Salary comparison
Physical Therapists: San Francisco vs Chico
San Francisco, CA pays about 5.2% more for physical therapists on paper — $141,980 vs $134,970. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, San Francisco comes out ahead by $7,010 a year in real buying power.
San Francisco, CA
$141,980
$123,470
$160,770
$68.26
100
$141,980/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Chico, CA
$134,970
$105,210
$135,370
$64.89
100
$134,970/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $7,010 a year (5.2%) in favor of San Francisco. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
San Francisco runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Chico sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, San Francisco is the better deal by $7,010 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Chico to San Francisco for this role, the raise needs to beat 5.2% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do physical therapists earn more, San Francisco or Chico?
San Francisco pays $141,980 on median — about 5.2% more than Chico ($134,970). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
San Francisco. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, San Francisco gives you roughly$141,980 of real buying power versus $134,970 in the other city.