Advantis salary data Updated today · 78 open California jobs

Physical Therapist Salary in California

Median weekly · Physical Therapy
$2,515
Current weekly range
$1,365–$3,203
Across eligible open contracts in this state
Highest-paying city
Santa Rosa
$3,203/wk highest open rate

California PT pay is among the highest in the country, but the location of the assignment can matter as much as the posted rate. Staff physical therapists earn a median of $124,190 per year, and open Advantis Medical travel contracts currently have a median weekly pay of $2,515. A coastal contract may come with higher housing costs, while an inland or Central Valley assignment may leave more room in your budget. California also requires its own PT license, so pay, housing and licensing timing should all factor into your job search.

What Is the Physical Therapist Salary in California?

At $59.71 per hour and $124,190 per year, California’s median staff PT wage is about 21% above the U.S. median, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025). That premium reflects staff roles across a state with very different labor and housing markets. A permanent position in a coastal metro may not compare directly with one inland, and travel contracts use weekly pay rather than annual salary. The next section shows current Advantis Medical travel PT pay across California.

Live travel PT pay

What Is the Travel Physical Therapist Salary in California?

Across 78 open Advantis Medical PT contracts in California, the current median posted weekly pay is $2,515. The full range can be wide because California assignments span expensive coastal markets, inland cities, rural facilities and different clinical settings. Use the chart as a live view of Advantis opportunities, then open individual jobs to compare the pay package with housing and assignment expectations.

Across all open California contracts
<$1.7k $1.7–2.0k $2.0–2.3k $2.3–2.6k $2.6–2.9k $2.9k+
$2,515
Median weekly
$1,365–$3,203
Current range
Share of open Advantis California contracts by weekly-pay band.
See salary by specialty CT Tech MRI Tech Occupational Therapy Ultrasound Tech X-Ray Tech
Travel vs. staff pay

How a Travel PT Salary in California Compares Over a Year

California’s high staff median can make the staff-versus-travel comparison especially useful. The calculator starts with the same live travel median shown above and estimates annual gross pay using 48 worked weeks. Adjust the weekly rate or switch states to test another scenario.

Estimated travel Physical Therapist gross over 48 weeks
$120,720
$2,515×48 weeks=$120,720

Select a state to compare the estimated travel total with the median annual staff Physical Therapist wage and see current contracts in that state.

Travel pay is structured differently. For eligible travelers, housing and meal stipends may not be treated as taxable wages. Depending on the package and individual tax circumstances, a lower gross amount could still result in higher take-home pay.

Open contracts in

Live weekly rates for Physical Therapy assignments currently accepting interest.

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Travel earnings are estimated using the selected weekly rate multiplied by 48 worked weeks, leaving time for breaks between assignments. Staff figures use the approved BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Physical Therapist professionals in the selected state.

This is a gross-pay comparison only. It does not include taxes, benefits, housing, travel costs, unpaid time or other expenses. Results are estimates for general comparison and are not job offers, guaranteed earnings or take-home-pay calculations.

Live city rates

Highest Current Travel PT Salary by California City

California’s highest posted PT rate may come from a major metro, but urgent needs in the Central Valley, Inland Empire or a smaller northern market can also move a city to the top. This ranking compares the strongest current rate in each qualifying city rather than treating any city as permanently high-paying.

Santa Rosa $3,203
Quincy $3,144
Ukiah $2,979
Roseville $2,955
Lakeport $2,900
Read the ranking with California’s housing differences in mind. A lower inland rate may leave more room after rent than a higher coastal rate, so check actual housing, commute and facility location before comparing offers.
See salary by city Riverside
After costs

What Your California PT Pay Is Really Worth

California’s 2024 all-items price level was 10.7% above the U.S. average, but statewide figures can hide even larger local differences. The statewide two-bedroom benchmark is $2,674 per month, while the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario benchmark is $2,201. Coastal markets may run higher still, especially for furnished short-term housing. California also uses a graduated individual income tax.

These benchmarks are most useful when paired with the actual contract and housing near the facility. Live pay changes with Advantis inventory; housing, price-level and tax figures update when their approved sources change.

Up to 13.3%
State Income Tax
Graduated individual rates; the top rate applies only to the highest income band.
$2,674 /mo
California 2-BR benchmark
California statewide benchmark, HUD Fair Market Rents FY2026.
110.7
Cost of living (U.S. = 100)
BEA regional price parities, all items, 2024.
$124,190
California staff PT median
BLS OEWS annual median wage for physical therapists (29-1123), May 2025; travel packages are quoted weekly.
Demand outlook

Demand for Physical Therapists in California

California employs about 26,580 physical therapists, more than any other state, across academic medical centers, outpatient orthopedic and sports clinics, home health agencies, skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehabilitation hospitals. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 11% PT employment growth from 2024 to 2034 and about 13,200 openings each year, driven in part by an aging population that is increasing the need for mobility care, post-surgical recovery and long-term rehabilitation. Along with the education and licensing California requires to enter the profession, those factors support continued demand for qualified PTs. Workforce size is useful context, but it does not determine how many travel contracts are open or what a specific California assignment pays.

Licensing readiness

California PT Licensing at a Glance

California physical therapist salary guide

California is not part of the PT Compact, so every traveler needs a California PT license before starting an assignment. For endorsement applicants, the state application and initial license fees total $450, with CAL-JAM and fingerprint costs handled separately. The Board states that it may issue a license within 45 days after the last deficiency is resolved, but the full process begins earlier and facility credentialing continues separately. Build enough time into your job search before committing to a start date.

No California is not a PT Compact state Travelers need a full California PT license before starting an assignment.
45 days Board issuance target Board-stated target after a complete application and all deficiencies and examination scores are settled; the full application timeline is longer and varies.
$450 Endorsement application and initial license fee $300 application + $150 initial license; CAL-JAM and fingerprints are separate costs.

Planning information, not legal or licensure advice. Confirm current requirements with the state board and PT Compact.

Travel PT pay package

How Do Travel PT Stipends Work?

A travel contract doesn't pay you one number. It pays an hourly wage, which is taxed, plus stipends for housing and meals, which may not be, and that split is why two packages with the same gross can leave you with different amounts.

Taxed May be tax-free

In most packages the stipend is a fixed weekly amount, so picking up overtime typically adds taxable wage rather than more stipend. The exact structure depends on the contract.

How to qualify for tax-free stipends

Stipend eligibility generally depends on three conditions, and documenting them is the traveler’s responsibility, not the agency’s.

You keep a tax home
A permanent residence you actually pay for and return to between assignments.
You’re paying twice
Covering a place back home and a place near the assignment at the same time.
The work is temporary
Generally expected to last a year or less. Assignments expected to run longer, or that stretch on in one area, are typically treated as indefinite.

When these conditions are not met, stipends are generally treated as taxable wages, so the same gross contract amount can leave less after taxes. Individual outcomes depend on facts and circumstances. Read more in our guide to how a tax home works.

Estimate only, to show the shape of the difference. It assumes a 22% federal bracket plus 7.65% in payroll tax on the wage portion; state income tax may change the result. Example figures for illustration, not offers. Many agencies align stipend amounts with U.S. General Services Administration per-diem rates for the assignment locality. Whether any stipend is excluded from your taxable income depends on your own circumstances. General information only, not tax advice.

Live openings

Top-Paying Travel PT Jobs in California

California’s highest-paying open Advantis PT contracts appear below. Because the state includes very different housing markets and care settings, compare more than the weekly number. Review the city, shift, contract length and facility details before deciding which rate is truly stronger.

Physical Therapy · Santa Rosa, CA
Days · 13 wks
 View →
Physical Therapy · Quincy, CA
Days · 13 wks
 View →
Physical Therapy · Ukiah, CA
Days · 13 wks
 View →
Physical Therapy · Roseville, CA
Days · 14 wks
 View →
What sets the rate

What Affects a Travel Physical Therapist Salary in California?

California travel PT rates respond to local housing costs, facility urgency, setting and candidate supply. A difficult-to-fill opening in a rural or inland community may compete with rates in a large coastal market, while a higher metro rate may be designed in part to support more expensive housing and stipends. Home health assignments also require a close look at territory size, mileage reimbursement, paid drive time and documentation expectations.

Before choosing an offer, compare the weekly package with actual housing near the facility, guaranteed hours, cancellation terms, overtime and weekend requirements. Experience can open the door to more California roles, but the best-paying job on paper is not always the one that leaves you with the strongest overall contract.

Good to know

California travel PT salary questions, answered

How much do physical therapists make in California?
Staff physical therapists in California have a median annual wage of $124,190, or $59.71 per hour, according to BLS 2025 wage data published through O*NET. Travel PT pay is quoted by the week, with a current median of $2,515 across eligible open Advantis contracts. Use the staff figure as a statewide benchmark, then compare the weekly travel package with housing, benefits and expected time between assignments.
What is the current travel physical therapist salary in California?
The current travel physical therapist salary in California is $2,515 per week across 78 eligible open Advantis Medical contracts. This is a posted gross weekly benchmark for current travel PT jobs. Because assignments can change throughout the day, check the individual listing for the latest pay, setting, schedule and contract length before comparing options.
Why can two California travel PT jobs have different weekly rates?
Two California travel PT jobs can have different weekly rates even when the titles look almost identical. Setting, schedule, facility urgency, guaranteed hours, contract length and weekend requirements can all affect pay. For home health, also compare mileage, paid drive time, territory size and productivity expectations. The rate matters, but so does the work behind it.
How do housing costs affect a travel PT salary in California?
Housing can make a big difference in what a travel PT salary in California is worth. This page uses a $2,674 statewide two-bedroom comparison benchmark, while HUD's FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario is $2,201. These are standardized benchmarks, not furnished traveler rents. Price actual housing and commute costs near the facility before deciding which offer gives you more room after expenses.
Does California's 13.3% top tax rate apply to every physical therapist?
No. California's personal income-tax schedule ranges from 1% to 12.3%, with an additional 1% on taxable income above $1 million, creating a maximum marginal rate of 13.3%. The rate that applies to you depends on taxable income, filing status and other circumstances. Treat the 13.3% figure as state tax context, not an estimate of what every physical therapist will pay.
Can I compare California travel PT pay directly with a staff PT salary?
Yes, but California travel PT pay and a staff PT salary use different time frames. The calculator estimates travel gross over 48 worked weeks and compares it with the California staff median. Taxes, benefits, housing, travel costs and unpaid time are not included. Use the result as a planning comparison, not a prediction of take-home pay.
How can California PT licensing affect an assignment start date?
California is not in the PT Compact, so you need California authorization before you can practice. If you apply by endorsement, complete the PTBC requirements, including CAL-JAM and fingerprints. PTBC says it issues a license within 45 days of the last fulfilled deficiency, but employer credentialing and facility clearance can add time. Make sure your license and credentialing are on track before relying on a start date.
Keep exploring

Explore travel PT jobs in California and nearby states, then review salary and career resources for assignment planning.

Ready for your next assignment?

Open travel PT contracts are paying a median of $2,515 per week right now.

Explore current assignments by location, setting, shift and weekly pay, then let us know which opportunities interest you.

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