# Physical Therapists

US SOC code 29-1123. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/29-1123

Also called: PT, DPT, Doctor of physical therapy, Outpatient PT, Inpatient PT.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **267,330** US physical therapists, with median pay of **$102,760** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the May 2025 count is the highest. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Physical_Therapy_Association) of **274** from 1921, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for physical therapists: Digital MSK platforms, 2015 to 2023.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 11.9% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=29-1123&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **34%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Physical Therapists employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1813
- Latest US employment: 267,330 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [4]
- Latest US median pay: $102,760 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [10]
- Outlook: +11.9% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [28]

### In other countries

The latest figure each country's statistics agency publishes for this job. Each uses its own occupation definition, survey basis and currency, so the numbers are not directly comparable with each other or with the US figures.

- **Canada** (NOC 31202)
  - Employment, 2020: 26,185. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [7]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021: number of persons with employment income in NOC 31202 Physiotherapists, Canada, reference year 2020. A recipients basis (anyone with employment income during the year), slightly broader than a point-in-time employed count. Statistics Canada Open Licence.
  - Median pay, 2020: C$81,000. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [14]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021 (Table 98-10-0586): median employment income for NOC 31202 Physiotherapists, Canada, reference year 2020, full-year full-time workers (the basis comparable to the US OEWS full-time median). Statistics Canada Open Licence.

### All 29 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1921 | 274 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Wikipedia [1] |
| 1939 | 1,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Wikipedia [1] |
| 1955 | 8,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Wikipedia [1] |
| 1959 | n/a | $4,800 | BLS historical bulletin 1959 [8] |
| 1980 | 45,000 | n/a | Census (IPUMS) 1980 [2] |
| 2000 | 120,410 | $54,810 | BLS OEWS 2000 [3] |
| 2003 | 134,970 | $57,710 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [4] |
| 2004 | 142,940 | $60,180 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [4] |
| 2005 | 151,280 | $63,080 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [4] |
| 2006 | 156,100 | $66,200 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [4] |
| 2007 | 161,850 | $69,760 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [4] |
| 2008 | 167,300 | $72,790 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [4] |
| 2009 | 174,490 | $74,480 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [4] |
| 2010 | 180,280 | $76,310 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [4] |
| 2011 | 185,440 | $78,270 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [4] |
| 2012 | 191,460 | $79,860 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [4] |
| 2013 | 195,670 | $81,030 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [4] |
| 2014 | 200,670 | $82,390 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [4] |
| 2015 | 209,690 | $84,020 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [4] |
| 2016 | 216,920 | $85,400 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [4] |
| 2017 | 225,420 | $86,850 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [4] |
| 2018 | 228,600 | $87,930 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [4] |
| 2019 | 233,350 | $89,440 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [4] |
| 2020 | 220,870 | $91,010 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [4] |
| 2021 | 225,350 | $95,620 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [4] |
| 2022 | 229,740 | $97,720 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [4] |
| 2023 | 240,820 | $99,710 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [4] |
| 2024 | 248,630 | $101,020 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [4] |
| 2025 | 267,330 | $102,760 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [4] |

## Sources (94)

### Employment series

1. [Wikipedia -- American Physical Therapy Association: founding, charter membership of 274, Mary McMillan first president (1921)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Physical_Therapy_Association), Wikipedia / APTA historical record
2. [IPUMS USA -- Occupation and Industry Codes (1980 Census, physical therapists occupation code)](https://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/occ_ind.shtml), IPUMS / University of Minnesota
3. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
4. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
5. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
6. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
7. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Wage series

8. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1959 edition (Bulletin No. 1255) -- physical therapists earnings (FRASER full text)](https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/occupational-outlook-handbook-3964/occupational-outlook-handbook-1959-edition-495782/fulltext), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (via FRASER, St. Louis Fed)
9. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
10. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
11. [BLS OEWS May 2024, national cross-industry estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
12. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
13. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
14. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Tool eras

15. [Wikipedia -- Per Henrik Ling: founded Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics 1813; developed four-branch system of medical gymnastics; elected to Swedish General Medical Association 1831](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Per_Henrik_Ling), Wikipedia
16. [Wikipedia -- Chartered Society of Physiotherapy: founded 1894 as Society of Trained Masseuses; professional examination system; royal charter 1920](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartered_Society_of_Physiotherapy), Wikipedia
17. [Wikipedia -- Physical therapy: "Through the 1940s, treatment centered on exercise, massage, and traction... manipulative procedures became common in British Commonwealth countries by the early 1950s"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_therapy), Wikipedia
18. [Wikipedia -- American Physical Therapy Association: APTA founded 1921; membership grew 274 to 1,000 through the 1930s; profession shaped by WWI reconstruction aide training](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Physical_Therapy_Association), Wikipedia
19. [Wikipedia -- Sister Kenny: developed heat-based muscle rehabilitation for polio; "University of Minnesota: the Kenny method will form the basis of all future treatment"; methods adopted by younger physicians nationwide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_Kenny), Wikipedia
20. [IPUMS USA -- Occupation codes and documentation (1980 Census physical therapist classification)](https://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/occ_ind.shtml), IPUMS / University of Minnesota
21. [Wikipedia -- Doctor of Physical Therapy: first entry-level DPT at Creighton University 1993; USC's transitional DPT 1992; "as of 2015, all accredited physical therapy programs in the US became DPT programs"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Physical_Therapy), Wikipedia
22. [WebPT Rehab AI -- AI documentation tools including voice-to-text scribe, adaptive note templates, and real-time compliance support; WebPT is the largest EHR for U.S. outpatient rehab therapy](https://www.webpt.com/rehab-ai), WebPT
23. [APTA Supply and Demand Forecast 2022-2037 -- projects a fluctuating shortfall in the supply of physical therapists relative to projected demand through 2037; documentation administrative burden identified as contributing to PT burnout](https://www.apta.org/apta-and-you/news-publications/reports/2025/apta-supply-demand-forecast-2022-2037), APTA
24. [Hinge Health -- 2,800+ employer/health plan clients; 700,000+ active members; licensed PT health coaches review AI-flagged cases; Hinge Health S-1 prospectus 2025](https://www.hingehealth.com/), Hinge Health
25. [Sword Health -- 3M+ members; 2,500+ employer and health plan clients; AI digital MSK therapy; hybrid DPT clinical oversight model; 66% reduction in pain scores at 12 weeks (NEJM Catalyst 2024)](https://swordhealth.com/), Sword Health
26. [APTA Digital Health in Practice -- RC 11-24 (2024): APTA policy motion endorsing ethical and effective integration of AI to reduce administrative burden and enhance PT practice, education, and research](https://www.apta.org/your-practice/practice-models-and-settings/digital-health-in-practice), APTA
27. [JOSPT Vol. 55, 2025 -- AI-assisted outcome measurement (KinetiSense, DARI Motion): ICC 0.85-0.93 vs. manual standardized tests; recommended as objective adjuncts, not replacements for clinical examination](https://www.jospt.org/), JOSPT

### Forecasts and exposure studies

28. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 29-1123 Physical therapists (2025: 283.7 thousand; 2035: 317.6 thousand; +11.9%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=29-1123&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
29. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 29-1123.00, human-rated β 0.34)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

30. [Wikipedia -- Per Henrik Ling: 1776-1839; founded Royal Central Gymnastics Institute 1813; developed four-branch medical gymnastics system; elected Swedish General Medical Association 1831](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Per_Henrik_Ling), Wikipedia
31. [Wikipedia -- Chartered Society of Physiotherapy: founded 1894 by four nurses including Dame Rosalind Paget; "Massage Scandals of 1894"; royal charter 1920; current name adopted 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartered_Society_of_Physiotherapy), Wikipedia
32. [Wikipedia -- Mary McMillan (physical therapist): "first reconstruction aide in the new Division of Physical Reconstruction" at Walter Reed 1918; trained aides at Reed College; founded APTA 1921; died 1959 age 78](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_McMillan), Wikipedia
33. [Wikipedia -- American Physical Therapy Association: "originally formed in 1921 as the American Women's Physical Therapeutic Association"; 274 charter members; Mary McMillan first president; first male members 1923](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Physical_Therapy_Association), Wikipedia
34. [Wikipedia -- Poliomyelitis: 1952 US epidemic; "nearly 58,000 cases... 3,145 died and 21,269 were left with mild to disabling paralysis"; polio epidemics "giving rise to the modern field of rehabilitation therapy"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poliomyelitis), Wikipedia
35. [Wikipedia -- Physical therapy: Medicare and Medicaid expansion drove physical therapists beyond hospital settings "into outpatient clinics, schools, and geriatric facilities" from the mid-1960s onward](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_therapy), Wikipedia
36. [Wikipedia -- Doctor of Physical Therapy: Creighton University first entry-level DPT 1993; USC first transitional DPT 1992; "as of 2015, all accredited physical therapy programs in the US became DPT programs"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Physical_Therapy), Wikipedia
37. [APTA Digital Health in Practice -- RC 11-24 (2024): APTA policy motion endorsing ethical and effective integration of AI to reduce administrative burden and enhance PT practice; RC 12-24 addresses inappropriate AI use by payers](https://www.apta.org/your-practice/practice-models-and-settings/digital-health-in-practice), APTA

### Predecessors & successors

38. [Wikipedia -- Mary McMillan: "first reconstruction aide in the new Division of Physical Reconstruction" at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 1918; trained aides at Reed College for WWI service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_McMillan), Wikipedia
39. [Wikipedia -- Chartered Society of Physiotherapy: founded 1894 by four nurses as Society of Trained Masseuses; professional examinations and code of conduct established predecessor of modern physiotherapy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartered_Society_of_Physiotherapy), Wikipedia

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Physical Therapists (29-1123.00): tasks, work activities, technology skills, employment data](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1123.00), accessed 2026-05-23
- [BLS OOH — Physical Therapists: 239,200 employed 2024; +14% growth 2024-2034; 24,100 new jobs projected; median wage $99,710](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm), accessed 2026-05-23
- [APTA Practice Advisory — AI-Enabled Ambient Scribe Technology in Physical Therapy Documentation (2025): AI as documentation and CDS augmentation; hands-on manual therapy and therapeutic exercise are the irreducible PT value core](https://www.apta.org/your-practice/practice-models-and-settings/practice-advisory-emerging-technology), accessed 2026-06-21
- [APTA Physical Therapy Workforce Data — 309,000+ licensed PTs in U.S.; salary, demographics, and supply/demand forecast data; PT shortage projected through 2037 in rural/underserved markets](https://www.apta.org/your-career/careers-in-physical-therapy/workforce-data), accessed 2026-06-21
- [WebPT Rehab AI — AI Tools for Physical Therapy Documentation, Billing and Compliance (2025): AI-assisted daily treatment note and progress note drafting for outpatient rehab; WebPT serves 10,000+ outpatient rehab clinics in the U.S.](https://www.webpt.com/rehab-ai), accessed 2026-06-21
- [Sword Health — 3M+ members; 2,500+ employer and health plan clients; AI digital MSK therapy with motion sensor monitoring; 66% reduction in pain scores at 12 weeks; hybrid DPT oversight model](https://swordhealth.com/), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Hinge Health S-1 prospectus 2025 — 2,800+ employer/health plan clients; 700,000+ active members; licensed PT "health coaches" provide clinical oversight over AI-coached MSK exercise programs](https://www.hingehealth.com/), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Physical Therapy Journal — "Artificial Intelligence in Physical Therapy Practice" systematic review (2025): AI augments documentation, outcome tracking, and telerehab monitoring; no AI replaces manual therapy or gait training requiring physical presence](https://academic.oup.com/ptj), accessed 2026-05-23
- [JOSPT Vol. 55, 2025 — "AI-Assisted Outcome Measurement in MSK Physical Therapy": KinetiSense and DARI Motion AI analysis ICC 0.85-0.93 vs. manual tests; recommended as adjuncts, not replacements](https://www.jospt.org/), accessed 2026-05-23
- [JMIR Rehabilitation — "Digital Physical Therapy Platforms: Outcomes and Implementation" (2024): Sword Health and Hinge Health equivalent to in-person PT for mild-moderate MSK at 12 weeks; in-person PT superior for post-surgical, neurological, and complex pain cases](https://rehab.jmir.org/), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science): occupational LLM exposure framework](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Net Health Therapy (formerly Optima) — AI clinical documentation compliance checking flags missing CMS-required note elements before billing submission; deployed at SNFs, home health, hospital-based outpatient PT (Net Health press releases 2024-2025)](https://www.nethealth.com/rehab-therapy-software-solutions/), accessed 2026-05-23

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.