Quick answer:Physical Therapists in the Bakersfield area earn a median $125,490 per year, above the national median of $102,760, and the metro employs about 310 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Physical Therapy Pay in Bakersfield, CA
Metric
Bakersfield metro
California
National
Median annual wage
$125,490
$124,190
$102,760
10th percentile
$98,300
$85,580
$77,140
25th percentile
$102,520
$100,790
$86,160
75th percentile
$139,970
$141,260
$121,160
90th percentile
$156,370
$163,960
$135,140
Employment
310
26,580
267,330
Location quotient
0.53
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Bakersfield median of $125,490 is above the national median of $102,760, and above the California statewide median of $124,190 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 0.53 means physical therapists are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Physical therapy demand tracks the local mix of outpatient orthopedic clinics, hospital systems, skilled nursing facilities and school districts.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Every state licenses physical therapists through its own board. The national constants are a degree from a program with accreditation from CAPTE, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, and the National Physical Therapy Examination administered through the FSBPT. Boards add their own requirements around jurisprudence exams, background checks and continuing competence, and rules for licensure by endorsement between states vary.
See the California licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state physical therapy licensing board.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 10 schools
within 135 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
10 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
How much do physical therapists make in Bakersfield?
The median annual wage for physical therapists in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area is $125,490, above the national median of $102,760 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many physical therapists work in the Bakersfield area?
The Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area employs about 310 physical therapists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do physical therapists in Bakersfield need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Every state licenses physical therapists through its own board. The national constants are a degree from a program with accreditation from CAPTE, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, and the National Physical Therapy Examination administered through the FSBPT. Boards add their own requirements around jurisprudence exams, background checks and continuing competence, and rules for licensure by endorsement between states vary. Confirm current requirements with your state physical therapy licensing board.
Can I study physical therapy online from Bakersfield?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state physical therapy licensing board.
Is Bakersfield a better market than the rest of California?
The Bakersfield metro median is $125,490 against a statewide median of $124,190 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Physical Therapists (SOC 29-1123), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
