TRAVEL RANKING · SOC 29-1123
Best states for travel pts — ranked by real take-home pay.
All 51 states + DC for physical therapists on a travel-weighted WageBench Score that adds stipend efficiency + license portability on top of base pay and tax.
NATIONAL MEDIAN
$102,760
↑ 1.7% vs 2024
TOP PICK
New Mexico
WageBench Score (Travel) 81
NO STATE INCOME TAX
9 / 51
states
Every state · PTs
WageBench Score (Travel) = 35% pay power · 30% stipend efficiency · 20% license access · 10% demand · 5% livability. Click any column header to sort. Click any state for the full breakdown.
51 states · page 1 of 3
COL = cost of living vs the US average (avg = national average, + pricier, − cheaper). Wages: BLS OEWS 2025; COL: BEA Regional Price Parity.
| Rank | State | Median | Take-Home | ≈ /week | State Tax | COL | PT Compact | Crisis | WB Score ↓ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New Mexico | $106,880 | $101,643 | $1,955 | 4.9% | -8% | — | — | 81 | |
| #2 | Mississippi | $99,990 | $95,590 | $1,838 | 4.4% | -13% | ✓ | — | 81 | |
| #3 | Ohio | $103,050 | $99,959 | $1,922 | 3.0% | -7% | ✓ | Active | 80 | |
| #4 | Tennessee | $100,140 | $100,140 | $1,926 | 0.0% | -8% | ✓ | — | 80 | |
| #5 | Arkansas | $99,010 | $95,545 | $1,837 | 3.5% | -13% | ✓ | Active | 80 | |
| #6 | Wyoming | $100,400 | $100,400 | $1,931 | 0.0% | -7% | ✓ | Active | 80 | |
| #7 | Texas | $105,810 | $105,810 | $2,035 | 0.0% | -3% | ✓ | Active | 80 | |
| #8 | Missouri | $99,310 | $94,841 | $1,824 | 4.5% | -9% | ✓ | — | 80 | |
| #9 | Kentucky | $100,710 | $96,682 | $1,859 | 4.0% | -10% | ✓ | — | 80 | |
| #10 | Louisiana | $98,530 | $95,574 | $1,838 | 3.0% | -12% | ✓ | — | 80 | |
| #11 | Alabama | $97,290 | $93,398 | $1,796 | 4.0% | -11% | ✓ | Active | 80 | |
| #12 | Iowa | $97,560 | $93,853 | $1,805 | 3.8% | -12% | ✓ | — | 79 | |
| #13 | Kansas | $98,290 | $93,130 | $1,791 | 5.3% | -10% | ✓ | — | 79 | |
| #14 | South Dakota | $92,660 | $92,660 | $1,782 | 0.0% | -11% | ✓ | Active | 79 | |
| #15 | South Carolina | $101,330 | $95,757 | $1,841 | 5.5% | -6% | ✓ | — | 79 | |
| #16 | Wisconsin | $101,840 | $96,442 | $1,855 | 5.3% | -6% | ✓ | Active | 79 | |
| #17 | Georgia | $102,700 | $97,154 | $1,868 | 5.4% | -4% | ✓ | Active | 79 | |
| #18 | North Carolina | $99,910 | $95,664 | $1,840 | 4.3% | -6% | ✓ | — | 79 | |
| #19 | Indiana | $101,560 | $98,462 | $1,894 | 3.0% | -7% | ✓ | Active | 79 | |
| #20 | Oklahoma | $98,590 | $94,153 | $1,811 | 4.5% | -12% | ✓ | Active | 79 | |
| #21 | West Virginia | $96,600 | $91,963 | $1,769 | 4.8% | -11% | ✓ | Active | 79 | |
| #22 | Pennsylvania | $101,380 | $98,268 | $1,890 | 3.1% | -2% | ✓ | — | 78 | |
| #23 | Colorado | $102,030 | $97,541 | $1,876 | 4.4% | +3% | ✓ | Active | 78 | |
| #24 | Nebraska | $97,090 | $92,430 | $1,778 | 4.8% | -10% | ✓ | — | 78 | |
| #25 | North Dakota | $85,330 | $83,623 | $1,608 | 2.0% | -11% | ✓ | — | 78 |
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WHY NEW MEXICO TOPS THE LIST
New Mexico pays $106,880, but the real story is take-home.
At $106,880 median, the after-state-tax take-home is $101,643/yr — about $1,955/week before federal tax. Effective state tax around 4.9% keeps more of the sticker rate.
See every metro in this state → New Mexico wage breakdown