How much does a physical therapist make in San Diego?
$113,900a year
Median yearly pay for physical therapists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $54.74 an hour or $9,488 a month.
- Hourly
- $54.74
- Vs. national median
- +11%
- Rank among cities
- 30 of 389
- Jobs in the area
- 2,680
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $77,500Median: $113,900Highest 10%: $158,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $77,500 | $37.26 | |
| 25th | $96,820 | $46.55 | |
| Median | $113,900 | $54.74 | |
| 75th | $133,900 | $64.36 | |
| 90th | $158,700 | $76.30 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for physical therapists.
| San Francisco, CA | $142,000 |
| Vallejo, CA | $141,500 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $140,100 |
| San Jose, CA | $139,000 |
| Napa, CA | $138,500 |
| Chico, CA | $135,000 |
| Sacramento, CA | $131,400 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $128,700 |
| Salinas, CA | $127,100 |
| Modesto, CA | $126,600 |
| Merced, CA | $126,000 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $125,500 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $124,800 |
| Stockton, CA | $124,300 |
| Fresno, CA | $123,800 |
| Riverside, CA | $120,100 |
| El Centro, CA | $117,000 |
| Oxnard, CA | $116,800 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $108,200 |
| Redding, CA | $108,000 |
| Yuba City, CA | $106,600 |
| Visalia, CA | $105,200 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $101,900 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Cardiologist | $493,700 |
| Psychiatrist | $335,600 |
| Physician | $333,300 |
| Physician | $323,100 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $295,500 |
| Obstetrician and Gynecologist | $293,400 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $282,200 |
| Pediatrician | $262,700 |
| Podiatrist | $235,400 |
| Dermatologist | $233,400 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical therapist make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $54.74 ($113,900 a year).
Do physical therapists make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $113,900 against $102,800 nationally, 11% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $124,200, so San Diego pays 8% less.
Where does San Diego rank for physical therapist pay?
30 of 389 metro areas with data.
How much does a physical therapist make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $77,500 or less a year; the top 10% make $158,700 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.