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What to Pay a Physical Therapist in Baltimore, MD (2026)

Last updated: May 15, 2026 Built for: Total Rewards, Comp, HR Sample: BLS OEWS + disclosed-range postings
Market Median
$102,000
base, annual
Competitive Range
$89K–$117K
25th–75th percentile
YoY Movement
+3.7%
trailing 12 months
Days to Fill
~26
Baltimore metro average
To hire a Physical Therapist in Baltimore at market, plan on a base salary range of $89,000 to $117,000, with $102,000 as the midpoint. To attract candidates in a market where average time-to-fill runs 26 days, expect to lead at $117K–$135K plus a sign-on bonus, common in skilled nursing settings. Maryland does not currently require pay range disclosure in job postings.

How to set your PT pay range in Baltimore

Three pay positions, modeled against current Baltimore market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.

Lag Market
Pay Below Median
$78K–$89K
Workable in non-acute settings with strong non-cash differentiation. Expect longer fill times and turnover ~1.4× the Baltimore average.
Match Market — recommended
Pay at Median
$96.8K–$108K
Default for most Baltimore employers. Competitive enough to fill in ~26 days. A range width of ~30% (min $89,000 to max $117,000) keeps compa-ratio movement smooth across a PT's typical 8–12 year tenure.
Lead Market
Pay Above Median
$111K–$135K
Use for hard-to-fill specialties (wound care, IV therapy, bilingual), 24/7 SNF roles, or when speed-to-hire trumps budget. Reduces fill time by 35–45% on average.

PT salary percentile distribution in Baltimore, MD

Where the Baltimore market actually sits for PT base pay.

10th $78K
25th $89K
Median $102K
75th $117K
90th $135K

Most Baltimore employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($102,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $89,000 and a max of $117,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.

Maryland pay transparency compliance for PT job postings

What you must post when hiring a PT in Maryland.

Not required statewide. Maryland has no statewide pay transparency law. Posting a range is optional — but roughly half of healthcare employers in the market now disclose ranges voluntarily, and candidates increasingly skip postings without one.

For a PT role in Baltimore, a compliant good-faith range looks like $89,000 to $117,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $89,000–$117,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.

Top PT employers in Baltimore — who you're competing against

Top healthcare employers hiring PTs in the Baltimore metro and what they're posting.

Employer Type Disclosed Range Sign-on Bonus
Johns Hopkins Medicine Academic medical center $96K–$120K Very common ($8K–$15K)
University of Maryland Medical System Health system $96K–$120K Very common ($8K–$15K)
MedStar Health Health system $96K–$120K Very common ($8K–$15K)
LifeBridge Health Health system $96K–$120K Very common ($8K–$15K)
Adventist HealthCare Health system $96K–$120K Very common ($8K–$15K)

PT talent supply and hiring difficulty in Baltimore

How hard is it to fill a PT role in Baltimore.

~26
Avg Days to Fill
~2,040
Active Postings
~10,200
Baltimore PT Workforce
Moderate
Supply : Demand

Baltimore physical therapist market spans outpatient orthopedic, hospital inpatient rehab, home health, and skilled nursing. Outpatient orthopedic PT drives the largest employment share.

Skill premiums PT candidates command in Baltimore, MD

Skill / Credential Pay Premium Demand Signal
Orthopedic specialty (OCS) +6–9% Very high
Neurologic specialty (NCS) +6–9% High — stroke/TBI centers
Sports specialty (SCS) +6–9% High — collegiate/pro affiliations
Pelvic health specialty +5–8% Growing

PT total compensation in Baltimore — what candidates expect beyond base

Total rewards mix for PTs in Baltimore. "Prevalence" reflects share of Baltimore disclosed-range postings including each element.

Component Typical Value Prevalence in Baltimore Postings
Base salary $102,000 (median) 100%
Productivity bonus $6K–$18K ~52%
Sign-on bonus $6K–$14K ~64%
Continuing education allowance $1,500–$3,500/yr ~78%
Loan repayment (HRSA/some employers) $20K–$40K total ~28%
Estimated total comp benchmark ~$118K–$139K —

Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.

PT pay by setting in Baltimore — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health

Where the PT range splits by employer type in the Baltimore metro.

Setting Median Competitive Range Hiring Difficulty
Outpatient orthopedic clinic $98,000 $88K–$112K Moderate
Hospital inpatient rehab $106,000 $94K–$120K Above national avg
Home health $108,000 $96K–$122K High — rapid growth
Skilled nursing facility (SNF) $104,000 $92K–$118K High
School / pediatric $92,000 $82K–$104K Moderate

FAQ: hiring a Physical Therapist in Baltimore, MD

Market median is $102,000 for base pay. To match market, set a range with the midpoint at $102,000 — typically $89,000 to $117,000. To lead the market, plan on $117K–$135K base plus a sign-on bonus.
No statewide law requires a posted range in Maryland. Disclosing one voluntarily — a good-faith range such as $89,000–$117,000 — is increasingly the market norm and improves application rates.
$91,000 falls below the Baltimore market median of $102,000 — roughly at the 25th–50th percentile locally. Acceptable in SNF or physician office settings where the candidate pool is deeper; below-market for hospital or specialty roles.
Roughly 64% of Baltimore PT postings include a sign-on bonus ($6K–$14K). Home health and SNF employers offer highest values.
Average fill time is approximately 26 days in the Baltimore metro. Roles paid above the 75th percentile ($117K+) fill in roughly 18–22 days. Roles below the 25th percentile ($89K) commonly take 45+ days and have elevated turnover within the first 90 days.
By Baltimore-metro posting volume: Johns Hopkins Medicine, University of Maryland Medical System, MedStar Health, LifeBridge Health, Adventist HealthCare lead the pack.
A 30–35% range width (min to max) is standard for PT in Baltimore — for example, $89,000 to $117,000. Narrower than 25% compresses progression and creates compa-ratio pressure within 18 months.
No. Maryland has no pay transparency law covering internal or external postings. Note that remote roles open to candidates in states like Colorado or California may still trigger those states' disclosure requirements.

Related PT pay benchmarks — Maryland metros and nearby nursing roles

Same role, nearby metros
PT pay benchmark — Richmond, VA → All PT pay benchmarks →
Related roles in Baltimore
Certified Nursing Assistant pay benchmark — Baltimore → Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist pay benchmark — Baltimore → Licensed Practical Nurse pay benchmark — Baltimore → Nurse Practitioner pay benchmark — Baltimore → Physician Assistant pay benchmark — Baltimore → Registered Nurse pay benchmark — Baltimore → Respiratory Therapist pay benchmark — Baltimore → Surgical Technologist pay benchmark — Baltimore → Travel Nurse pay benchmark — Baltimore → Emergency Room Registered Nurse pay benchmark — Baltimore → ICU Registered Nurse pay benchmark — Baltimore → Operating Room Registered Nurse pay benchmark — Baltimore → All roles' pay benchmarks →

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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.