While the average annual salaries of PTs, OTs, and SLPS—$87,930, $84,270, and $77,510 respectively—are typically considered high-paying, salaries can vary based on location, due to cost of living and other factors.

If your 2020 job search has you considering a change in location, be it across the state or across the country, knowing which areas offer the highest pay can help you decide your next move.

Take a look at the top metro areas offering the highest average annual salaries for PTs, OTs, and SLPs as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

Highest Paying Metro Areas – Physical Therapists

1. Ames, IA – $118,870
2. Great Falls, MT – $116,580
3. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV – $115,240
4. Yuma, AZ – $114,850
5. Bakersfield, CA – $114,170
6. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX – $112,500
7. Prescott, AZ – $110,960
8. Ithaca, NY – $110,620
9. Morristown, TN – $108,340
10. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA – $107,960

Highest Paying Metro Areas – Occupational Therapists

1. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV – $108,190
2. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA – $106,270
3. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA – $104,580
4. Hattiesburg, MS – $104,250
5. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA – $103,120
6. Visalia-Porterville, CA – $102,540
7. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA – $102,480
8. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX – $101,800
9. Salinas, CA – $101,680
10. Tyler, TX – $101,410

Highest Paying Metro Areas – Speech-Language Pathologists

1. Napa, CA – $106,620
2. Jackson, MI – $105,130
3. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA – $103,890
4. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA – $103,030
5. Tulsa, OK – $102,680
6. Wichita Falls, TX – $102,540
7. Chico, CA – $101,990
8. Battle Creek, MI – $101,810
9. Gainesville, FL – $101,750
10. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA – $101,380

Ready to start your search for a higher paying job? Click here.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.