LocalSalaryHub Salary Report
Physical Therapists in San Diego, CA · Generated June 19, 2026
Physical Therapists Salary in San Diego, CA $113,850/yr
$113,850
Mean: $114,510
~$88,803 est. take-home
$54.74
Based on 2,080 hrs/yr
100
100 = national avg
Very affordable
Affordability score: 100/100
$4,930/mo
66%
Salary Distribution
Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.
25th %
$96,820
Median
$113,850
75th %
$133,860
Median is in the 46th percentile of the typical range
Physical Therapists in other CA cities
Compare the same occupation across cities in CA.
About Physical Therapists salaries in San Diego, CA
Physical Therapists in San Diego, CA earn a median of $113,850 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The mean salary is $114,510, which tends to skew higher because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Most physical therapists in this area earn between $96,820 and $133,860. Where you land depends on experience, employer type, and whether you have in-demand specializations.
That works out to roughly $54.74 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual hourly pay may differ for part-time or contract roles.
Career Outlook
14% growth. Baby boomers are aging into the prime demographic for PT — joint replacements, back problems, mobility issues. Telehealth PT has also opened up the field, letting therapists see more patients without adding clinic space.
Worth knowing: Sports medicine and neurological rehab pay the best. PTs who build relationships with orthopedic surgeons for referrals can fill their schedule without relying on insurance directory listings.
Physical Therapists Jobs in San Diego, CA
Median: $113,850/yr — browse openings that fit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a physical therapists in San Diego?▾
The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $113,850. The average (mean) is $114,510, which is higher because top earners pull it up.
How much does a physical therapists make per hour in San Diego?▾
About $54.74/hour, based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Part-time or overtime hours will change the actual rate.
What is the salary range for physical therapists in San Diego?▾
The middle 50% earn between $96,820 and $133,860. Below $96,820 is typically entry-level; above $133,860 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.
Salary Conversion Table
How does $113,850 per year break down across different time periods?
| Period | Gross | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $113,850 | $88,803 |
| Monthly | $9,488 | $7,400 |
| Biweekly | $4,379 | $3,416 |
| Weekly | $2,189 | $1,708 |
| Hourly (40h/wk) | $54.74 | $42.69 |
| Hourly (35h/wk) | $62.55 | $48.79 |
| Hourly (30h/wk) | $72.98 | $56.93 |
| Daily (8h) | $438 | $342 |
Take-home estimates use an effective tax rate of 22%. Actual amounts vary by filing status, deductions, and state tax.
Physical Therapists: Highest-Paying Cities in the U.S.
Top 10 cities nationwide for physical therapists, based on BLS median salary data.
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See more salary data
More pages tied to this occupation and region.
- Physical Therapists salaries nationwide — the national median and the highest-paying metros for physical therapists across all states.
- All CA salary data — every occupation we cover in CA, ranked by median pay, plus the cities that pay the most.
- Physical Therapists in San Francisco, CA — the top-paying city for physical therapists in our dataset, in case you are weighing a move out of San Diego.
- Pharmacists salary overview — a closely related role (same SOC major group) with a national median of $142,697.