National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Physical Therapists earn a national median of $99,710/year vs Real Estate Agents at $61,480/year. Physical Therapists earn 38% more nationally. The gap is $38,230 per year — or $3,186 per month.
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Physical Therapist
$99,710
national median/year
$8,309/mo • $48/hr
VS
Real Estate Agent
$61,480
national median/year
$5,123/mo • $30/hr
Annual salary gap
$38,230
Physical Therapists earn 38% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $433,348.
Best states for Real Estate Agents
vs Physical Therapists
New York+$-19,840
Maryland+$-23,840
Virginia+$-25,840
Massachusetts+$-27,840
New Jersey+$-27,840
Best states for Physical Therapists
vs Real Estate Agents
Alaska+$45,840
North Dakota+$39,840
Wyoming+$39,840
Wisconsin+$37,840
Alabama+$35,840
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Physical Therapists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Physical Therapists is $99,710 versus $61,480 for Real Estate Agents — a difference of $38,230 per year or $3,186 per month.
The national median salary gap between Physical Therapists and Real Estate Agents is $38,230 per year. Physical Therapists earn 38% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $433,348.
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, California pays Real Estate Agents the highest median salary at $82,480 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 Real Estate Sales Agents 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 Real Estate Agents earn approximately $30 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.
