Physical Therapists in Rhode Island. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Rhode Island's median annual wage for Physical Therapists was $102,900 in 2024, just above the national median of $102,556. The difference is small enough that it barely registers: less than $350 separates the two figures.
The spread across the state is more telling than the median. Physical Therapists at the 10th percentile earned $74,000 while those at the 90th earned $130,180. That $56,000 gap reflects the real variation in this field: setting, specialization, and years of experience shape pay more than geography does here.
Cost of living is a wash. Rhode Island's overall index sits at 100, exactly at the national baseline, so the nominal wage and the real wage are the same thing. A Physical Therapist earning the state median here takes home purchasing power equivalent to earning that same figure anywhere in the country average.
BLS projects employment for this occupation to grow 10.9% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as faster than average. Rhode Island employs around 1,420 Physical Therapists statewide, a small pool relative to larger states, which means even modest additions to employment can produce noticeable shifts in local hiring conditions.
The honest takeaway is that Rhode Island is neither a premium market nor a discount one for this occupation. The median wage tracks the national figure almost exactly, COL doesn't move the needle, and the bigger determinants of where an individual lands are the factors the state median can't capture: inpatient versus outpatient, hospital system versus private practice, early career versus mid-career.
Salary distribution
Where Rhode Island physical therapists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $88,120 and $113,840, with a median of $99,400.
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Physical Therapists pay by experience level in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island metropolitan areas.
- Providence$100,290
Compare Physical Therapists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Rhode Island with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Physical Therapists in Rhode Island?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Physical Therapists in Rhode Island is $99,400.
- How does Rhode Island compare to the national median for Physical Therapists?
- The Rhode Island median is -4.9% versus the BLS national figure of $104,506.
- What is the salary range for Physical Therapists in Rhode Island?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $80,770 and the 90th-percentile at $125,390, 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.