Physical Therapist.
Detroit.
$93,000
median salary, 8% below the national average
$76,000 to $107,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Physical Therapist pay in Detroit ranges from $76,000 to $107,000 in 2026. The median is $93,000, 8% below the national average. Detroit's economy is transforming as the automotive industry pivots to electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared. 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.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Physical Therapist in Detroit, 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 $102,970 for Physical Therapists (SOC 29-1123) in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metropolitan area, based on 3,770 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$80,690
25th percentile
$88,190
Median
$102,970
75th percentile
$112,120
90th percentile
$131,140
Workers surveyed
3,770
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 Detroit 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 29-1123Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $84,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$60,000
to $74,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$79,000
to $98,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$102,000
to $121,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$116,000
to $144,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $23,000 to the total package.
Base
$93,000
Equity
$13,000
Bonus
$8,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $116,000
How Detroit compares.
Detroit, MI
$93,000
Cost of living: 10% below average
National Average
$101,000
Detroit is $8,000 below
Physical Therapist salary by city.
Salary by role in Detroit.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for Physical Therapist roles in Detroit, here is what you are walking into. Detroit's economy is transforming as the automotive industry pivots to electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology. Ford, GM, and a growing cluster of mobility startups are investing billions in the region. The city's low cost of living paired with rising tech salaries makes it one of the highest purchasing power metros for engineering roles. 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 Detroit, 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: michigan has a flat 4.25% state income tax. Detroit adds a city income tax of 2.4% for residents. Factor the city tax into your calculations if living within city limits. When someone quotes you $93,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight EV and autonomous vehicle expertise. Detroit employers are paying significant premiums for talent with electric vehicle, battery tech, or self driving experience. The range for Physical Therapists in Detroit runs from $76,000 to $107,000. 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
Considering a related role?
- An Occupational Therapist in Detroit earns $92,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Detroit is CTO at $265,000
Common questions.
Physical Therapist salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Detroit.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Physical Therapist Salary in Detroit, MI." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/physical-therapist/detroit
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