How much money does a physical therapist make?

A physical therapist earns a median salary of $79,860 a year, or $38.39 an hour, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from May 2012. The upper 10 percent of physical therapists earn more than $112,020, while the bottom 10 percent make less than $55,620 a year.

About 75 percent of physical therapists work full time, usually in hospitals, nursing homes, doctors' offices and clinics. The work is physical, and therapists do not sit much. Some work non-traditional hours, such as on weekends, but the majority work regular business hours. A physical therapist must be licensed by her state and have a doctoral degree.