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 San Diego, CA
Physical Therapists in the San Diego 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. 6 open roles with published pay are listed for San Diego. Tell us your role and we email current openings near San Diego.
- $50.92median pay per hour, San Diego
- $42–$63typical range per hour
- 2,730physical therapists employed in the metro area
- 6open roles with published pay
Open Physical Therapist roles in San Diego
PermanentPosted today
Physical Therapist - Full-time
Select Medical · San Diego, CA
$46.00–$66.00/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
80+ more Physical Therapist roles for you in San Diego, 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 3 days ago
Physical Therapist
Select Medical · San Diego, CA
$82k–$100k/ 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 23 days ago
Physical Therapist / PT
BrightSpring Health Services · San Diego, CA
$60.00–$65.00/ hour
More open Physical Therapist roles in San Diego
2 more open roles from employers in San Diego. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
Per diemPosted 16 days ago
Physical Therapist (PT), PRN
LifePoint Health · San Diego, CA
Pay range with your report
Per diemPosted 22 days ago
Physical Therapist | PT, Home Health, Weekends, PRN
AccentCare · San Diego, CA
Pay range with your report
Get the San Diego Physical Therapist pay report
Named employers near San Diego, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring physical therapists near San Diego
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Select Medical | 2 | $49.88 |
| Sharp HealthCare | 1 | $59.96 |
| Sharp Healthcare | 1 | $59.96 |
| Rady Children's Hospital | 1 | $54.33 |
| BrightSpring Health Services | 1 | $62.50 |
Physical Therapist pay in San Diego, 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 San Diego 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 San Diego
- 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 San Diego 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 San Diego
| 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 San Diego
CMS lists 9 hospitals in San Diego, 5 of the 5 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 |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Nmc San Diego San Diego, CA | Acute Care - Department of Defense | Government and federal | Not rated | Yes |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Aurora San Diego San Diego, CA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital San Diego, CA | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Mesa, CA | 7 mi | $50.92/hr | 60,767 |
| Santee, CA | 9 mi | $50.92/hr | 59,104 |
| Temecula, CA | 47 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 San Diego
San Diego city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do physical therapists make in San Diego, 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 San Diego 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 San Diego?
We list 6 open roles with published pay from 5 employers in San Diego. Your free report adds named employers and pay near San Diego.
Do I need a California license to work in San Diego 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 San Diego?
The federal per diem benchmark in San Diego 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 San Diego?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in San Diego and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near San Diego.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near San Diego 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 reportSan Diego, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Rady Children's HospitalSan Diego, CA · 2 postings$54.33/ hr$46–$63
- Select MedicalSan Diego, CA · 22 postings$47.48/ hr$38–$70
- El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 3 postings$73.08/ hr$63–$83
- Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 6 postings$67.73/ hr$54–$83
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.