Physical Therapists in Montana. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Physical Therapists in Montana earned a median annual wage of $92,910 in 2024, about 9.4% below the national median of $102,556. That gap is real, but Montana's cost of living index sits at 96.8, slightly below the national baseline. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the effective gap narrows to roughly 6%.
The spread across earners is moderate. A PT at the 10th percentile earned $75,880 while one at the 90th earned $112,620, a difference of about $36,700. That range is narrower than what we see in higher-wage states, which points to a fairly compressed pay structure here. Experience and specialization still matter, but they move the needle less dramatically than in coastal markets.
Employment totaled 1,230 Physical Therapists statewide in 2024. Montana is a rural state with large distances between population centers, so many PTs work across broad service areas or in travel roles, which can affect compensation in ways the median alone does not capture.
BLS projects employment in this occupation to grow 10.9% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as faster than average. Montana's older population skews demand upward relative to states with younger demographics, which lines up with that projection.
The picture here is below the national headline but not dramatically so once cost of living enters the math. For a low-density state, the salary floor at the 10th percentile ($75,880) is reasonably firm.
Salary distribution
Where Montana physical therapists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $81,250 and $103,480, with a median of $91,450.
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Physical Therapists pay by experience level in Montana
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.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Montana 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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Reading for physical therapists
Guides, negotiation playbooks, and data reports on RateOrchard for this role.
- insightsHow Physical Therapists can negotiate a higher salary in 2026Physical Therapists earned a median $104,506 in 2025 (BLS). Use this guide to build a defensible negotiation script backed by public data for 2026.
- careerHow people become Physical Therapists: training, timelines, and first-year payBecoming a Physical Therapist takes 6-7 years and a DPT. Median pay is $104,506 (BLS May 2025). Here is the full timeline and first-year pay breakdown.
- trendsBest states for Physical Therapists in 2026: cost-of-living adjusted rankingPhysical Therapists earned $102,556 nationally in May 2024. See the COL-adjusted state ranking that flips California to last and Nevada to first.
- insightsHow Physical Therapists can negotiate a higher salary in 2026Physical Therapists earned a $102,556 median wage in May 2024 (BLS OES). Here is how to use that number to negotiate a stronger offer in 2026.
Related roles in Montana
Occupations in the same field, with Montana salary data.
How Physical Therapists pay compares nationally
Put this Montana figure in context with our national salary data reports.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Physical Therapists in Montana?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Physical Therapists in Montana is $91,450.
- How does Montana compare to the national median for Physical Therapists?
- The Montana median is -12.5% versus the BLS national figure of $104,506.
- What is the salary range for Physical Therapists in Montana?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $78,490 and the 90th-percentile at $115,540, 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.
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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.