Physical Therapists salary in Tampa, FL
Median pay for physical therapists in Tampa, FL: $100,870/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $78,950 – $124,030 · about 2,290 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($98,205) by +$2,665 (+3%).
What it's really worth in Tampa
With Tampa's cost of living at 102 (US=100), that $100,870 has the buying power of about $98,436 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $67,197 · median home $360,738 · median rent $2,018/mo.
How Tampa ranks for this job
On raw pay, Tampa, FL is 55th of the 186 metros we hold physical therapists wages for. Once Tampa's cost of living is applied, it ranks 133rd.
The headline number flatters Tampa. Once housing and everyday costs are taken into account, physical therapists here keep less of what they earn than the raw salary implies.
What that salary buys in Tampa
A median home in Tampa, FL costs $360,738 — about 3.6× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is more attainable here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $2,018/mo works out at 24% of gross pay — inside the conventional 30% affordability ceiling.
Where physical therapists earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Tampa.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Tampa | Rent vs Tampa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa, CA | $132,870 | +32% | 1.3× |
| San Jose, CA | $131,930 | +31% | 1.8× |
| Sacramento, CA | $131,760 | +31% | 1.1× |
| San Francisco, CA | $131,050 | +30% | 1.6× |
Same job elsewhere in FL
| Metro | Median pay | vs Tampa | Rent vs Tampa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naples, FL | $104,590 | +4% | 1.4× |
| North Port, FL | $102,840 | +2% | 1.1× |
| Jacksonville, FL | $100,930 | +0% | 0.8× |
| Palm Bay, FL | $100,390 | +0% | 1× |
Staying in FL keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires physical therapists around Tampa
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Tampa General Hospital · Healthcare
- BayCare Health System · Healthcare
- Hillsborough County Schools · Education
Other jobs in Tampa
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 186 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.