Salary distribution
Where San Diego physical therapists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $87,210 and $131,540, with a median of $105,920.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
- 02
Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
- 03
Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
- 04
Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
- 05
Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
- 06
Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
- 07
Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
- 08
Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
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Explore coursesOther metros in California
How the San Diego metro compares to other major California metro areas for physical therapists.
- San Jose$137,250
- San Francisco$136,200
- Sacramento$130,160
- Riverside$120,190
- Los Angeles$117,000
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Physical Therapists in San Diego, California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the median annual wage for Physical Therapists in the San Diego metropolitan area is $105,920.
- Does San Diego pay more than the California state average for Physical Therapists?
- The San Diego metro median is -14.1% versus the California state median of $123,300.
- How does San Diego compare to the national median for Physical Therapists?
- The San Diego metro median is +3.3% versus the BLS national figure of $102,556.
- What is the salary range for Physical Therapists in San Diego?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $63,260 and the 90th-percentile at $153,290 for the San Diego metro area.
- What education is required for Physical Therapists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. BLS metro estimates reflect the San Diego CBSA boundary for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.