IA · Ankeny · Updated October 15, 2026

Physical Therapist jobs in Ankeny, IA

Pay for physical therapists in the Ankeny area centers on $47.17 per hour, or about $98,110 a year. The lower quarter earns under $39.59 and the upper quarter over $51.15. That ranks 226th of 375 U.S. metro areas for physical therapist pay, and 140th of 338 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in the Ankeny metro area. The free report below lists employers near Ankeny and what they pay.

Physical Therapist pay in Ankeny, IA

The metro median is 2% above the Iowa statewide median of $46.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $48.57 per hour. BLS counts about 800 physical therapists employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area, 2.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.22).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$37.30$77,58023% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$39.59$82,35018% below U.S. median
Median$47.17$98,1103% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$51.15$106,3905% above U.S. median
Top 10%$55.95$116,38015% above U.S. median

How Ankeny ranks

  • 226th of 375 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 140th of 338 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd of 8 Iowa 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 Ankeny

  • Overall prices in Des Moines-West Des Moines run 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.7, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 15% below the U.S. average (index 84.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $47.17 median hour buys what $51.44 buys at the national price level, 6% above 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.

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Named employers near Ankeny, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Ankeny paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,698
  • Per year: $84,906
  • Per month: $7,076

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Ankeny

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$121
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,407
13-week assignment$18,291

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).

Open Physical Therapist roles in Iowa

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Ankeny as they open.

PermanentPosted 30+ days ago

Physical Therapist

Select Medical · State Center, IA

$73k–$100k/ year
  • OTHER
  • Req 382974
View role

All Physical Therapist jobs in Iowa

Hospitals in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area

CMS lists 4 hospitals in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area, 1 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physical therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Va Central Iowa Healthcare System
Des Moines, IA
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Broadlawns Medical Center
Des Moines, IA
Acute careGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi
Des Moines, IA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center
Des Moines, IA
Acute careNonprofit1 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Physical Therapist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Des Moines, IA11 mi$47.17/hr213,096
West Des Moines, IA16 mi$47.17/hr73,664
Ames, IA20 mi$41.56/hr69,026
Waterloo, IA83 mi$40.87/hr67,477
Cedar Rapids, IA100 mi$41.21/hr137,904
Iowa City, IA107 mi$40.81/hr76,710

Physical Therapist jobs in Iowa · Physical Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Iowa

DPT degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Iowa taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Iowa state guide

Other healthcare roles in Ankeny

Ankeny city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physical therapists make in Ankeny, IA?

Physical Therapists in the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area have a median pay of $47.17 per hour, about $98,110 a year. The middle half earn between $39.59 and $51.15 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Ankeny a good place for physical therapists once cost of living is counted?

Des Moines-West Des Moines ranks 140th of 338 metro areas for physical therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 226th of 375 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.

Where do physical therapists work in Ankeny?

CMS lists 4 hospitals in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area, led by Va Central Iowa Healthcare System. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Iowa license to work in Ankeny as a physical therapist?

DPT degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa 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 Ankeny?

The federal per diem benchmark in Ankeny is $121 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,407 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place physical therapists in Ankeny?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Ankeny and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Ankeny.

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What do employers near Ankeny 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.

  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · PT near Ankeny, IA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your PT pay reportAnkeny, IA · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • UnityPoint at HomeCedar Rapids, IA · 1 wage offer$52.98/ hr$53–$53
  • Select MedicalState Center, IA · 2 postings$44.55/ hr$35–$55
  • UnityPoint At HomeFort Dodge, IA · 1 wage offer$40.66/ hr$41–$41
  • Grandison Management, Inc.Iowa · 7 wage offers$32.09/ hr$32–$32

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$32Median$32.09High$34

10 employer-reported wage offers for PT in federal filings in Iowa, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 2 PT roles

  1. Physical Therapist - PRNPer diem
    $40.00–$55.00/ hour
    Select Medical · State Center, IA · posted 30+ days ago
  2. Physical TherapistPermanent
    $73k–$100k/ year
    Select Medical · State Center, IA · posted 30+ days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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