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Physical Therapists Employment & Job Outlook in California (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

California employs 26,580 Physical Therapists professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19

Total Employed
26,580
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
26.58
workers
Location Quotient
5.07
vs national avg
Average Salary
$122K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 5.07 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Physical Therapists professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
26,580
National: 267,350
9.9% of national
Jobs per 1,000
26.58
National: 5.24
+407.3%
Average Salary
$122K
National: $102K
+19.5%

Top States by Physical Therapists Employment

#1
26,580
26,580
employed
#2
21,870
21,870
employed
#3
20,940
20,940
employed
#4
16,290
16,290
employed
#5
11,710
11,710
employed
#6
10,280
10,280
employed
#7
9,800
9,800
employed
#8
9,750
9,750
employed
#9
8,630
8,630
employed
#10
7,630
7,630
employed

What Does a Physical Therapists Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Physical Therapists in California is $122,580. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Physical Therapists jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 26,580 Physical Therapists professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Physical Therapists in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Physical Therapists jobs (LQ: 5.07). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Physical Therapists in California?

The average (mean) salary for Physical Therapists in California is $122580/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Physical Therapists professionals?

The top state for Physical Therapists employment is California with 26,580 jobs.

Find Your Next Opportunity

Related Pages

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Physical Therapists Employment in Other States

Compare Physical Therapists labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.

All Physical Therapists & California Resources

Drill deeper into Physical Therapists pay, hiring, and education data for California.

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Physical Therapists (SOC 291123) in California.

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