Average Physical Therapist Salary in Sacramento, CA

The average Physical Therapist in Sacramento, CA earns $126,200 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$126200
Median Salary
$131760
vs. National
25.6% above
Real Pay (COL-adjusted)
$118309

“Real pay” adjusts the average for Sacramento’s cost of living (Regional Price Parity 106.67, U.S. average = 100) — what this salary is worth in national-average dollars.

What Physical Therapists actually earn in Sacramento

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

10th (entry) $86620
25th $106470
Median $131760
75th $135420
90th (top) $160370

1500 Physical Therapists employed in the Sacramento metro.

Can a Physical Therapist afford a home in Sacramento?

Max home price under the 28% rule (housing ≤ 28% of gross), 10% down, 6.7% 30-yr rate. Median Sacramento home: $484600.

Earnings levelSalaryMax homeMedian home?
Entry (10th)$86620$34802172%
Median$131760$529384Yes
Top (90th)$160370$644333Yes

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Physical Therapist in Sacramento

Estimated pay after federal, FICA, and CA 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.

Sacramento at a glance

Population524802
Median household income$83753
Median home value$484600
Median rent$1694/mo
Cost of living (RPP, U.S.=100)106.67
Bachelor’s degree or higher22.9%
Poverty rate14.2%

In Sacramento, CA, Physical Therapists earn a median of $131,760 a year — about 31% above the U.S. median of $100,440. Among the 50 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #2.

What that pay is worth in Sacramento

Local prices run 107 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $126,200 salary buys less than it looks — about $118,309 in national-average buying power.

Can Physical Therapists afford a home in Sacramento?

A typical Sacramento home runs about $484,600 — 3.8 times the average Physical Therapist salary, manageable against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $1,694/mo takes roughly 16% of gross pay — within the 30% comfort line.

The Physical Therapist pay ladder in Sacramento

Entry-level (10th percentile) Physical Therapists earn about $86,620; the top 10% reach $160,370 — a $73,750 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 Sacramento

Sacramento employs roughly 1,500 Physical Therapists. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Sacramento with other cities

See the full Physical Therapist salary by city ranking to weigh Sacramento 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 Sacramento?

The average Physical Therapist in Sacramento, CA earns about $126,200 per year, 25.6% above the national average of $100,440.

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

After federal and CA taxes, this $126,200 salary is worth about $89,863 a year - roughly $7,488 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 29%.

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

The top 10% of Physical Therapists in Sacramento earn about $160,370 a year, versus about $86,620 for the bottom 10%.

Can Physical Therapists afford a home in Sacramento?

A typical Sacramento home runs about $484,600 - roughly 3.8x this salary, within reach by the classic 3x rule of thumb.

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