest earners for physical therapists/athletic trainers and related professions earned about $43,180 per year in 2023. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, the highest earners made about $80,640 annually.
As mentioned previously, the median salary for physical therapists/athletic trainers in the United States in 2023 was $57,930.
Annual Salary Range For Physical Therapists/Athletic Trainers In 2023
Hourly Salary for Physical Therapists/Athletic Trainers
The BLS also breaks down compensation for physical therapists/athletic trainers by hourly salary, and the median average hourly pay for physical therapists/athletic trainers in 2023 was $28. Lowest hourly earners took home $21 while the highest reported hourly salaries for physical therapists/athletic trainers was $39.
Hourly Salary Range For Physical Therapists/Athletic Trainers In 2023
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Physical Therapists/Athletic Trainers
Become an important part of the patient care experience and put yourself at the forefront of health and wellness with a broad-based healthcare education that prepares you for an entry-level role at a hospital, physician’s office, healthcare agency, and more.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
The B.S. Exercise Science major provides a clear path to a rewarding career helping individuals realize their health and fitness goals. You’ll learn to evaluate fitness levels, design results-oriented exercise programs and apply coaching methodologies to help your clients reach their full potential.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Improve quality of life by removing barriers to healthcare, promoting wellness and reducing health disparities.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
The B.S. in Sport Management major provides big-league career opportunities for sports-minded individuals with a head for business. You’ll learn how essential business concepts translate to the sports industry and open the door to a variety of roles.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Prepare for a meaningful career in athletic development, tactical fitness training and human performance optimization. Franklin’s 16-month online master’s degree in exercise science with a specialization in strength and conditioning equips you to help others improve their health and fitness.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Certificates & Microcredentials for Physical Therapists/Athletic Trainers
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 3-4 months
- Cost: $4,000
Advertised Compensation for Physical Therapists/Athletic Trainers
Data from the BLS is one way to dig into compensation for physical therapists/athletic trainers, but another way to build a more real-time understanding of salary is to look at actual job postings and see what compensation organizations are currently providing to fill open positions for physical therapists/athletic trainers.
Keep in mind that salary data is not included in every job posting, so the information compiled here is reflective of the data available through Lightcast.™
Annual Salary from Job Postings for Physical Therapists/Athletic Trainers
Advertised Annual Salary
During a review of 17,330 job postings related to physical therapists/athletic trainers, advertised salary was included in 5,541 of them, which was 32%. Based on those postings, the median advertised salary for physical therapists/athletic trainers was $58,240 per year.
Hourly Salary from Job Postings for Physical Therapists/Athletic Trainers
Advertised Hourly Salary
A similar analysis of job postings provides insight into advertised hourly salary for physical therapists/athletic trainers. Based on 18% of postings with advertised compensation, the median hourly salary for open positions for physical therapists/athletic trainers in the United States is about $28.
Salary Trend for Physical Therapists/Athletic Trainers
If you're thinking about pursuing a career in the field, you may want to understand how compensation has changed over time for physical therapists/athletic trainers. The chart below provides a snapshot of advertised salaries over the past three years.
Based on compensation data that was included in job postings for physical therapists/athletic trainers dating back to September 2020, advertised salaries for physical therapists/athletic trainers have increased 19%.
Advertised Wage Trend For Physical Therapists/Athletic Trainers
What's the Job Growth for Physical Therapists/Athletic Trainers?
Another data point that someone thinking about a career path should consider is whether or not jobs are expected to see growth in the future. The chart below looks at projected employment for physical therapists/athletic trainers over the next 10 years.
According to the data obtained through Lightcast,™ there were 32,347 jobs for physical therapists/athletic trainers in the United States in 2023. By 2033, it is expected that about 5,103 jobs will be added. That's a 15.8% increase over the next 10-year period.
Employment Projections For Physical Therapists/Athletic Trainers
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about physical therapists/athletic trainers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for physical therapists/athletic trainers.
What do physical therapists/athletic trainers do?
Physical Therapists/Athletic Trainers: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.