Average Physical Therapist Salary in Houston, TX

The average Physical Therapist in Houston, TX earns $113,180 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$113180
Median Salary
$110530
vs. National
12.7% above
Real Pay (COL-adjusted)
$114753

“Real pay” adjusts the average for Houston’s cost of living (Regional Price Parity 98.629, U.S. average = 100) — what this salary is worth in national-average dollars.

What Physical Therapists actually earn in Houston

The spread from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th), from BLS wage data.

10th (entry) $78570
25th $98160
Median $110530
75th $125160
90th (top) $149730

3650 Physical Therapists employed in the Houston metro.

Can a Physical Therapist afford a home in Houston?

Max home price under the 28% rule (housing ≤ 28% of gross), 10% down, 6.7% 30-yr rate. Median Houston home: $253400.

Earnings levelSalaryMax homeMedian home?
Entry (10th)$78570$315678Yes
Median$110530$444087Yes
Top (90th)$149730$601584Yes

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Physical Therapist in Houston

Estimated pay after federal, FICA, and TX state taxes (2026). Prefilled with the local average — adjust for your situation.

Estimate only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, federal + FICA + state (single or married filing jointly). Excludes local/city income taxes (e.g., NYC, Philadelphia) and individual credits. See our methodology.

Houston at a glance

Population2300419
Median household income$62894
Median home value$253400
Median rent$1313/mo
Cost of living (RPP, U.S.=100)98.629
Bachelor’s degree or higher21.3%
Poverty rate19.4%

In Houston, TX, Physical Therapists earn a median of $110,530 a year — about 10% above the U.S. median of $100,440. Among the 50 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #6.

What that pay is worth in Houston

Local prices run 99 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $113,180 salary is about break-even with the national average ($114,753 adjusted).

Can Physical Therapists afford a home in Houston?

A typical Houston home runs about $253,400 — 2.2 times the average Physical Therapist salary, very affordable against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $1,313/mo takes roughly 14% of gross pay — within the 30% comfort line.

The Physical Therapist pay ladder in Houston

Entry-level (10th percentile) Physical Therapists earn about $78,570; the top 10% reach $149,730 — a $71,160 spread, wide for this field. Most of that gap comes down to experience, employer, and how hard you negotiate.

The Physical Therapist job market in Houston

Houston employs roughly 3,650 Physical Therapists. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Houston with other cities

See the full Physical Therapist salary by city ranking to weigh Houston against the other metros on both pay and cost-adjusted value, or use the cost-of-living calculator to compare any two cities directly.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Physical Therapists make in Houston?

The average Physical Therapist in Houston, TX earns about $113,180 per year, 12.7% above the national average of $100,440.

What is the take-home pay for Physical Therapists in Houston after taxes?

After federal and TX taxes, this $113,180 salary is worth about $88,452 a year - roughly $7,371 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 22%.

What do the highest-paid Physical Therapists earn in Houston?

The top 10% of Physical Therapists in Houston earn about $149,730 a year, versus about $78,570 for the bottom 10%.

Can Physical Therapists afford a home in Houston?

A typical Houston home runs about $253,400 - roughly 2.2x this salary, within reach by the classic 3x rule of thumb.

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