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Physical Therapist.

Austin.

$101,000

median salary, at the national average

$83,000 to $117,000. Last updated August 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

Orbyt estimates Physical Therapist pay in Austin at $101,000, within a range of $83,000 to $117,000. That is right at the national average. Austin has transformed into one of America's fastest growing tech hubs, attracting relocations from Apple, Tesla, Oracle, and Samsung. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.

Salary range.

25th Percentile

$83,000

per year

Median

$101,000

per year

75th Percentile

$117,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$83,000$117,000

Orbyt estimate for Physical Therapist in Austin, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.

Government benchmark for this occupation

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $103,630 for Physical Therapists (SOC 29-1123) in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metropolitan area, based on 2,470 employed workers (May 2025 release).

10th percentile

$82,330

25th percentile

$97,080

Median

$103,630

75th percentile

$130,880

90th percentile

$135,320

Workers surveyed

2,470

BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Physical Therapists (SOC 29-1123) rather than Physical Therapist specifically. The Austin range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.

View the BLS source for SOC 29-1123

Salary by experience.

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $91,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$66,000

to $81,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$86,000

to $106,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$111,000

to $131,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$126,000

to $157,000

Total compensation.

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $25,000 to the total package.

Base

$101,000

Equity

$14,000

Bonus

$9,000

Signing

$2,000

Estimated total: $126,000

How Austin compares.

Austin, TX

$101,000

Cost of living: 3% above average

National Average

$101,000

Same as local rate

Physical Therapist salary by city.

Physical Therapist salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Francisco, CA$138,000$113,000 to $160,0001.35x$102,000
San Jose, CA$137,000$112,000 to $158,0001.38x$99,000
Washington DC, DC$130,000$107,000 to $151,0001.25x$104,000
Honolulu, HI$129,000$106,000 to $149,0001.30x$99,000
New York, NY$128,000$105,000 to $148,0001.28x$100,000
Seattle, WA$128,000$105,000 to $148,0001.24x$103,000
Boston, MA$127,000$104,000 to $147,0001.22x$104,000
Los Angeles, CA$120,000$99,000 to $139,0001.18x$102,000
Anchorage, AK$118,000$97,000 to $136,0001.13x$104,000
Austin, TX$101,000$83,000 to $117,0001.03x$98,000

See all 81 cities for Physical Therapist →

Salary by role in Austin.

Salary comparison by role in Austin
RoleMedianRange
CTO$318,000$248,000 to $414,000
CEO$289,000$210,000 to $399,000
General Counsel$288,000$225,000 to $375,000
Programmer$103,000$75,000 to $134,000
Physical Therapist$101,000$83,000 to $117,000
Occupational Therapist$101,000$82,000 to $113,000
Investment Banker$101,000$78,000 to $132,000
Registered Nurse$100,000$84,000 to $115,000

What you should know.

If you are interviewing for Physical Therapist roles in Austin, here is what you are walking into. Austin has transformed into one of America's fastest growing tech hubs, attracting relocations from Apple, Tesla, Oracle, and Samsung. The city's combination of no state income tax, a vibrant startup scene, and a strong university pipeline makes it highly competitive. Salaries have risen sharply over the past five years, narrowing the gap with coastal cities. Setting drives the biggest pay differences, with home health and travel PT positions paying 15 to 25% above outpatient clinics. Board-certified specialists in areas like orthopedics or neurology earn premiums. Geographic cost of living and state reimbursement rates also create significant variance across markets.

New-graduate PTs start at $70,000 to $80,000 in outpatient settings. With board certification and five years of experience, salaries reach $90,000 to $105,000. Clinical directors and practice owners can earn $110,000 to $130,000 depending on practice size and revenue. In Austin, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.

Base salary is not the full picture. Benefits typically include CEU reimbursement of $1,500 to $3,000, student loan repayment assistance, and health insurance. Travel PTs receive housing stipends and per diems that can add $15,000 to $25,000 in effective annual compensation. And on the tax side: texas has no state income tax, which can mean 5 to 10% more take home pay compared to California roles. Property taxes are above average, however, running about 1.8% of home value. When someone quotes you $101,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Use the no income tax advantage as a negotiation lever. Ask employers to match 90% of a Bay Area offer and show that your net pay will actually be higher. The range for Physical Therapists in Austin runs from $83,000 to $117,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology

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$

25th

$83,000

Median

$101,000

75th

$117,000

Considering a related role?

  • A Registered Nurse in Austin earns $100,000 (1% less)
  • The highest-paying role in Austin is CTO at $318,000

Common questions.

Travel PTs often earn 25 to 40% more in total compensation when factoring in tax-free housing stipends, per diems, and completion bonuses. A typical 13-week contract pays the equivalent of $100,000 to $120,000 annualized.

Yes, board-certified specialists in orthopedics, sports, or neurology typically earn 5 to 12% more than generalist PTs. Certification signals advanced expertise and can open doors to higher-paying clinical or academic positions.

Austin's cost of living multiplier is 1.03x the national average. The adjusted median Physical Therapist salary of $101,000 accounts for this. In practice, a Physical Therapist earning $101,000 in Austin has roughly the same purchasing power as someone earning $98,058 in an average cost market.

Hiring for Physical Therapists in Austin typically peaks in January through March and September through November. Companies finalize budgets in Q4 and open headcount in Q1. Austin's concentration of Technology and Semiconductors employers creates steady year round demand. Time your search to align with budget cycles for maximum leverage.

The national median for a Physical Therapist is $98,058. In Austin, cost of living adjustments push the median to $101,000. That premium reflects Austin's higher housing, transportation, and everyday costs.

Ask about equity structure, vesting schedule, annual bonus targets, 401(k) match, health insurance premiums, PTO policy, and remote flexibility. Benefits typically include CEU reimbursement of $1,500 to $3,000, student loan repayment assistance, and health insurance. In Austin's market, these extras can add $25,250 or more on top of the base salary.

Physical Therapist salary in other cities.

Other salaries in Austin.

Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to Physical Therapists in Austin.

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Cite this data

Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.

"Physical Therapist Salary in Austin, TX." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/physical-therapist/austin

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