Physical Therapists in Utah. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Physical Therapists in Utah earned a median of $97,580 in 2024, about 4.8% below the US median of $102,556. That gap is real but narrow, and Utah's cost-of-living index sits at 99.7, almost exactly at the national baseline. In purchasing-power terms, the difference between working here and working in a higher-paying state shrinks considerably once housing and goods costs come into the picture.
The spread across earners is wide. The 10th percentile came in at $53,470, while the 90th hit $132,970. Top earners made roughly 2.5 times what those at the lower end did. That range likely reflects differences in setting, specialization, and years of experience. A physical therapist in an outpatient orthopedic clinic working with athletes earns a very different wage than one starting out in a rural school district.
The mean wage of $96,920 sits slightly below the median. That is unusual for a professional occupation. It means the distribution here is not being pulled up by a small group of very high earners, which is worth noting if you are weighing long-term earning potential against states where the ceiling is higher.
BLS projects employment for this occupation to grow 10.9% between 2024 and 2034, a rate it classifies as faster than average. Utah had about 2,330 Physical Therapists employed in 2024. The state's relatively young population skews demand patterns compared to states with older demographics, though the occupation still benefits from the same national tailwinds driving growth elsewhere, particularly in outpatient care and aging-related rehab.
Salary distribution
Where Utah physical therapists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $80,870 and $109,480, with a median of $99,880.
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Physical Therapists pay by experience level in Utah
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 Utah 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 Utah metropolitan areas.
- Salt Lake City$103,840
Compare Physical Therapists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Utah with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Physical Therapists in Utah?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Physical Therapists in Utah is $99,880.
- How does Utah compare to the national median for Physical Therapists?
- The Utah median is -4.4% versus the BLS national figure of $104,506.
- What is the salary range for Physical Therapists in Utah?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $66,160 and the 90th-percentile at $136,970, 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.