Salary AI Book a Demo

Lead Physical Therapist Salary in the United States

How much does a Lead Physical Therapist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Physical Therapist in the United States is $126,027 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $61.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $150,383
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $113,734 to $138,776
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $102,542
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Lead Physical Therapist Salaries

A Lead Physical 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 Lead Physical Therapist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead Physical 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): $92,956
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $108,386
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $125,090
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $109,424
  • Expert (over 8 years): $117,010
Levels Salary
Physical ... Level Lead Physical Therapist$92,956
Physical ... Level Lead Physical Therapist$108,386
Lead Phys... Level Lead Physical Therapist$125,090
Physical ... Level Lead Physical Therapist$109,424
Physical ... Level Lead Physical Therapist$117,010
View as Graph

How Do Lead Physical Therapist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Lead Physical Therapists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $139,537.
  • California: $139,008.
  • Massachusetts: $137,155.

Top Paying Cities for Lead Physical 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: $158,958
  • San Francisco: $157,217
  • Oakland: $153,904

What Skills Can Increase a Lead Physical Therapist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 6.85% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Rehabilitation Services (Mentioned in 2.07% Job Postings): Rehabilitation services is a special healthcare service that help a person regain physical, mental, and/or cognitive (thinking and learning) abilities that have been lost or impaired as a result of disease, injury, or treatment.
  • Environmental Safety (Mentioned in 1.64% Job Postings): Enforcing safety guidelines, policies, and practices to prevent workplace incidents while reducing environmental toxins and spillage.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 6.85%
Rehabilitation Services 2.07%
Environmental Safety 1.64%
See More Skills

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 a Lead Physical Therapist's salary.

  • Critical Thinking: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Environmental Safety: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Delegation: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Critical Thinking $148,712
18%
Environmental Safety $144,931
15%
Delegation $143,671
14%
Get Latest Data

Lead Physical Therapist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Lead Physical 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, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Lead Physical Therapist positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Lead Physical Therapist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Lead Physical Therapist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$151,232$73.020%

Lead Physical Therapist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lead Physical 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 September 01, 2026
$113,734
Average $126,027/year
$138,776
$9,478
Average $10,502/month
$11,565
$2,187
Average $2,424/week
$2,669
$55
Average $61/hour
$67
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $138,776 $11,565 $2,669 $67
Average $126,027 $10,502 $2,424 $61
25th Percentile $113,734 $9,478 $2,187 $55

Most common benefits for Lead Physical Therapist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Lead Physical Therapist

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

Find Your Next Lead Physical Therapist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Lead Physical Therapist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Lead Physical Therapist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Lead Physical Therapist?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Lead Physical Therapist roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst