Physical Therapist Salary in Colorado (2026)
The average Physical Therapist in Colorado earns around $95,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $72,191/year ($6,016/month).
Take-Home Pay Breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual Take-Home Pay | $72,191 |
Monthly Take-Home Pay | $6,016 |
Biweekly Take-Home Pay | $2,777 |
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year | $35/hr |
Federal Tax | $12,070 |
State Tax | $3,472 |
FICA Taxes | $7,268 |
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary | 24.01% |
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Physical Therapist Salary Ranges in Colorado
Not all Physical Therapists earn the same — not even close
CO physical therapy splits across academic-medical (UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital + Anschutz, Children's Hospital Colorado, plus CU School of Medicine partnership), regional health systems (Centura Health ~17 CO hospitals, HealthONE HCA, Boulder Community Health, Banner Health Northern Colorado), regional outpatient ortho (ATI Physical Therapy, Select Medical, Athletico, plus regional CO chains Apex Network PT and Howard Head Sports Medicine in Vail), home health (Bayada, Encompass, Aveanna), sports medicine (Denver Broncos NFL, Colorado Avalanche NHL, Denver Nuggets NBA, Colorado Rockies MLB, Colorado Rapids MLS, plus University of Colorado Athletics + Colorado State University Athletics + US Olympic and Paralympic Training Center Colorado Springs), and federal (VA Eastern Colorado, IHS regional). University of Colorado DPT (Aurora — CU Anschutz Medical Campus), Regis University DPT (Denver), Colorado Mesa University DPT (Grand Junction) produce the in-state pipeline. PT Compact (since 2018, CO member).
Outpatient Orthopedic PT
$82,000-$102,000
ATI / Select / Athletico / Apex Network / Banner PT · 2-7 yr post-DPT
Acute Care PT (UCHealth / Children's)
$92,000-$115,000
Academic-medical premium · ICU / neuro / cardiac · UCHealth + Children's Magnet
Inpatient Rehab PT (Craig Hospital / Spalding)
$92,000-$118,000
Craig Hospital (Englewood) + Spalding Rehabilitation · top US SCI / TBI specialty
Sports Medicine / Orthopedic Specialty
$102,000-$138,000
OCS / SCS cert · Broncos / Avalanche / Nuggets / Rockies / Rapids / CU + CSU Athletics + USOPC
Mountain-Town PT (Howard Head Vail / Aspen / Steamboat)
$108,000-$148,000
Howard Head Sports Medicine (Vail) + Aspen + Steamboat ski-injury markets · seasonal premium + housing stipend
Pediatric PT (Children's Hospital Colorado)
$92,000-$118,000
PCS cert · top-10 US pediatric hospital · NCI-Designated Cancer Center
VA Eastern Colorado / IHS PT
$90,000-$135,000
VA Aurora + IHS regional · GS-12/13 + Denver locality + FERS + PSLF
PT Clinic Owner / Director
$135,000-$235,000
Private practice · 2-5 employee clinic · CO PT Board licensure
Worth knowing: UCHealth (Aurora-anchored, ~30,000 employees) + University of Colorado School of Medicine partnership operates the academic-medical PT market. Children's Hospital Colorado is one of the top-10 US pediatric hospitals — top pediatric PT specialty market with NCI-Designated Cancer Center. Craig Hospital (Englewood, CO) is one of the top US specialty hospitals for spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) — uniquely high-acuity inpatient rehab market. Spalding Rehabilitation (multiple Front Range campuses) anchors broader inpatient rehab. The CO sports medicine market is uniquely deep: Denver Broncos NFL + Colorado Avalanche NHL + Denver Nuggets NBA + Colorado Rockies MLB + Colorado Rapids MLS + CU Athletics + CSU Athletics + US Olympic and Paralympic Training Center Colorado Springs. Mountain-town markets: Howard Head Sports Medicine (Vail Health-affiliated) is one of the top US ski-injury specialty PT markets; Aspen Valley + Steamboat Springs + Telluride medical centers all hire mountain-town PT at premium with housing stipends. PT Compact (since 2018, CO member). Colorado DPT pipeline: CU Anschutz + Regis + Colorado Mesa University.
Colorado PT — UCHealth + Craig Hospital premium, ski-injury + Olympic Training Center sports medicine
4.40%
CO flat state · no local · 0% estate (since 2005) + 0% inheritance
$108-148K
Mountain-town PT (Howard Head Vail / Aspen / Steamboat) + housing stipend · ski-injury premium
$102-138K
Sports medicine + OCS / SCS · Broncos / Avalanche / Nuggets / Rockies / USOPC Colorado Springs
$92-118K
Children's Hospital Colorado pediatric PT · PCS cert · top-10 US pediatric
Most PT roles are -exempt under the professional exemption — UCHealth / Centura / HealthONE / Children's Colorado / Craig staff PT positions are all exempt salaried. 's overtime deduction does not apply to standard PT comp. The CO market drivers: 4.40% flat state structure, UCHealth + Children's Colorado + Craig Hospital academic-medical premium, Denver pro sports + USOPC sports medicine market, mountain-town ski-injury PT premium + housing stipend, PT Compact mobility (since 2018), density.
Per-diem and home-health PT work at UCHealth outpatient, home-health agencies (Bayada, Encompass, Aveanna) produces hourly or 1099 contractor income at $80-115/hr — typically not OT-classified but treated as supplemental productivity-based income. Outpatient ortho PT at ATI / Select / Athletico / Apex Network runs productivity-bonus structure on top of base salary; high-volume PT can stack $8-25K/year bonus.
Real numbers: a UCHealth acute care PT at $108K base — CO flat 4.40% × $108K = $4,750/year. Same comp in MD: $8,640/year combined. CO saves $3,890/year vs MD. Compared to AZ (2.5%): AZ $2,700. AZ saves $2,050/year vs CO. eligibility ($115-160K DPT federal balance forgiven after 10 years at UCHealth / Centura / Children's Colorado / Craig Hospital / VA / IHS) saves $70-130K in lifetime debt. Mountain-town PT at Howard Head Sports Medicine (Vail) + Aspen Valley + Steamboat at $108-148K + housing stipend ($1,500-3,500/month) is uniquely CO income structure.
Colorado for physical therapists — the honest take
CO PT clusters in three corridors. The Denver / Aurora corridor (UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital + Anschutz Medical Campus + Children's Hospital Colorado + Craig Hospital Englewood + Centura Health St. Anthony / Porter / Avista + HealthONE Swedish / Presbyterian-St. Luke's, plus Broncos / Avalanche / Nuggets / Rockies team coverage at UCHealth + Centura + outside contractors) is the densest US PT market in the Mountain West. The Colorado Springs / Pueblo corridor (UCHealth Memorial + Centura Penrose-St. Francis + US Olympic and Paralympic Training Center) anchors south Front Range with substantial Olympic-training-related PT roles. The Boulder / Fort Collins corridor (Boulder Community Health + UCHealth Poudre Valley + CU Athletics + CSU Athletics) anchors north Front Range. Plus mountain-town markets (Howard Head Sports Medicine Vail + Aspen Valley Hospital + Steamboat Memorial + Telluride Medical) at premium ski-injury rates.
UCHealth + Craig Hospital academic-medical premium drives CO PT top tier. Howard Head Sports Medicine (Vail) is one of the top US ski-injury specialty PT markets — uniquely high comp + housing stipend structure. Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village housing $625K-$1.2M for premium tier. Aurora outer / Centennial / Highlands Ranch / Castle Rock at $400-700K. Boulder $700K-$1.4M. Fort Collins $475-700K. Mountain-town housing extreme premium ($750K-$5M+ in Aspen / Vail / Steamboat) — most mountain-town PTs use employer housing stipends or live in down-valley communities (Eagle, Avon, Glenwood Springs).
Most CO PTs retire in-state — CO's 0% estate + 0% inheritance + flat 4.40% + low 0.55% property tax + Front Range outdoor lifestyle (skiing, hiking, mountain access) makes CO among the most favorable Western US PT retirement structures. Common retirement patterns: stay in Denver suburbs / Boulder / Fort Collins, or migrate to mountain-town downvalley, or southern CO (Pueblo, Grand Junction). Senior PTs often maintain part-time mountain-town locum or home health into 60s-70s for outdoor lifestyle + supplemental income.
How Colorado taxes work for physical therapists (and where the levers are)
CO charges flat 4.40% state income tax (since 2022). No local income tax. For a UCHealth acute PT at $108K: CO = $4,750/year. Same comp in MD: $8,640/year combined. CO saves $3,890/year vs MD. Compared to AZ (2.5%): AZ $2,700. AZ saves $2,050/year vs CO. The flat 4.40% applies to all comp tiers — no surtax above any threshold (unlike MA's 4% Fair Share above $1M).
maxing is the central active-duty move. UCHealth (university-affiliated academic medical center) may offer + for combined $49,000/year pre-tax shelter — verify with HR. Centura + Children's Colorado + Craig Hospital + Boulder Community Health all offer 403(b) at $24,500/year + match. VA / IHS federal PTs use TSP at $24,500 + 5% government match plus FERS pension. At $108K CO PT + 22% federal + 4.40% CO marginal, maxing $24,500 saves $6,470/year combined federal + state.
for non-profit hospital PTs at UCHealth / Centura / Children's Colorado / Craig Hospital / Boulder Community Health / VA Eastern Colorado / IHS — 10 years tax-free DPT debt forgiveness. For a PT with $135K DPT federal balance, 10 years at UCHealth or VA erases the entire balance vs the typical 25-year self-pay. Lifetime savings $70-130K — a far bigger lever than the CO-vs-AZ annual tax delta.
Mountain-town PT + sports medicine + Olympic Training Center is unique CO active-duty lever. Howard Head Sports Medicine (Vail) at $108-148K + housing stipend ($1,500-3,500/month). Aspen Valley + Steamboat Memorial + Telluride at similar premium. Sports medicine PT covering Broncos / Avalanche / Nuggets / Rockies + USOPC Colorado Springs at $115-138K + season-premium hours. PT Compact mobility (since 2018) enables CO-resident PTs to provide telehealth + locum coverage in 30+ compact states. Annual income $135-185K typical for senior sports medicine + travel PT stack.
- →CO flat 4.40% state · no local · 0% estate (since 2005) + 0% inheritance · saves $3,900/year vs MD at staff PT comp tier
- →UCHealth (+ if eligible) for academic-medical pre-tax shelter · saves $6,470/year combined fed + CO at $108K tier
- → on $135K DPT federal balance: 10 years at UCHealth / Centura / Children's Colorado / Craig Hospital / VA / IHS = tax-free forgiveness · $70-130K lifetime savings
- →Mountain-town PT (Howard Head Vail / Aspen / Steamboat / Telluride): $108-148K + housing stipend · uniquely CO ski-injury specialty market
- →Sports medicine + USOPC Colorado Springs + Broncos / Avalanche / Nuggets / Rockies team coverage · $102-138K + sports-season premium
- →Pursue OCS / SCS specialty cert: $5-15K base premium · $102-138K specialty comp tier
- →Pediatric PT at Children's Hospital Colorado: PCS cert + premium pediatric specialty · top-10 US pediatric · $92-118K
- →PT Compact (since 2018): per-diem coverage in 30+ compact states · adds $8-18K/year supplemental
The Colorado PT career arc — DPT entry to specialty / mountain-town / clinic ownership
Years 0-3 (post-DPT): $76-95K. DPT (3-year doctorate post-undergrad) + NPTE national exam + CO PT Board licensure. CU Anschutz DPT (Aurora — top-15 US program), Regis University DPT (Denver), Colorado Mesa University DPT (Grand Junction) graduates dominate the in-state pipeline. Decision point: outpatient ortho (ATI / Select / Athletico / Apex Network $76-95K starting + productivity bonus) vs acute care (UCHealth / Children's / Craig Hospital $82-105K starting) vs pediatric (Children's Hospital Colorado $82-105K) vs federal (VA Aurora / IHS regional GS-12 entry $90K + locality + ) vs mountain-town entry (Howard Head Vail $85-115K + housing stipend).
Years 3-10 (established practice + specialty): $92-138K depending on specialty. UCHealth / Children's / Craig acute-care + pediatric PT $92-118K with academic-medical premium. Outpatient ortho with productivity bonus reaches $102-122K. Sports medicine + OCS / SCS cert specialty $115-138K + pro team / USOPC coverage premium. Mountain-town PT (Howard Head Vail / Aspen Valley / Steamboat) $108-148K + housing stipend + seasonal premium. Federal VA reaches GS-13 ($110K + Denver locality = $130K). Maxing + at UCHealth ($49K/year) is the peak active-duty lever.
Years 10+ (senior PT / clinic owner / federal senior / retirement): $122-235K depending on track. Senior PT clinical leadership $135-175K. Clinic owner private practice $155-235K with proper + solo + cash-balance plan structure. Mountain-town senior PT with seasonal scheduling reaches $148-185K. VA Eastern Colorado at GS-14 step-10 reaches $145K + locality + FERS pension. Most CO PTs retire in-state — favorable 0% estate + 0% inheritance + flat 4.40% + Front Range outdoor lifestyle.
Where Colorado PTs actually live
CO PT housing tracks employer + commute. UCHealth + Children's Colorado + Craig Hospital PTs in Aurora outer / Centennial / Highlands Ranch / Englewood / Castle Rock. Boulder PTs in Boulder outer (Lafayette, Louisville, Erie). Fort Collins PTs in Larimer County. Colorado Springs PTs in El Paso County (USOPC adjacency). Mountain-town PTs typically in downvalley communities (Eagle / Avon / Glenwood Springs for Vail; Carbondale / Basalt for Aspen; Steamboat-area outer) or employer-stipend housing.
Aurora outer / Centennial / Englewood
$400-700K · 4.40% flat state · UCHealth Anschutz + Children's + Craig Hospital commute
Castle Rock / Parker (Douglas County)
$475-700K · 4.40% flat state · top US schools · UCHealth / Centura / HealthONE south Denver
Boulder outer (Lafayette / Louisville / Erie)
$525-800K · 4.40% flat state · Boulder Community Health + UCHealth Boulder + CU Athletics
Colorado Springs / Manitou Springs (El Paso)
$375-575K · 4.40% flat state · UCHealth Memorial + Centura Penrose + USOPC adjacency
Eagle / Avon / Glenwood Springs (Vail downvalley)
$425-700K · 4.40% flat state · Howard Head Sports Medicine + Vail Health · downvalley residency
CO's UCHealth + Craig Hospital + Children's Hospital Colorado academic-medical premium + Howard Head Sports Medicine (Vail) ski-injury market + USOPC Colorado Springs + Denver pro sports (Broncos / Avalanche / Nuggets / Rockies) + 0% estate retirement structure (since 2005) + Front Range outdoor lifestyle make CO uniquely the Mountain West's most favorable PT market. Mountain-town locum at $108-148K + housing stipend is uniquely CO among major US states.
Is this the right move?
Colorado PT — who it's best for
Working in your favor
- +UCHealth + Craig Hospital + Children's Hospital Colorado academic-medical premium · top US SCI/TBI specialty (Craig) + top-10 pediatric (Children's)
- +Howard Head Sports Medicine (Vail) + mountain-town PT premium · $108-148K + housing stipend · uniquely CO ski-injury specialty
- +Sports medicine market depth: Broncos NFL + Avalanche NHL + Nuggets NBA + Rockies MLB + USOPC Colorado Springs · uniquely deep
- +CO 0% estate (since 2005) + 0% inheritance + flat 4.40% retirement state · favorable retirement vs MA / MD
- +Front Range outdoor lifestyle: skiing, hiking, climbing, mountain biking · top US quality-of-life PT retirement
Worth knowing before you sign
- −CO 4.40% state higher than AZ (2.5%) at PT comp tier · $2,000/year more than AZ
- −CO does not formally conform to OBBBA
- −Outpatient ortho productivity-bonus pressure (ATI / Select / Athletico / Apex Network) · burnout reported industry-wide
- −DPT $115-160K federal balance load · PSLF eligibility critical for non-federal-track PTs
- −Mountain-town housing extreme premium ($750K-$5M+) · most mountain-town PTs use employer stipends or downvalley housing
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