Salario de Fisioterapeuta en Ohio (2026)

Most outpatient and hospital PTs in Ohio are W-2 hourly non-exempt — eligible for federal time-and-a-half overtime above 40 hours/week. The federal learned-professional exemption requires payment on salary basis at $844/week or above (2024 threshold) AND primary duty performing work requiring advanced knowledge. Cleveland Clinic, OSU Wexner, UC Health, and the Athletico / ATI / Select PT chains typically pay clinical PTs hourly with productivity bonuses, keeping them non-exempt.

The OBBBA No Tax on Overtime federal deduction (effective 2025-2028) applies to FLSA non-exempt PTs. The deduction caps at $12,500 single / $25,000 MFJ on the premium portion of OT pay, phasing out at $100/$1K MAGI above $150K/$300K. For a clinical PT earning $90,000 base plus $13,000 OT, OBBBA shelters roughly $4,300 of the OT premium from federal tax — about $1,000 in tax savings. Senior PTs in management ($100K+ on salary basis with supervisory duties at Cleveland Clinic or chain regional roles) are FLSA exempt — OBBBA does not apply.

Ohio state tax does NOT conform to OBBBA's above-the-line deduction — state-level OT premium remains taxable at OH's effective 3.5% flat rate even when federally OBBBA-deducted. Modest in dollar terms ($150/year on $4,300 OT premium) but worth modeling. Additionally, Ohio municipalities tax wages for residents and nonresidents — Columbus 2.5%, Cleveland 2.5%, Cincinnati 1.8%, Dayton 2.5%. Most PTs use RITA (Regional Income Tax Agency) for collection. A Columbus-resident hospital PT pulling $95,000 hands over $2,375 in city tax on top of the $3,300 state bill.

Ohio's 2024 tax reform consolidated brackets into an effectively flat 3.5% above $26,050. Modest by progressive-state standards. Ohio's Section 5747.011 Business Income Deduction up to $250,000 of business income (taxed at 3.0% flat above the threshold) does not apply to W-2 clinical PT income — only to Schedule C / pass-through business income from practice owners.

Practice ownership in Ohio is among the most accessible nationally — suburban acquisitions $250,000-$500,000. Senior practice owners $130,000-$220,000 income. Bank financing through Live Oak, US Bank Practice Solutions, Huntington (Columbus-headquartered), KeyCorp (Cleveland-headquartered), Fifth Third (Cincinnati-headquartered). Practice owners are 1099 / S-corp — exit FLSA framework entirely.

Travel PT contracts in Ohio are competitive. Travel PTs working 13-week assignments at $1,600-$2,400/week + housing + per-diem can clear $115,000-$155,000 annually with proper tax-home structuring. Maintaining a tax-home in TX/FL/TN/NV means only OH's 3.5% applies to assignment-source wages while housing and per-diem stipends remain federally tax-free.

Sports medicine PT in Ohio centers on Browns, Cavaliers, Guardians, Bengals, Reds, Blue Jackets, plus OSU + UC + Xavier athletics, OHSAA high school athletics, and a deep recreational sports culture. Sports medicine PTs at pro teams or Cleveland Clinic Sports Health Center clear $130K-$170K+. Cleveland Clinic Sports Health is the regional sports medicine specialty employer.

Cleveland metro PT culture is anchored by Cleveland Clinic — consistently among the top three US hospital systems by rehabilitation specialty depth. The Cleveland Clinic Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Therapy operates one of the deepest hospital-based PT specialty pipelines in the country. Outpatient clinic concentration is densest along the East Side (Solon, Beachwood, Hudson, Chagrin Falls, Pepper Pike) and West Side (Westlake, Rocky River, Bay Village). Senior outpatient orthopedic specialists routinely clear $95,000-$120,000 with Cleveland Clinic and independent-practice options.

Columbus PT culture runs on OSU Wexner Medical Center plus Nationwide Children's Hospital — one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the country. The OSU Wexner outpatient and inpatient PT programs are deep, and Nationwide Children's pediatric PT program is genuinely world-class. Outpatient clinic concentration is densest in suburban growth corridors (Dublin, Powell, Upper Arlington, New Albany, Westerville). Practice acquisitions $300K-$550K. The combination of Intel + Honda EV + OSU expansion drives sustained patient demand.

Cincinnati PT centers on UC Health + Cincinnati Children's Hospital + Christ Hospital + TriHealth. Cincinnati Children's Hospital is among the top US pediatric hospitals — its PT program is a destination specialty career path. Mason, West Chester, Liberty Township, Indian Hill, Hyde Park anchor the upscale residential PT corridor. Practice acquisitions $300K-$550K. Procter & Gamble + Kroger HQ + Fifth Third corporate PPO base supports premium fees.

Sports medicine PT in Ohio centers on Browns, Cavaliers, Guardians, Bengals, Reds, plus OSU Athletics + Xavier athletics + UC athletics + OHSAA high school athletics. Cleveland Clinic Sports Health Center is the dominant regional sports medicine specialty employer. Sports medicine PTs working with pro teams or elite training facilities clear $130,000-$170,000.

Akron, Dayton, Toledo, and Youngstown support secondary markets with genuinely accessible practice ownership economics. Slower or flat population growth, lower median household income, and Medicaid-heavier patient mix limit specialty practice opportunities, but practice acquisitions $200K-$400K make general PT ownership financially achievable. Cleveland Clinic Akron General + ProMedica Toledo + Wright State University Boonshoft (Dayton) anchor regional employer infrastructure.

Year 1-3 (DPT New Grad / Staff PT): $68K-$90K. DPT graduate from OSU, University of Cincinnati, Case Western Reserve, University of Toledo, or Walsh University. Hospital rotational program at Cleveland Clinic, OSU Wexner, UC Health, or Cincinnati Children's; Athletico / ATI / Select PT staff PT; or independent suburban outpatient associate. Most W-2 hourly non-exempt — OBBBA OT deduction applies if working overtime hours.

Year 3-7 (Specialty Certification / Senior Outpatient): $85K-$115K. OCS, SCS, GCS, PCS, or NCS board certification. Senior outpatient orthopedic specialist at Athletico or independent suburban clinic; Cleveland Clinic specialty residency completion; sports medicine specialist with team affiliations. Comp ceiling expands meaningfully with specialty cert + Cleveland Clinic residency completion.

Year 7-15 (Senior Specialist / Clinic Manager / Pre-Practice-Ownership): $100K-$140K. Senior specialist at outpatient orthopedic clinic, hospital senior staff, sports medicine practice with pro-team affiliations, or chain clinic director / regional manager. Many PTs evaluate practice acquisition financing at year 5-8 — Ohio's lower acquisition costs make this transition financially accessible.

Year 15-25 (Practice Owner / Multi-Clinic / Specialty Practice): $140K-$220K+. Practice acquisition typical at year 8-12 — OH practice acquisition $300K-$550K (suburban Columbus / Cleveland East Side / Cincinnati Mason). Bank financing through Live Oak, Huntington (Columbus-headquartered), KeyCorp (Cleveland-headquartered), Fifth Third (Cincinnati-headquartered). S-corp + Ohio BID + Solo 401(k) + Defined Benefit shelter $200K-$300K per year.

Year 25+ (Practice Sale / Retirement): Practice sale to PT-DSO (Athletico, ATI, Select, Ivy Rehab) or independent buyer at $300K-$1M+ goodwill multiple. Ohio's modest 3.5% state tax + Business Income Deduction makes pre-sale relocation strategy minimally compelling. Most OH PTs retire in-state or relocate to FL coastal / TN East-TN / NC Outer Banks for retirement-cost optimization.