Prevailing Wage for Physical Therapists
Prevailing wages for Physical Therapists are set by the DOL across four experience levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on where the job is located. Whether your offer is for an Outpatient Physical Therapist (Outpatient PT), an Inpatient PT, or a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) role, the worksite city determines which regional wage applies to your H-1B, E-3, or green card petition.
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Level 1 covers entry-level physical therapists with limited experience, typically new DPT graduates working under supervision with a defined caseload and structured clinical protocols. Employers filing at this level should document that the role involves routine, supervised patient care.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for physical therapists. It applies to qualified practitioners who work independently across standard patient populations, exercise clinical judgment, and hold full state licensure without requiring day-to-day supervisory oversight.
Level 3 applies to experienced physical therapists with specialized clinical expertise, such as those managing complex neurological or pediatric caseloads, mentoring junior staff, or taking on program development responsibilities within a department or practice.
Level 4 covers fully competent senior physical therapists in lead clinical or advanced specialist roles, including those holding board certifications, directing rehabilitation programs, or supervising other licensed PTs and PTAs across a facility or service line.
Prevailing Wage for Physical Therapists by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Physical Therapists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your filing level matches your caseload
Hospitals and outpatient clinics frequently file physical therapist positions at Level 2, but roles with a specialized caseload, such as ICU early mobilization or pediatric neurology, often support a Level 3 filing. Verify the level matches your actual scope before signing.
Watch how signing bonuses affect your base wage
Signing bonuses are common in physical therapy hiring, particularly for travel PT contracts, but DOL prevailing wage compliance is calculated on base salary only. A generous bonus does not offset a base wage that falls below the applicable level floor.
Factor in California metro premiums for PT roles
Physical therapist wages in San Jose and San Francisco metros run significantly above the national median at every level. If you receive an offer in the Bay Area, compare it against the regional floor, not the national figure, since the gap between the two is substantial.
Find employers who have sponsored PTs before
Migrate Mate shows which employers have a history of sponsoring physical therapists, including H-1B and green card filings, so you can prioritize outreach to health systems and outpatient groups with a verified sponsorship track record rather than guessing from job postings alone.
Jobs for Physical Therapists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Physical TherapistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-1123.00 alongside Physical Therapists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Acute Care PT (Acute Care Physical Therapist) Prevailing Wage
Acute Care PT (Acute Care Physical Therapist) Prevailing Wage
Acute Care PT (Acute Care Physical Therapist) positions fall under SOC 29-1123.00 (Physical Therapists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Prevailing Wage
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1123.00 (Physical Therapists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Home Care Physical Therapist (Home Care PT) Prevailing Wage
Home Care Physical Therapist (Home Care PT) Prevailing Wage
Home Care Physical Therapist (Home Care PT) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1123.00 (Physical Therapists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Inpatient Physical Therapist (Inpatient PT) Prevailing Wage
Inpatient Physical Therapist (Inpatient PT) Prevailing Wage
Inpatient Physical Therapist (Inpatient PT) positions fall under SOC 29-1123.00 (Physical Therapists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Outpatient Physical Therapist (Outpatient PT) Prevailing Wage
Outpatient Physical Therapist (Outpatient PT) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Outpatient Physical Therapist (Outpatient PT) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1123.00 (Physical Therapists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Pediatric Physical Therapist (Pediatric PT) Prevailing Wage
Pediatric Physical Therapist (Pediatric PT) Prevailing Wage
Pediatric Physical Therapist (Pediatric PT) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1123.00 (Physical Therapists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Registered Physical Therapist (RPT) Prevailing Wage
Registered Physical Therapist (RPT) Prevailing Wage
Registered Physical Therapist (RPT) positions fall under SOC 29-1123.00 (Physical Therapists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Therapist Prevailing Wage
Therapist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Therapist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1123.00 (Physical Therapists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for physical therapists?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to set prevailing wages for physical therapists under SOC code 29-1123. OFLC publishes these figures annually and assigns them to each metropolitan or non-metropolitan area. The wage floor is the minimum base salary an employer must pay and certify on the Labor Condition Application before sponsoring a physical therapist on an H-1B or similar visa.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL assigns one of four levels based on experience, supervision, and job complexity. Level 1 covers supervised entry-level work, typically for new graduates. Level 2 applies to independent licensed practitioners handling routine caseloads, and it is the most common level for physical therapist LCA filings. Level 3 reflects specialized clinical expertise or mentorship duties. Level 4 is reserved for lead clinicians or program directors. Your employer selects the level, but it must accurately reflect the actual job duties described in the offer.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same physical therapist role vary so much by city?
OFLC calculates prevailing wages using regional OES survey data, which captures actual wages paid by employers in each metropolitan area. A physical therapist role in San Jose carries a much higher floor than the same title in Helena or the Puerto Rico metros because local employer competition, cost of living, and healthcare market density all drive the underlying survey figures. DOL requires the employer to list the actual worksite on the LCA, so the applicable wage is always the figure for the specific location where you will be practicing.
What happens if a job offer for a sponsored physical therapist position is below the prevailing wage?
An employer cannot certify a Labor Condition Application with DOL if the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition without a certified LCA, so a below-floor offer effectively blocks the sponsorship from proceeding. If the offer is close to the floor, the employer must increase the base salary before filing. USCIS or DOL can also audit LCA wage compliance after certification, which can result in back-pay obligations.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a physical therapist role at a specific U.S. location?
The OFLC Wage Search tool allows you to look up the current four-level prevailing wage for physical therapists by metropolitan area or state non-metropolitan region. Search for SOC code 29-1123 and select the worksite location matching your offer. For finding employers who have already sponsored physical therapists, Migrate Mate filters by role and location and shows each employer's historical sponsorship activity, which helps you evaluate whether a hiring organization has a real track record before you engage.
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