Advantis salary data Updated today · 835 open Physical Therapy jobs

Traveling Physical Therapist Salary

Median weekly · Physical Therapy
$2,121
Across 835 live contracts nationwide
Current weekly range
$1,217–$3,203
Where most open contracts land
Highest-paying state
Alaska
$2,646/wk median rate

Traveling physical therapist pay is typically quoted by the week, but location, setting, schedule and contract details all shape the final package. The current median across open Advantis Medical PT contracts is $2,121 per week. Use this page to compare the full pay range, see which states may offer the strongest value after rent, understand how travel pay compares with staff compensation and learn what may be included in a weekly package. Whether you are considering your first contract or your next one, these numbers can help you compare opportunities more confidently.

Pay intelligence

How Much Does a Traveling Physical Therapist Make?

The median is a useful benchmark, but it does not show how widely weekly rates can vary. This chart displays the full travel PT salary distribution across open Advantis contracts. Start with all states, then select a state to compare its current median, pay range and number of open assignments.

Across all open contracts
<$1.5k $1.5–1.9k $1.9–2.2k $2.2–2.5k $2.5–2.9k $2.9k+
$2,121
Median weekly
$1,217–$3,203
Current range
Distribution of weekly pay across open Advantis physical therapy contracts, loaded from the live feed. Weekly marketplace contract value, not a staff therapist wage.
Compare travel and staff pay

How a Travel PT Salary Compares Over a Year

Travel PT pay is usually shown as a weekly package, while staff PT pay is typically reported as an annual wage. Enter a weekly rate and select a state to view both estimates on an annual basis.

Estimated travel Physical Therapist gross over 48 weeks
$101,808
$2,121×48 weeks=$101,808

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.

See all jobs in

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.

Why the demand holds

Why Demand for Travel Physical Therapists Remains Steady

Physical therapists work across hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health, skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation settings, so workforce demand is spread across multiple types of care. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects physical therapist employment to grow 11% from 2024 to 2034, with about 13,200 openings each year. The U.S. Census Bureau also reported that 61.2 million Americans were age 65 or older in 2024, adding to the need for mobility care, post-surgical recovery, fall prevention and long-term rehabilitation. Along with growing chronic-care needs and the education and licensing required to enter the profession, these factors support continued demand for qualified PTs across the country. Workforce demand provides helpful context, but it does not independently determine current travel-contract pay.

Sources: physical therapist employment, projected growth, and openings, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Residents age 65 and older, U.S. Census Bureau. Licensure, APTA. PT Compact membership, FSBPT. Board specialties, ABPTS. Each figure verified against its primary source.
By state

Highest-Paying Travel PT States

These states currently have the highest median weekly rates across open Advantis PT contracts. Because assignments are added and filled throughout the day, this is a current snapshot rather than a permanent ranking. Select a state to view all available travel PT jobs there.

StateMedian weekly pay
  1. 1 Alaska$2,646/wk
  2. 2 California $2,541/wk
  3. 3 New Mexico$2,448/wk
  4. 4 Arizona $2,416/wk
  5. 5 Maryland $2,412/wk
  6. 6 Michigan $2,410/wk
  7. 7 Nevada$2,361/wk
Top jobs in these states

Alaska

$2,950Physical Therapy · Bethel, AK Days · 17 wksView job
$2,808Physical Therapy · Juneau, AK Variable · 13 wksView job

California

$3,203Physical Therapy · Santa Rosa, CA Days · 13 wksView job
$3,162Physical Therapy · Hesperia, CA Days · 13 wksView job

New Mexico

$2,545Physical Therapy · Albuquerque, NM Days · 19 wksView job
$2,514Physical Therapy · Taos, NM Days · 13 wksView job

Arizona

$2,665Physical Therapy · Tucson, AZ Days · 26 wksView job
$2,596Physical Therapy · Dilkon, AZ Days · 14 wksView job

Maryland

$2,584Physical Therapy · Greenbelt, MD Days · 27 wksView job
$2,583Physical Therapy · Silver Spring, MD Days · 26 wksView job

Michigan

$2,778Physical Therapy · Lincoln, MI Days · 13 wksView job
$2,631Physical Therapy · Sault Ste. Marie, MI Days · 10 wksView job

Nevada

$2,628Physical Therapy · Las Vegas, NV Days · 26 wksView job
$2,628Physical Therapy · Las Vegas, NV Days · 26 wksView job
Median weekly contract value and open-job counts from open Advantis contracts.
Compare states

Travel Physical Therapy Salary by State

The same weekly rate supports very different lives in different states. This lines up the busiest travel PT markets on median weekly pay and, more usefully, on what is left each month after rent. The PT median and the after-rent value update straight from open contracts; tax, cost-of-living, and rent are reference data kept in the Advantis state master, refreshed only when the underlying source changes.

StateMedian pay/wk
Georgia$2,022/wk$1,550$7,21096.34.99% flat
California$2,541/wk$2,674$8,335110.7up to 13.3% (graduated)
Texas$2,080/wk$1,520$7,49397.1No
Arizona$2,416/wk$1,706$8,763100.72.5% flat
Florida$2,093/wk$1,933$7,137103.4No
South Carolina$1,947/wk$1,344$7,09393.71.99% / 5.21% (two brackets)
Massachusetts$2,242/wk$2,495$7,220105.85.0% flat + 4% surtax (top 9.0%)
Alabama$1,828/wk$1,079$6,84288.8up to 5.0% (graduated)
Georgia$2,022/wk
2-BR rent $1,550Pay after rent/mo $7,210Cost of living 96.3State tax 4.99% flat
California$2,541/wk
2-BR rent $2,674Pay after rent/mo $8,335Cost of living 110.7State tax up to 13.3% (graduated)
Texas$2,080/wk
2-BR rent $1,520Pay after rent/mo $7,493Cost of living 97.1State tax No
Arizona$2,416/wk
2-BR rent $1,706Pay after rent/mo $8,763Cost of living 100.7State tax 2.5% flat
Florida$2,093/wk
2-BR rent $1,933Pay after rent/mo $7,137Cost of living 103.4State tax No
South Carolina$1,947/wk
2-BR rent $1,344Pay after rent/mo $7,093Cost of living 93.7State tax 1.99% / 5.21% (two brackets)
Massachusetts$2,242/wk
2-BR rent $2,495Pay after rent/mo $7,220Cost of living 105.8State tax 5.0% flat + 4% surtax (top 9.0%)
Alabama$1,828/wk
2-BR rent $1,079Pay after rent/mo $6,842Cost of living 88.8State tax up to 5.0% (graduated)
About these numbers: each physical therapy figure is the median weekly rate on eligible open Advantis contracts, used instead of an average so a few unusually high postings do not skew it. The 2-BR rent is an Advantis statewide comparison benchmark built from HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent areas; it is not an official statewide HUD figure, an average traveler rent, or a prediction of what you will pay. Pay after rent is median weekly pay × 52 ÷ 12 minus that rent benchmark, before taxes and every other expense; it is not take-home pay. Cost of living is the BEA Regional Price Parity for all items, where the U.S. average equals 100. Tax figures are 2026 individual income-tax rates and are not tax advice.
Untaxed stipends

What Is Actually Taxed in a Travel PT Package

Travel pay is not one number. Part of it is wages and part of it is expense money — and only the wage part is taxed. Here is how a $2,700 week breaks down.

Example Travel Pay Package Breakdown

Hourly wageTaxed$1,120
Housing stipendUntaxed$1,180
Meal stipendUntaxed$400
Weekly package$2,700

Income tax comes off $1,120, not $2,700. In this illustration, that is about $470 a week you keep that you otherwise would not.

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.

Illustration only. The example assumes a 22% federal income-tax rate and 7.65% in payroll taxes on the wage portion. State taxes and individual circumstances may change the result. GSA publishes federal per-diem rates for lodging, meals and incidental expenses by location. Whether a stipend is untaxed depends on the traveler’s own circumstances. This is general information, not tax advice or a job offer.

Right now

Top-Paying Travel PT Jobs Open Now

These are the highest weekly rates currently available across open Advantis PT contracts. Rates can vary based on location, setting, schedule and facility need, so review the complete assignment details—not only the weekly pay.

Physical Therapy · Santa Rosa, CA
Days · 13 wks
View →
Physical Therapy · Hesperia, CA
Days · 13 wks
View →
Physical Therapy · Quincy, CA
Days · 13 wks
View →
Physical Therapy · Napa, CA
Days · 13 wks
View →
What sets the rate

What Affects a Travel Physical Therapist Salary

Travel physical therapist salary can vary based on location, clinical setting, schedule, contract length and how urgently a facility needs coverage. Caseload, productivity expectations, weekend requirements, mileage or territory coverage and guaranteed hours may also affect the package. Experience and specialty credentials can help a therapist qualify for certain assignments, but they do not automatically increase the weekly rate. Compare the complete contract—including the pay breakdown and work expectations—to understand which opportunity offers the best overall fit.

Good to know

Traveling Physical Therapist Salary Questions, Answered

How should I use the traveling physical therapist salary data on this page?
Use the median weekly pay as a quick snapshot of the current market, then review the full range to see how widely rates can vary. The data comes from eligible open Advantis travel PT jobs and changes as assignments are added or filled. Before expressing interest, open the individual job to compare its location, setting, schedule, requirements and complete pay package.
What is included in a travel PT salary package?
A travel PT package typically includes taxable hourly wages and may include housing and meal stipends for eligible travelers. The exact breakdown varies by assignment and individual circumstances. Your recruiter can explain each part of the package and the contract requirements, but a qualified tax professional should advise you on your personal tax eligibility.
Why can two similar travel physical therapy jobs have different weekly rates?
Travel PT pay can differ based on location, clinical setting, schedule, facility need, experience requirements and how urgently the position must be filled. Productivity expectations, mileage, territory coverage, weekends and guaranteed hours may also affect the package. Compare the complete assignment rather than choosing based only on the weekly number.
Is the highest-paying travel PT job always the best option?
Not necessarily. A higher rate may be offset by expensive housing, fewer guaranteed hours, a longer commute or more demanding productivity and coverage expectations. Consider your expected expenses along with the schedule, setting, support and location to determine which assignment offers the best overall fit.
How do housing costs affect a traveling physical therapist salary?
Housing is often one of the largest expenses during a travel assignment. A contract in a more affordable market may leave you with more each month than a higher-paying job in an expensive area. Check furnished housing close to the actual facility and include utilities, parking, pet fees, deposits and transportation when estimating your costs.
Can I compare travel PT pay directly with a permanent PT salary?
Not directly. Permanent PT compensation is usually presented as an annual wage, while travel PT jobs are typically shown as weekly packages. Compare gross pay, benefits, housing expenses, guaranteed hours, contract length and potential unpaid time between assignments to understand the overall value of each option.
What should I confirm before accepting a travel PT offer?
Confirm the expected start date, assignment length, weekly pay breakdown, guaranteed hours, overtime terms and any available reimbursements. You should also understand the orientation, caseload, productivity expectations, documentation requirements, mileage or territory coverage and weekend responsibilities. Your Advantis recruiter can help you review these details before you make a decision.