How Much Do Travel Therapists Actually Make?
Travel therapists are usually paid a weekly package that combines a taxable hourly wage with housing and meals stipends, and the IRS leaves those stipends out of your taxable wages when you work away from your tax home and they stay within the federal per diem rate. This site shows the weekly pay advertised on the open contracts of ProTherapy Staffing, an agency owned and run by licensed physical therapists, by discipline, setting and state, so you can judge an offer's whole package against it.
New here? Start with what this site covers and where its figures come from.
Weekly Pay by Discipline
Includes taxable hourly + tax-free stipends. Lowest, median and highest advertised weekly gross on ProTherapy’s live contracts, pay data as of 2026-10-05 (October 2026). For median weekly gross computed from live contracts by discipline, state, and setting, see the Travel Therapy Pay Index.
| Discipline | Lowest | Median | Highest | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist | $2,130 | $2,340 | $3,800 | 348 |
| Occupational Therapist | $2,130 | $2,280 | $3,360 | 140 |
| Speech Pathologist | $2,130 | $2,280 | $2,860 | 95 |
| PT Assistant | $1,200 | $1,540 | $2,240 | 233 |
| Certified OTA | $1,260 | $1,540 | $1,960 | 127 |
Why Travelers Earn More
The same PT with the same experience, same hours — drastically different take-home. Run your own package through a travel pay calculator to see the split. To see what you'd be offered in your discipline and states, ask a recruiter: Find my next contract.
Travel PT
median advertised weekly gross (pinned 2026-10-05)
Includes tax-free stipends when you qualify. Higher hourly rates due to temporary nature and demand.
Permanent Therapist
per week: BLS May 2025 median for all PTs ($102,760 a year Ă· 52)
Fully taxable salary. Benefits included but often offset by lower total compensation.
Top Paying States for Travel Therapy
Median advertised weekly gross for travel PT contracts, from ProTherapy’s live book — the 10 highest-paying of the 25 states with at least 5 current PT contracts. No experience or setting adjustment: the feed carries neither. Updated 2026-10-05. View all 50 states → Filter the live contract book → Or compare current rates on the Travel Therapy Salary Map.
See What You Could Be Earning
Every listing shows its weekly pay.
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Frequently asked questions
What do physical therapists earn nationally?
For all physical therapists, not travel contracts only, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says: “The median annual wage for physical therapists was $102,760 in May 2025.” Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physical Therapists, read October 4, 2026.
What do occupational therapists earn nationally?
For all occupational therapists, not travel contracts only, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says: “The median annual wage for occupational therapists was $100,330 in May 2025.” Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Occupational Therapists, read October 4, 2026.
What do speech-language pathologists earn nationally?
For all speech-language pathologists, not travel contracts only, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says: “The median annual wage for speech-language pathologists was $97,870 in May 2025.” Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Speech-Language Pathologists, read October 4, 2026.
Is demand for physical therapists expected to grow?
For all physical therapists, not travel contracts only, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says: “Employment of physical therapists is projected to grow 12 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.” Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physical Therapists, read October 24, 2026.
Is demand for occupational therapists expected to grow?
For all occupational therapists, not travel contracts only, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says: “Employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 15 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.” Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Occupational Therapists, read October 24, 2026.
Is demand for speech-language pathologists expected to grow?
For all speech-language pathologists, not travel contracts only, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says: “Employment of speech-language pathologists is projected to grow 17 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.” Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Speech-Language Pathologists, read October 24, 2026.