Physical Therapists in District of Columbia. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Physical Therapists in DC earned a median of $100,760 in 2024, about 1.8% below the national median of $102,556. That gap is small enough to be noise in most years, but it does put DC slightly behind states like California and Oregon where PT wages trend higher.
The spread here is tighter than what we see for this occupation nationally. The bottom 10% earned $84,510 and the top 10% earned $131,810, a ratio of roughly 1.6 to 1. That is a narrower range than many clinical professions, which suggests pay in DC moves more in a band than a ladder. Seniority and setting still matter, but the ceiling is closer to the floor than in other markets.
Cost of living is the bigger story. DC's regional price index sits at 117.7, meaning everyday expenses run about 18% above the national baseline. Adjusting the median wage for that, the $100,760 nominal figure lands closer to $85,600 in national-baseline dollars. That is a real pay cut relative to the headline. A PT earning the same nominal salary in a mid-cost state like Indiana or Kansas would have meaningfully more purchasing power.
BLS projects employment for Physical Therapists to grow 10.9% between 2024 and 2034, which it categorizes as faster than average. DC's small employment base of 850 PTs means even modest absolute growth represents a meaningful share of the local market.
Salary distribution
Where District of Columbia physical therapists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $95,940 and $128,750, with a median of $101,640.
Physical Therapists in District of Columbia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 9 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $88,670. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 7 | $82,472 |
| Level II — qualified | 1 | $110,086 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $150,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Physical Therapists in District of Columbia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children's National Medical Center | Staff Physical Therapist I | 2 | $88,670 |
| National Rehabilitation Hospital, Inc. | Physical Therapist | 2 | $82,472 |
| Center for Neuromuscular and Massage Rehabilitation, LLC | Physical Therapist | 1 | $82,000 |
| Elements Center Inc. | Physical Therapist | 1 | $81,536 |
| International Institute for the Brain, LTD | Physical Therapist | 1 | $91,500 |
| MedStar Health, Inc. | Physical Therapist Homecare Clinician | 1 | $110,086 |
| University Physical Therapy Associates | Physical Therapist | 1 | $150,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Staff Physical Therapist I at Children's National Medical Center$88,670WashingtonWage Level IDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26065-686250
- Physical Therapist Homecare Clinician at MedStar Health, Inc.$110,086WashingtonWage Level IIDecided Nov 5, 2025I-200-25269-338277
- Physical Therapist at National Rehabilitation Hospital, Inc.$82,472WashingtonWage Level IDecided Aug 4, 2025I-200-25209-203087
- Physical Therapist at University Physical Therapy Associates$150,000WashingtonWage Level IVDecided May 30, 2025I-200-25142-008678
- Physical Therapist at Elements Center Inc.$81,536WashingtonWage Level IDecided May 20, 2025I-200-25133-971910
- Physical Therapist at National Rehabilitation Hospital, Inc.$82,472WashingtonWage Level IDecided May 7, 2025I-200-25120-920761
- Physical Therapist at International Institute for the Brain, LTD$91,500WashingtonWage Level IDecided Feb 18, 2025I-200-25041-679673
- Physical Therapist at Center for Neuromuscular and Massage Rehabilitation, LLC$82,000WashingtonWage Level IDecided Jan 29, 2025I-200-25022-634522
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Physical Therapists pay by experience level in District of Columbia
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Physical Therapists in District of Columbia, by industry
Median offered wage across 9 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $85,571.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Children's National Medical Center | 8 | $85,571 |
| Professional services | International Institute for the Brain, LTD | 1 | $91,500 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in District of Columbia over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
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.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+10.9%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for physical therapists in major District of Columbia metropolitan areas.
- Washington, D.C.$102,980
Compare Physical Therapists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare District of Columbia with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Physical Therapists in District of Columbia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Physical Therapists in District of Columbia is $101,640.
- How does District of Columbia compare to the national median for Physical Therapists?
- The District of Columbia median is -2.7% versus the BLS national figure of $104,506.
- What is the salary range for Physical Therapists in District of Columbia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $85,620 and the 90th-percentile at $129,470, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Physical Therapists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 10.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- 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. Wage data reflects BLS estimates 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.