IA · Cedar Rapids · Updated October 15, 2026

Physical Therapist jobs in Cedar Rapids, IA

Pay for physical therapists in the Cedar Rapids area centers on $41.21 per hour, or about $85,720 a year. The lower quarter earns under $37.80 and the upper quarter over $49.68. That ranks 349th of 375 U.S. metro areas for physical therapist pay, and 285th of 338 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Cedar Rapids. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Cedar Rapids.

Physical Therapist pay in Cedar Rapids, IA

The metro median is 11% below the Iowa statewide median of $46.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $48.57 per hour. BLS counts about 230 physical therapists employed in the Cedar Rapids metro area, 1.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.01).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$31.97$66,50034% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$37.80$78,62022% below U.S. median
Median$41.21$85,72015% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$49.68$103,3302% above U.S. median
Top 10%$53.89$112,09011% above U.S. median

How Cedar Rapids ranks

  • 349th of 375 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 285th of 338 after adjusting for local prices
  • 6th 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 Cedar Rapids

  • Overall prices in Cedar Rapids run 11% below the U.S. average (index 89.0, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 29% below the U.S. average (index 71.4).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $41.21 median hour buys what $46.32 buys at the national price level, 5% 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.

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

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Estimate your Cedar Rapids paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,484
  • Per year: $74,178
  • Per month: $6,182

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

Travel assignment per diem in Cedar Rapids

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$110
Meals and incidentals per day$68
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,246
13-week assignment$16,198

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 (this is the standard rate that applies here). 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 Cedar Rapids 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 Cedar Rapids

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Cedar Rapids, 2 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physical therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Mercy Medical Center - Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, IA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
St Lukes Hospital
Cedar Rapids, IA
Acute careNonprofit4 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
Iowa City, IA23 mi$40.81/hr76,710
Waterloo, IA50 mi$40.87/hr67,477
Dubuque, IA62 mi$46.31/hr58,987
Davenport, IA62 mi$47.82/hr100,938
Ames, IA100 mi$41.56/hr69,026
Ankeny, IA100 mi$47.17/hr76,727

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 Cedar Rapids

Cedar Rapids city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physical therapists make in Cedar Rapids, IA?

Physical Therapists in the Cedar Rapids metro area have a median pay of $41.21 per hour, about $85,720 a year. The middle half earn between $37.80 and $49.68 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Cedar Rapids ranks 285th of 338 metro areas for physical therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 349th of 375 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.

Where do physical therapists work in Cedar Rapids?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Cedar Rapids, led by Mercy Medical Center - Cedar Rapids. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Iowa license to work in Cedar Rapids 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 Cedar Rapids?

The federal per diem benchmark in Cedar Rapids is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place physical therapists in Cedar Rapids?

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

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What do employers near Cedar Rapids pay physical therapists? Get the report.

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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

Your PT pay reportCedar Rapids, 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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