Exercise Therapist Salary in the United States

How much does an Exercise Therapist make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Exercise Therapist in the United States is $40,244 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

However, an Exercise Therapist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $44,623
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $37,969 to $42,536
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $35,898
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View as table View as graph 25% $37,969 10% $35,898 90% $44,623 75% $42,536 $40,244 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Exercise Therapist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $42,536 $3,545 $818 $20
Average $40,244 $3,354 $774 $19
25th Percentile $37,969 $3,164 $730 $18
Check out Exercise Therapist Job Openings in the United States
Physical Therapist

Compass Health Inc - MORRO BAY, CA

Physical Therapist

C.O.R.A.MED HRT & Regeneration Center - SPRINGFIELD, MO

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Phyt Rehab - WAUSAU, WI

PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Phyt Rehab - MARSHFIELD, WI

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Key Factors That Influence Exercise Therapist Salaries

An Exercise Therapist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Exercise Therapist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Exercise Therapist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $40,023
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $40,086
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $41,349
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $41,942
  • Expert (over 8 years): $42,017
Levels Salary
Entry Level Exercise Therapist$40,023
Intermediate Level Exercise Therapist$40,086
Senior Level Exercise Therapist$41,349
Specialist Level Exercise Therapist$41,942
Expert Level Exercise Therapist$42,017
$40,023 0 yr
$40,086 < 2 yrs
$41,349 2-4 yrs
$41,942 5-8 yrs
$42,017 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Exercise Therapists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $50,760
  • San Francisco: $50,204
  • Oakland: $49,146

What Skills Can Increase an Exercise Therapist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 8.54% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Insurance Sales (Mentioned in 4.03% Job Postings): Insurance sales involves selling various types of insurance to customers, including home, life, health and auto insurance. Primary goal is to get information about clients' needs and match them with insurance policies they offer.
  • Account Sales (Mentioned in 1.37% Job Postings): Account Sales refers to the net sales for a company. They are reported directly on the income statement.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 8.54%
Insurance Sales 4.03%
Account Sales 1.37%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Exercise Therapist's salary.
  • Product Marketing: Can increase your salary by up to 27%.
  • Financial Services: Can increase your salary by up to 26%.
  • Team Development: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Product Marketing
$51,110
27%
Financial Services
$50,707
26%
Team Development
$49,098
22%
Listening
$48,695
21%
Customer Relationship
$48,695
21%
Cold Calling
$47,890
19%
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Exercise Therapist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Exercise Therapist roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Financial Services, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Exercise Therapist positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Exercise Therapist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Exercise Therapist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$48,293$23.020%

Exercise Therapist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Exercise Therapist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Exercise Therapist

Salaries for an Exercise Therapist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $35,312 in 2023 to around $35,103 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Exercise Therapist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Exercise Therapist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$35,312
2024
$35,283
2025
$35,103
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $35,312
2024 $35,283
2025 $35,103
2026
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2027
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Most common benefits for Exercise Therapist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Exercise Therapist

Here are companies hiring for Exercise Therapist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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