National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Physical Therapists earn a national median of $99,710/year vs HVAC Technicians at $57,620/year. Physical Therapists earn 42% more nationally. The gap is $42,090 per year — or $3,508 per month.
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Physical Therapist
$99,710
national median/year
$8,309/mo • $48/hr
VS
HVAC Technician
$57,620
national median/year
$4,802/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$42,090
Physical Therapists earn 42% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $477,103.
Best states for HVAC Technicians
vs Physical Therapists
Illinois+$-27,700
New York+$-27,700
Michigan+$-29,700
South Dakota+$-29,700
West Virginia+$-29,700
Best states for Physical Therapists
vs HVAC Technicians
Arizona+$41,700
California+$40,700
Florida+$39,700
Colorado+$37,700
Connecticut+$37,700
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Physical Therapists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Physical Therapists is $99,710 versus $57,620 for HVAC Technicians — a difference of $42,090 per year or $3,508 per month.
The national median salary gap between Physical Therapists and HVAC Technicians is $42,090 per year. Physical Therapists earn 42% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $477,103.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Physical Therapists the highest median salary at $114,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Hawaii pays HVAC Technicians the highest median salary at $74,620 per year.
Salary is one factor — Physical Therapists earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Physical Therapists and Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Physical Therapists earn approximately $48 per hour nationally and HVAC Technicians earn approximately $28 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
