Physical Therapy Vs Occupational Therapy Salary

Physical Therapy vs. Occupational Therapy Salary: An In-Depth Career Guide

Choosing a career in the rehabilitation sciences is a commitment to improving the lives of others. Both physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) offer incredibly rewarding, in-demand career paths with strong earning potential. While both professions work to restore patient function, they approach it from different angles—and this can be reflected in their salaries and career trajectories.

Nationally, both physical and occupational therapists earn excellent salaries, with median wages hovering near the six-figure mark. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for a physical therapist is $99,710, while for an occupational therapist, it is $96,370.

While those figures are close, the nuances matter. This in-depth guide will break down the salary landscapes for both professions, explore the key factors that influence your earnings, and provide the data you need to make an informed career decision.

What Does a Physical Therapist vs. an Occupational Therapist Do?

Before diving into the numbers, it's crucial to understand the fundamental difference between these two roles.

A Physical Therapist (PT) is a movement expert who focuses on improving a patient's ability to move their body. Think of them as the body’s biomechanical engineers. They work to restore mobility, reduce pain, and prevent disability following an injury, illness, or surgery. Their work often centers on gross motor skills—things like walking, climbing stairs, balancing, and building strength.

An Occupational Therapist (OT) focuses on helping patients perform the meaningful, necessary activities of everyday life, which are known as "occupations." Think of them as life skills engineers. Their work enables people to participate in tasks like dressing, cooking, working, or engaging in hobbies. They often focus on fine motor skills, cognitive function, and the use of adaptive equipment to help patients regain independence in their daily routines.

Average Physical Therapy vs. Occupational Therapy Salary

While the BLS provides the most authoritative median salary data, looking at a wider range gives a more complete picture of earning potential, from entry-level to senior positions. On average, physical therapists tend to have a slight edge in base salary, which is often attributed to the requirement of a doctoral degree.

Here’s a comparative breakdown based on the latest available data:

| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Median Annual Salary | $99,710 | $96,370 | U.S. BLS (May 2023) |

| Typical Salary Range | $88,095 - $115,223 | $86,163 - $109,796 | Salary.com (2024) |

Key Takeaway: Across the board, physical therapists earn a marginally higher median salary. However, the ranges overlap significantly, indicating that a high-earning OT can easily make more than an average-earning PT. The factors below explain why.

Key Factors That Influence Salary

Your salary is not a fixed number. It's a dynamic figure influenced by your unique qualifications, choices, and environment. Here are the most critical factors.

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Level of Education

Education is a primary driver of the slight salary difference between the two fields.

Physical Therapy: To practice, all physical therapists in the United States must earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from an accredited program. This is a clinical doctorate that typically takes three years to complete after a bachelor's degree.
Occupational Therapy: The current standard for entry-level practice is a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree. However, the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) is becoming increasingly common. The OTD provides more in-depth training in research, advocacy, and clinical leadership.

Impact on Salary: The DPT requirement for all PTs helps establish a higher baseline salary. For occupational therapists, those who hold an OTD may command a higher starting salary than their peers with an MOT, helping to close the gap with physical therapists.

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Years of Experience

Like most professions, experience is a powerful driver of salary growth for both PTs and OTs. As you build clinical skills, develop specializations, and take on more responsibilities, your value to an employer increases.

According to salary aggregator Payscale, the career progression looks something like this:

Entry-Level (0-1 year): A PT may start around $75,000, while an OT might start around $72,000.
Mid-Career (5-9 years): A PT's average salary can climb into the high $80,000s, with an OT following closely in the low-to-mid $80,000s.
Experienced (20+ years): Both professions see salaries exceed the national median, with senior PTs and OTs with leadership or specialized roles often earning well over $100,000.

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Geographic Location

Where you work is one of the biggest determinants of your paycheck. High demand combined with a high cost of living often results in the highest salaries.

Based on BLS data from May 2023, the top-paying states are:

For Physical Therapists:

1. California: $118,170 (annual mean wage)

2. Nevada: $114,790

3. New Jersey: $109,920

4. Connecticut: $108,890

5. Delaware: $108,820

For Occupational Therapists:

1. California: $113,130 (annual mean wage)

2. Nevada: $109,480

3. New Jersey: $105,790

4. New York: $104,800

5. Colorado: $104,180

It's important to balance salary with the cost of living. A $100,000 salary in rural Texas goes much further than the same salary in Los Angeles or New York City.

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Company Type / Work Setting

The environment where you practice has a direct impact on your earnings. Some settings consistently offer higher compensation due to the complexity of care or billing structures.

Highest Paying Settings (PT): The BLS reports top earnings for PTs in nursing and residential care facilities ($105,690) and home healthcare services ($105,620).
Highest Paying Settings (OT): Similarly, OTs find top salaries in nursing and residential care facilities ($103,420) and management of companies and enterprises ($102,770), followed by home healthcare services ($101,840).

Other common settings like hospitals, outpatient clinics, and schools generally offer salaries closer to the national median. Those who move into administrative roles (e.g., Director of Rehabilitation) or open their own private practice have the highest long-term earning potential.

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Area of Specialization

Obtaining an advanced certification demonstrates expertise and can unlock higher-paying, specialized roles.

For Physical Therapists: The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) offers certifications in areas like Sports, Orthopedics, Geriatrics, Pediatrics, and Cardiopulmonary & Neurology. A specialist certification, especially in a high-demand area, can significantly boost earning potential.
For Occupational Therapists: The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) offers board and specialty certifications. The Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) credential is one of the most lucrative specializations in all of rehabilitation, often commanding a significant salary premium. Other valuable areas include Low Vision, Driving and Community Mobility, and Pediatrics.

Job Outlook

The future is exceptionally bright for both professions. The demand for rehabilitative care is growing rapidly due to an aging population and a greater focus on quality of life and chronic disease management.

The BLS projects the following growth from 2022 to 2032:

Physical Therapists: 15% growth, which is categorized as "much faster than average." This translates to about 13,900 job openings projected each year.
Occupational Therapists: 11% growth, also "much faster than average." This equates to about 9,600 job openings projected each year.

This robust demand ensures strong job security and continued salary competitiveness for qualified professionals in both fields for the foreseeable future.

Conclusion

When comparing physical therapy vs. occupational therapy salaries, the data shows that physical therapists hold a slight, consistent edge in median national pay. This gap is largely influenced by the universal DPT degree requirement.

However, the decision between these two fantastic careers should not come down to a few percentage points in salary. The key takeaways are:

1. Both are high-paying professions with salaries well above the national average for all occupations.

2. The salary gap is relatively small and can easily be influenced or erased by factors like geographic location, work setting, years of experience, and specialization.

3. High-earning OTs can make more than PTs, especially those with coveted certifications like Hand Therapy or those in high-paying settings like home health.

4. Job security is outstanding for both, with double-digit growth projected for the next decade.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your passion. Are you driven to restore fundamental movement and mechanics (PT), or are you inspired by helping people regain independence in their daily lives (OT)? Answering that question will lead you to a fulfilling and financially secure career path.

Physical Therapy Vs Occupational Therapy Salary

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