Physical Therapist Salary in Santa Clarita, CA: $131,369 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist in Santa Clarita, CA earns a median $131,369/year (≈ $63.16/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1123). Once you factor in Santa Clarita's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $116,153 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.2% above the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Physical therapists in Santa Clarita, CA, can expect to earn a median annual salary of $131,369 in 2026, significantly above the national average for the profession. This salary reflects the competitive pay landscape, which spans from $97,259 at the lower end to $182,870 for top earners. Salaries reported are estimates derived from 2025 BLS data, projected to 2026, and consider local cost adjustments. The job market here demands high productivity due to the number of visits per day expected from physical therapists, impacting effective hourly compensation. Employers must balance patient care quality while meeting fiscal targets, which adds complexity to salary negotiations and expectations in this vibrant community.
About the Santa Clarita Market
Salary estimated from California average ($109,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $97,259 | $46.76 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $109,493 | $52.64 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $131,369 | $63.16 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $160,171 | $77.01 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $182,870 | $87.92 |
Median Salary Position
24.77% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Santa Clarita
In Santa Clarita, CA, the physical therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $85,611 (2026 est.). At $131,369, the local median is 24.77% above the national median of $105,288.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Santa Clarita: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Santa Clarita Physical Therapist Pay Compares
Santa Clarita median: $131,369/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Santa Clarita Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $128,541 | +2.20% more |
| National Average | $105,288 | +24.77% more |
Physical Therapists in Santa Clarita, CA earn a median of $131,369 per year (2026 est.), which is 24.77% higher than the national median of $105,288 and 2.20% above the California state average of $128,541.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Santa Clarita has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Santa Clarita, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $131,369 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $116,153 — a 11.58% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$111,595
2025 BLS Actual
$128,215
2026 Current Est.
$131,369
2019–2027 Growth
+20.6%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapists in Santa Clarita (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.46% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $111,595 | Actual |
| 2020 | $113,554 | Actual |
| 2021 | $119,306 | Actual |
| 2022 | $121,927 | Actual |
| 2023 | $124,409 | Actual |
| 2024 | $125,956 | Actual |
| 2025 | $128,215 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $131,369 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $134,601 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Santa Clarita metropolitan area, the median physical therapist salary grew 14.9% from $111,595 (2019) to $128,215 (2025). At a 2.46% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $134,601 by 2027 — a total increase of $23,006 (20.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Santa Clarita metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.46% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $97,259 – $109,493 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $109,493 – $131,369 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $131,369 – $160,171 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $160,171 – $182,870 |
PT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Job Market in Santa Clarita
With 41 physical therapists currently employed in Santa Clarita, the local job market presents a unique dynamic shaped by a cost-of-living index of 113.1, indicating that living expenses are above the national average. This reality affects take-home pay and purchasing power for practitioners in the area. Employers across various settings, such as outpatient orthopedic clinics and hospital rehabilitation facilities, generally offer the highest salaries, with productivity models playing a critical role in compensation variance. Factors contributing to the earnings spread include board certification stipends and differences in practice models—cash-pay clinics tend to offer better rates than insurance-based settings due to reimbursement pressures. To maximize pay, physical therapists in Santa Clarita should consider pursuing specialization certifications, leveraging productivity incentives, and exploring opportunities in high-paying settings.
More salary data for Santa Clarita, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapists make in Santa Clarita, CA in 2026?
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Can physical therapists make $100K in Santa Clarita?
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Related Pages
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Written by Alex Morgan, DPT
Career Analyst
Alex Morgan has over 10 years of experience in physical therapy. They specialize in orthopedic rehabilitation. Alex works in a private practice setting.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $128,215 for physical therapistsin the Santa Clarita metropolitan area. A 2.46% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Santa Clarita is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.46%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physical therapists (SOC 29-1123).
Compiled and verified by Alex Morgan, DPT, a licensed physical therapist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov