What to Pay a Physical Therapist in Cleveland, OH (2026)

Last updated: May 15, 2026 Built for: Total Rewards, Comp, HR Sample: BLS OEWS + disclosed-range postings

Market Median

$95,000

base, annual

Competitive Range

$83K–$109K

25th–75th percentile

YoY Movement

+3.7%

trailing 12 months

Days to Fill

~26

Cleveland metro average

To hire a Physical Therapist in Cleveland at market, plan on a base salary range of $83,000 to $109,000, with $95,000 as the midpoint. To attract candidates in a market where average time-to-fill runs 26 days, expect to lead at $109K–$125K plus a sign-on bonus, common in skilled nursing settings. Ohio does not currently require pay range disclosure in job postings.

How to set your PT pay range in Cleveland

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

Lag Market

Pay Below Median

$72K–$83K

Workable in non-acute settings with strong non-cash differentiation. Expect longer fill times and turnover ~1.4× the Cleveland average.

Match Market — recommended

Pay at Median

$90.2K–$100.6K

Default for most Cleveland employers. Competitive enough to fill in ~26 days. A range width of ~30% (min $83,000 to max $109,000) keeps compa-ratio movement smooth across a PT's typical 8–12 year tenure.

Lead Market

Pay Above Median

$103.4K–$125K

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 Cleveland, OH

Where the Cleveland market actually sits for PT base pay.

10th $72K

25th $83K

Median $95K

75th $109K

90th $125K

Most Cleveland employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($95,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $83,000 and a max of $109,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.

Ohio pay transparency compliance for PT job postings

What you must post when hiring a PT in Ohio.

Not required statewide. Ohio 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 Cleveland, a compliant good-faith range looks like $83,000 to $109,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $83,000–$109,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.

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

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

Employer	Type	Disclosed Range	Sign-on Bonus
Cleveland Clinic	Academic medical center	$89K–$112K	Very common ($8K–$15K)
University Hospitals	Health system	$89K–$112K	Very common ($8K–$15K)
MetroHealth	Public health system	$89K–$112K	Very common ($8K–$15K)
Summa Health	Health system	$89K–$112K	Very common ($8K–$15K)
St. Vincent Charity Medical Center	Hospital	$86K–$108K	Very common ($8K–$15K)

PT talent supply and hiring difficulty in Cleveland

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

~26

Avg Days to Fill

~1,900

Active Postings

~9,500

Cleveland PT Workforce

Moderate

Supply : Demand

Cleveland 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 Cleveland, OH

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 Cleveland — what candidates expect beyond base

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

Component	Typical Value	Prevalence in Cleveland Postings
Base salary	$95,000 (median)	100%
Productivity bonus	$6K–$17K	~52%
Sign-on bonus	$6K–$13K	~64%
Continuing education allowance	$1,500–$3,500/yr	~78%
Loan repayment (HRSA/some employers)	$20K–$40K total	~28%
Estimated total comp benchmark	~$110K–$129K	—

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 Cleveland — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health

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

Setting	Median	Competitive Range	Hiring Difficulty
Outpatient orthopedic clinic	$91,000	$82K–$105K	Moderate
Hospital inpatient rehab	$99,000	$87K–$112K	Above national avg
Home health	$101,000	$89K–$114K	High — rapid growth
Skilled nursing facility (SNF)	$97,000	$86K–$110K	High
School / pediatric	$86,000	$76K–$97K	Moderate

FAQ: hiring a Physical Therapist in Cleveland, OH

How much should I pay a Physical Therapist in Cleveland, OH?

Market median is $95,000 for base pay. To match market, set a range with the midpoint at $95,000 — typically $83,000 to $109,000. To lead the market, plan on $109K–$125K base plus a sign-on bonus.

What pay range must I post for a PT job in Ohio?

No statewide law requires a posted range in Ohio. Disclosing one voluntarily — a good-faith range such as $83,000–$109,000 — is increasingly the market norm and improves application rates.

Is offering $85,000 competitive for a PT in Cleveland?

$85,000 falls below the Cleveland market median of $95,000 — 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.

What sign-on bonuses are typical for PTs in Cleveland?

Roughly 64% of Cleveland PT postings include a sign-on bonus ($6K–$13K). Home health and SNF employers offer highest values.

How long does it take to fill a PT role in Cleveland?

Average fill time is approximately 26 days in the Cleveland metro. Roles paid above the 75th percentile ($109K+) fill in roughly 18–22 days. Roles below the 25th percentile ($83K) commonly take 45+ days and have elevated turnover within the first 90 days.

Which employers are we competing against for PT talent in Cleveland?

By Cleveland-metro posting volume: Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, MetroHealth, Summa Health, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center lead the pack.

How wide should my pay range be for a PT in Cleveland?

A 30–35% range width (min to max) is standard for PT in Cleveland — for example, $83,000 to $109,000. Narrower than 25% compresses progression and creates compa-ratio pressure within 18 months.

Does Ohio require PT pay range disclosure for internal postings?

No. Ohio 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 — Ohio metros and nearby nursing roles

Same role, nearby metros

PT pay benchmark — Columbus, OH → PT pay benchmark — Cincinnati, OH → PT pay benchmark — Pittsburgh, PA → All PT pay benchmarks →

Related roles in Cleveland

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