Rent Affordability for Physical Therapists in the US
As of May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024. Rent: ZORI monthly.
National avg salary
$99,710/yr
Gross monthly
$8,309
Affordable rent (30% rule)
$2,493/mo
Physical therapist pay covers comfortable rent across most US metros. At the national-average PT salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,493 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities tracked here.
Where rent is most affordable: states with the highest physical therapist pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $124,638/yr | $3,116/mo | View cities › |
| California | $117,658/yr | $2,941/mo | View cities › |
| Massachusetts | $115,664/yr | $2,892/mo | View cities › |
| New York | $113,669/yr | $2,842/mo | View cities › |
| Alaska | $111,675/yr | $2,792/mo | View cities › |
| New Jersey | $111,675/yr | $2,792/mo | View cities › |
| Washington | $111,675/yr | $2,792/mo | View cities › |
| Connecticut | $109,681/yr | $2,742/mo | View cities › |
| Hawaii | $107,687/yr | $2,692/mo | View cities › |
| Maryland | $107,687/yr | $2,692/mo | View cities › |
Where rent stretches the salary furthest: states with the lowest physical therapist pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $80,765/yr | $2,019/mo | View cities › |
| Arkansas | $82,759/yr | $2,069/mo | View cities › |
| West Virginia | $84,754/yr | $2,119/mo | View cities › |
| Alabama | $85,751/yr | $2,144/mo | View cities › |
| Louisiana | $86,748/yr | $2,169/mo | View cities › |
| South Dakota | $87,745/yr | $2,194/mo | View cities › |
| South Carolina | $87,745/yr | $2,194/mo | View cities › |
| Oklahoma | $87,745/yr | $2,194/mo | View cities › |
| Montana | $87,745/yr | $2,194/mo | View cities › |
| Kentucky | $87,745/yr | $2,194/mo | View cities › |
All states
District of ColumbiaCaliforniaMassachusettsNew YorkAlaskaNew JerseyWashingtonConnecticutHawaiiMarylandColoradoMinnesotaOregonRhode IslandNew HampshireDelawareIllinoisVirginiaPennsylvaniaTexasArizonaNevadaNorth DakotaVermontMichiganUtahGeorgiaWisconsinNorth CarolinaOhioWyomingFloridaMaineNebraskaIndianaIowaMissouriTennesseeKansasNew MexicoIdahoKentuckyMontanaOklahomaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaLouisianaAlabamaWest VirginiaArkansasMississippi
Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist afford rent in major US cities?
In most US metros, yes. High-cost coastal cities can push PT salary near the 30% threshold for entry-level pay, but mid-career PT pay typically stays comfortable.
What rent can a physical therapist afford?
At the BLS national mean of $99,710, the 30% rule supports about $2,493 a month in rent.