Per diemPosted today
Physical Therapist I Inpatient -SRN Per Diem- SD County FLOAT
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$52.36–$67.57/ hour
New this week
Physical Therapist jobs in El Cajon, CA
Physical Therapists in the El Cajon area earn a median of $50.92 per hour, about $105,920 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $41.93 and $63.24. That ranks 48th of 375 U.S. metro areas for physical therapist pay, and 299th of 338 once local prices are factored in. 11 open roles with published pay are listed for El Cajon and its metro area. Tell us your role and we email current openings near El Cajon.
- $50.92median pay per hour, San Diego
- $42–$63typical range per hour
- 2,730physical therapists employed in the metro area
- 11open roles with published pay in the metro area
Open Physical Therapist roles near El Cajon
Roles in other cities of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area.
PermanentPosted today
Physical Therapist - Full-time
Select Medical · San Diego, CA
$46.00–$66.00/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
70+ more Physical Therapist roles for you in El Cajon, CA
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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Per diemPosted yesterday
Physical Therapist I Inpatient -SRN Per Diem- SD County FLOAT
Sharp Healthcare · San Diego, CA
$52.36–$67.57/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Physical Therapist
Palomar Health · Escondido, CA
$47.58–$71.46/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Physical Therapist
Select Medical · San Diego, CA
$82k–$100k/ year
New this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Physical Therapist
Select Medical · La Mesa, CA
$80k–$95k/ year
New this week
Per diemPosted 9 days ago
Physical Therapist (Casual) - Physical Therapy
Rady Children's Hospital · San Diego, CA
$45.75–$62.90/ hour
PermanentPosted 10 days ago
Physical Therapist
Select Medical · Santee, CA
$82k–$100k/ year
PermanentPosted 23 days ago
Physical Therapist / PT
BrightSpring Health Services · San Diego, CA
$60.00–$65.00/ hour
Per diemPosted 28 days ago
Physical Therapist (Part Time - Casual) - Physical Therapy
Rady Children's Hospital · Oceanside, CA
$45.75–$62.90/ hour
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Physical Therapist
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · National City, CA
$52.00–$52.00/ hour
Get the El Cajon Physical Therapist pay report
Named employers near El Cajon, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring physical therapists near El Cajon
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Select Medical | 4 | $43.75 |
| Rady Children's Hospital | 2 | $54.33 |
| Sharp HealthCare | 1 | $59.96 |
| Sharp Healthcare | 1 | $59.96 |
| Palomar Health | 1 | $59.52 |
| BrightSpring Health Services | 1 | $62.50 |
| Central Maine Healthcare Corporation | 1 | $52 |
Physical Therapist pay in El Cajon, CA
The metro median is 14% below the California statewide median of $59.28 per hour. Nationally the median is $48.57 per hour. BLS counts about 2,730 physical therapists employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, 1.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.10).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $30.42 | $63,270 | 37% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $41.93 | $87,210 | 14% below U.S. median |
| Median | $50.92 | $105,920 | 5% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $63.24 | $131,540 | 30% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $73.70 | $153,300 | 52% above U.S. median |
How El Cajon ranks
- 48th of 375 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 299th of 338 after adjusting for local prices
- 21st of 23 California metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Physical Therapists (SOC 29-1123), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in El Cajon
- Overall prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad run 12% above the U.S. average (index 111.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 79% above the U.S. average (index 179.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $50.92 median hour buys what $45.51 buys at the national price level, 6% below the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Estimate your El Cajon paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,833
- Per year: $91,656
- Per month: $7,638
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in El Cajon
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $205 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,037 |
| 13-week assignment | $26,481 |
Travel physical therapist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Hospitals in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area
CMS lists 18 hospitals in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area, 10 of the 13 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physical therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Va San Diego Healthcare System San Diego, CA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA | Acute care | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital - Encinitas Encinitas, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Chula Vista, CA | Acute care | For-profit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital And Hlthcr Ctr Coronado, CA | Acute care | For-profit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Physical Therapist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santee, CA | 4 mi | $50.92/hr | 59,104 |
| La Mesa, CA | 4 mi | $50.92/hr | 60,767 |
| Temecula, CA | 49 mi | $57.79/hr | 112,431 |
Physical Therapist jobs in California · Physical Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in California
DPT degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in El Cajon
El Cajon city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do physical therapists make in El Cajon, CA?
Physical Therapists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area have a median pay of $50.92 per hour, about $105,920 a year. The middle half earn between $41.93 and $63.24 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is El Cajon a good place for physical therapists once cost of living is counted?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad ranks 299th of 338 metro areas for physical therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 48th of 375 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring physical therapists in El Cajon?
We list 11 open roles with published pay from 7 employers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near El Cajon.
Do I need a California license to work in El Cajon as a physical therapist?
DPT degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in El Cajon?
The federal per diem benchmark in El Cajon is $205 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,037 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place physical therapists in El Cajon?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in El Cajon and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near El Cajon.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near El Cajon pay physical therapists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
Get your free pay report
300+ Physical Therapist roles in California, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your PT pay reportEl Cajon, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 3 postings$73.08/ hr$63–$83
- Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 6 postings$67.73/ hr$54–$83
- CommonSpirit HealthCAMARILLO, CA · 13 postings$64.91/ hr$48–$86
- MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 2 postings$64.50/ hr$54–$81
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$48Median$62.50High$72
104 PT postings with published pay in California, 84 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 104 PT roles
- Physical Therapist Home HealthPer diem$49.78–$74.05/ hour
- Physical Therapist I Inpatient -SRN Per Diem- SD County FLOATPer diem$52.36–$67.57/ hour
+ 102 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.