Tag: new grad PT

The Highest Paying Travel Therapy States in 2026: Balancing Gross Pay, Taxes, and Cost of Living

~ Travel Therapy Mentor ~ Leave a comment

If you are looking for the highest-paying states for travel therapy jobs in 2026, you might be tempted to just search for the highest gross weekly pay on a travel therapy job board. But this would be a mistake.

In the world of travel healthcare high gross pay can be incredibly deceptive. Between state income taxes, the complexities of “tax home” rules, and rising housing costs, the state with the biggest paycheck on paper often isn’t the state where you actually keep the most money.

As we move through 2026, you’ll come out ahead financially by being strategic about geo-arbitrage: the art of working in high-demand “hotspots” while keeping your expenses and tax burden low.

The “Tax Home” Paradox: Why 0% Doesn’t Always Mean 0%

Before diving into the rankings, we have to address the most important rule in travel therapy finance: The Resident vs. Non-Resident Tax Credit.

As we’ve discussed in our comprehensive guide to state tax rates, travel therapists generally pay the higher of two tax rates: their home state (tax home) or the state where they are working.

  • The 0% Tax Dream: If your tax home is in Florida (0% tax) and you work in Washington (0% tax), you pay $0 in state income tax.
  • The Reality Check: If your tax home is in Virginia (approx. 5.75% tax) and you work in Washington (0% tax), you still owe Virginia that 5.75%. In this case, you shouldn’t just look for 0% states; you need high gross pay to overcome your home state’s tax.

The 2026 Travel Therapy Job “Hotspots”

We asked top recruiters from major travel therapy agencies where they are seeing the highest travel therapy job rates currently. Here are some of the top states with highest travel therapy pay for Q1 of 2026:

  • California
  • Vermont
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • Maine
  • Alaska
  • Illinois
  • Montana
  • The Dakotas
  • Missouri
Travel Therapy Recruiter Recommendations

The “Real Wealth” Rankings: Best States for Net Pay

Washington State

  • Why it wins: Consistently high West Coast rates + No State Income Tax.
  • The Strategy: Avoid Seattle’s rent. Target smaller cities or more rural areas for better cost of living to keep more money in your pocket.
  • The Math: If your tax home is in a low or no tax state, you’ll come out significantly ahead.

New Hampshire

  • The Pay: New England rates are currently leading the nation and we’re seeing high travel therapist rates in NH.
  • The Tax: 0% state income tax on earned wages. Unlike neighboring VT or MA, NH lets you keep the entirety of your taxable hourly rate if you also live in a no income tax state, and still benefits you if you live in a lower tax state.
  • Cost of Living Strategy: You can find moderate to lower cost of living areas in NH compared with other northeast states.

The Midwest (IL, MO, OK)

  • Why it wins: These states are currently “overpaying” travelers to attract much needed therapists.
  • Cost of Living: You can find moderate to higher pay packages here with lower cost for rent.

Surprise Runner-Up: California

Don’t let the “high tax” reputation scare you. This may actually come as a surprise to many. Because travel taxable hourly rates are low ($20–$27/hr), most of your CA income falls into the 1% to 4% tax brackets (this is your “effective” tax rate). Recent jobs in California offer some of the highest gross numbers in the country. Your “effective” tax here is often lower than in the Midwest! The caveat is that cost of living can be high in many parts of California, so be sure to research the specific area and compare that with the weekly pay before signing a contract.

Highest Paying Settings

Setting matters as much as location. If you want the highest pay, look for home health or rural hospitals. Here’s the current overall rank for highest paying settings:

  1. Home Health
  2. Hospital inpatient/acute
  3. Outpatient
  4. Skilled Nursing
  5. Schools

Summary: How to Pick Your 2026 Travel Therapy Contracts

To build the most wealth this year as a travel therapist, follow these guidelines:

  1. Look for high weekly pay packages
  2. Consider the state taxes (but don’t put too much stock in this if your tax home state is high tax)
  3. Research the cost of living and rent prices to know how much ahead you’ll come out compared to the pay rate
  4. Consider working in home health to earn the highest pay
  5. Avoid overly saturated locations like Florida or Hawaii where pay is moderate to low and cost of living is high

For more info about the travel therapy job market, check out our January 2026 Job Market Update

Looking for the best paying travel therapy jobs? Check out our Hot Travel Therapy Job List here, or get our recommendations for travel therapy recruiters here to assist you with your job search!

Check out the additional resources below, and feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or need advice on starting your journey as a travel therapist!

Additional Resources:

Whitney Casazza headshot

Written by Whitney Casazza, PT, DPT – Whitney has been a traveling physical therapist since 2015. She has become an expert in the field of travel healthcare through her experience, research, and networking over a decade. She and her husband and fellow Travel PT, Jared, are the Travel Therapy Mentors.

From Travel PT to Company COO: How Travel Therapy Launched My Path to Leadership and Ownership

~ Travel Therapy Mentor ~ 1 Comment

We are excited to bring you a guest post from our friend and former traveling physical therapist, Jeff Camara, about his journey and career development. He started off as a new grad Travel PT, and then has advanced his career from becoming a Clinic Director, to partial owner of the company, to leading an entire division within the company. We hope that his story will be inspirational to you about where you can take your career and how travel therapy might fit into your plans.

When I took my first travel physical therapy contract as a new grad PT, I was looking for professional flexibility, new experiences, and a chance to grow. I didn’t expect it would be the first step on a path that would eventually lead me to clinic leadership, partnership, and even a position as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for a new division in the company. Here’s how it all started.

Taking the Leap with Travel Therapy

My journey began right after graduation with a six-month Travel PT contract for an outpatient clinic that quickly felt like a great fit. I loved the team and the work culture so much that I extended my contract another six months. When the company offered me a permanent position, I was flattered, but not yet ready to settle down. There were still other places to explore, skills to build, and experiences to gain.

After some time spent pursuing other opportunities, the company invited me back for a short contract to cover for a Clinic Director who was out on maternity leave. This experience gave me a taste of leadership. The clinic needed structure and direction, so I found myself stepping into an unofficial leadership role. The clinic’s performance improved, and after just three months, they offered me a permanent Clinic Director position. This time, I was ready to accept.

Growing Through Leadership in the Midst of Change

Accepting this role was a pivotal moment. The COVID-19 pandemic had begun to limit travel therapy options, and taking on the Clinic Director position offered stability during an uncertain time. It also presented a unique challenge: this clinic had been underperforming for years, and I saw this as my chance to turn things around.

Over the next year, we grew the team from two PTs to five, transforming the clinic into a top performer and establishing it as the gold standard within the company. We even became the training hub for all new hires, sharing our model and approach so that other clinics could replicate our success.

Pursuing Higher Education to Enhance Leadership

While I was proud of what we had accomplished, I wanted to continue growing as a leader. I decided to pursue an online MBA at Louisiana Tech. Balancing work and coursework was intense, but I managed to complete the 2-year program in just over a year. With this new knowledge, I felt ready to approach the company with ideas for the future.

This conversation led to an opportunity I hadn’t expected: a partnership with the company and part ownership of 18 clinics, plus the role of Chief Operating Officer in a new division. This was an amazing next step in my career development, and to think, it all started with me being a travel therapist at the company.

Bridging the Gap for Travelers

In my latest role with the company, I worked to help launch a concierge, out-of-network service to deliver physical therapy directly to people’s homes, workplaces, and other locations that fit their schedules and needs. In taking this next step and building my own career, it also created an opportunity for therapists to take more control of their time, money, and passion.

This is where TJC Concierge comes in—a true game-changer for physical therapists specializing in orthopedics, sports therapy, or other niche areas like pediatrics, TMJ, vertigo, and more. With a strong infrastructure already in place, we are one of the few private companies in the country offering two accredited residency programs—Orthopedic and Sports. All 12 of our current providers have completed these residency programs, and for them, the next step is transitioning to TJC Concierge, where they gain the freedom to take control of their careers outside the constraints of busy, in-network schedules. This model allows PTs to escape the grind of traditional clinics, providing them with the flexibility to work on their terms—while earning higher pay. Isn’t that what most travelers are looking for? What’s your plan once your travel therapy adventure ends?

What excites me most is the opportunity we have to make the residency program accessible to traveling therapists. Currently, our residencies are designed to help therapists reach their highest potential by earning the credentials and knowledge of an OCS (Orthopedic Clinical Specialist) or SCS (Sports Clinical Specialist). Now, I’m working on a way to make these residencies available to travelers, even while they’re on the road. This will allow them to earn their OCS or SCS, and eventually transition into our concierge model if desired, or pursue other opportunities as the next step for their careers. It’s an ambitious goal, but one that will hopefully expand beyond our location in Virginia and reach therapists across the country.

Looking Back and Forward

Five years ago, travel therapy gave me the flexibility, experience, and confidence to take risks. It exposed me to diverse environments, helped me refine my skills, and ultimately provided me with the tools to step into leadership roles. What I’ve learned along the way is that travel therapy can be more than just an adventure or a temporary job—it can serve as the foundation for a fulfilling and dynamic career.

The journey has been nothing short of transformative. Each new challenge has given me an opportunity to grow, both personally and professionally, in ways I never imagined. From that very first travel therapy contract to my current role, every step has shaped the path I’m on today.

For any PTs considering travel therapy, or those wondering where it might lead, remember this: the opportunities are endless. With the right mindset, the experiences and connections gained from travel therapy can unlock a future filled with growth, leadership, and success. And who knows, maybe you’ll even find yourself pursuing your passion with TJC Concierge in the future!

Written by Jeff Camara, PT, DPT, MBA

Jeff is originally from the New England region, having lived in Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston before completing his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree at American International College. Jeff began his career as a traveling physical therapist, with his first contract at The Jackson Clinics in Virginia, where he currently resides. He later pursued an MBA from Louisiana Tech University and continues to blend his passion for physical therapy with his business acumen.

Contact info: https://qr.link/chr9a8

Thank you, Jeff, for a very informative and inspirational post! For those who are considering getting started with travel therapy to continue advancing your own career, please reach out to us at Travel Therapy Mentor with questions or for help getting started!