National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
Compare a different job:
VS
QUICK ANSWER
Teachers earn a national median of $63,680/year vs Physical Therapists at $99,710/year. Physical Therapists earn 57% more nationally. The gap is $36,030 per year — or $3,003 per month.
Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
Teacher
$63,680
national median/year
$5,307/mo • $31/hr
VS
Physical Therapist
$99,710
national median/year
$8,309/mo • $48/hr
Annual salary gap
$36,030
Physical Therapists earn 57% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $408,411.
Best states for Physical Therapists
vs Teachers
Hawaii+$46,140
Arizona+$40,110
Alaska+$39,420
Colorado+$38,580
Florida+$37,680
Best states for Teachers
vs Physical Therapists
New York+$-13,080
Massachusetts+$-18,110
Pennsylvania+$-20,200
Rhode Island+$-21,000
Wyoming+$-22,140
Share Your Result
Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family
Physical Therapists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Teachers is $63,680 versus $99,710 for Physical Therapists — a difference of $36,030 per year or $3,003 per month.
The national median salary gap between Teachers and Physical Therapists is $36,030 per year. Physical Therapists earn 57% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $408,411.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, New York pays Teachers the highest median salary at $89,240 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Physical Therapists the highest median salary at $114,320 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. Elementary and Middle School Teachers and Physical Therapists 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, Teachers earn approximately $31 per hour nationally and Physical Therapists earn approximately $48 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.
