Physical Therapists pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $103,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $188,070 or more. The middle half of physical therapists in San Francisco earn between $123,470 and $160,770.
- $104K10th
- $123K25th
- $142KMedian
- $161K75th
- $188K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $145,040 | $12,087 | $69.73 |
| Median | $141,980 | $11,832 | $68.26 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $123,470 | $10,289 | $59.36 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $160,770 | $13,398 | $77.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapists pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Physical therapists in San Francisco earn 18% more than the California average ($122,580) and 38% more than the U.S. average ($105,280). At the median the gap is +38% against the U.S. median of $102,760.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $145,040 | $141,980 | $103,860 | $188,070 | 3,140 |
| 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 Francisco
On the average salary of $145,040, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $101,004 a year, or $8,417 a month and $3,885 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% 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 Francisco a good place for physical therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $145,040 buys what about $125,453 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 7.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapists salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 1st of 25 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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
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Physical Therapists salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do physical therapists make an hour in San Francisco?
$69.73 an hour on average, and $68.26 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapists salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $103,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $123,470, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapists take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $101,004 a year ($8,417 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $145,040. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physical therapists earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 38% 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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 0.77, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.77).
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