Orthopedic Physical Therapist Jobs in California

Orthopedic Physical Therapist jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, with demand concentrated in outpatient orthopedic clinics, sports medicine practices, acute care hospitals, and post-surgical rehabilitation centers at every level from new graduate to senior clinician. The busiest hiring metros are Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where established employers such as Kaiser Permanente, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Dignity Health maintain ongoing orthopedic PT staffing needs. Manual therapy, sports rehabilitation, and post-operative joint replacement recovery are the most in-demand specialties across California. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles15
Top employerOrigin
Top cityLos Angeles, CA
Cities hiring12
Work type100% On-site
Top credentialDoctoral degree

Showing 5 of 15+ Orthopedic Physical Therapist jobs

Physical Therapist (DPT) – Outpatient Orthopedic | Full-Time
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Added 5d ago
Physical Therapist (DPT) – Outpatient Orthopedic | Full-Time
NCEPT Physical Therapy
Escondido, California
Clinical Support
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
$83k - $110k/yr
On-Site
Doctoral degree
11-50

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Physical Therapist - Outpatient Orthopedic (PTLAs, Entry Level are Welcome to Apply)
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Added 1w ago
Physical Therapist - Outpatient Orthopedic (PTLAs, Entry Level are Welcome to Apply)
Golden Hills Physical Therapy
Milpitas, California
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
Physical Therapy
$90k - $130k/yr
On-Site

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Outpatient Orthopedic Physical Therapist
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Added 3w ago
Outpatient Orthopedic Physical Therapist
Terrapin Physical Therapy, Inc.
Monterey, California
Clinical Support
Healthcare Administration
Human Resources
$45.28 - $55.29/hr
On-Site

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Physical Therapist (PT, DPT) – Outpatient Orthopedic
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Added 3w ago
Physical Therapist (PT, DPT) – Outpatient Orthopedic
Valley Foot & Ankle Specialty Providers
Fresno, California
Clinical Support
Healthcare Administration
Public Health
$90k - $110k/yr
On-Site
Doctoral degree

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Senior Physical Therapist, Outpatient Orthopedic
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Added 3w ago
Senior Physical Therapist, Outpatient Orthopedic
Kaiser Permanente
San Jose, California
Corporate Training
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Teaching & Instruction
$66.69 - $70.62/hr
Doctoral degree
10,000+

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See All 15 Orthopedic Physical Therapist Jobs in California

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Orthopedic Physical Therapist Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Los Angeles
3 jobs
San Francisco
2 jobs
Chico
1 job
Fresno
1 job
Milpitas
1 job
Monterey
1 job
San Jose
1 job
Escondido
1 job
Long Beach
1 job

Orthopedic Physical Therapist Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Origin2 open roles
Kaiser Permanente1 open role
MOTI Physiotherapy1 open role

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in orthopedic physical therapist jobs across California.

  • Active California Physical Therapist license issued by the California Physical Therapy Board
  • Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from a CAPTE-accredited program
  • Orthopedic Certified Specialist credential or demonstrated orthopedic clinical experience preferred
  • Current CPR and Basic Life Support certification required at time of hire
  • Experience with manual therapy techniques including joint mobilization and soft tissue work
  • Familiarity with electronic medical records systems used in outpatient and hospital settings

Orthopedic Physical Therapist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a orthopedic physical therapist in California?

You must earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from a CAPTE-accredited program and pass the National Physical Therapy Examination, then apply for licensure through the California Physical Therapy Board. California requires a separate state law and professional ethics examination before a license is issued. Most orthopedic-focused clinicians then pursue residency training or accumulate supervised clinical hours to sit for the Orthopedic Certified Specialist examination offered through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.

How much do orthopedic physical therapists make in California?

Orthopedic physical therapists in California earn a median of about $124,190 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $85,580 for the lowest 10% to over $163,960 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire orthopedic physical therapists in California?

Employers hiring orthopedic physical therapists in California right now include Origin, Kaiser Permanente, and MOTI Physiotherapy, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. California's density of large integrated health systems, multi-site outpatient orthopedic groups, and sports medicine networks means consistent openings across both major metros and suburban communities throughout the state.

Which California cities have the most orthopedic physical therapist jobs?

Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chico have the most orthopedic physical therapist openings in California, reflecting the concentration of major hospital systems, sports medicine programs, and high-volume outpatient orthopedic practices in those metro areas. Smaller suburban cities within the greater Los Angeles and Bay Area regions also post consistent openings driven by the satellite clinic networks of large employers headquartered in those core metros.

Are there remote orthopedic physical therapist jobs in California?

Yes, but they're rare. Orthopedic physical therapy is inherently hands-on, so the vast majority of roles require in-person patient care. About 0% of orthopedic physical therapist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those positions are almost exclusively in telehealth triage, clinical education, or utilization review rather than direct patient treatment.

How can I get hired as a orthopedic physical therapist in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is applying to an accredited orthopedic physical therapy residency program, several of which are offered through California-based institutions such as Kaiser Permanente and UCSF Health. New graduates without residency options can target outpatient orthopedic clinics as a physical therapist in a general caseload role, which builds the hands-on experience needed to specialize. Holding an active California Physical Therapy Board license and completing continuing education in manual therapy strengthens any new-grad application considerably.

Where can I find and apply to orthopedic physical therapist jobs in California?

You can find and apply to orthopedic physical therapist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across outpatient clinics, hospital systems, and sports medicine practices. Find the roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to each employer through the listings.

See All 15 Orthopedic Physical Therapist Jobs in California

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