Therapy recruiting · California
California physical therapy, OT and SLP recruiters
APT Recruiting fills PT, OT, SLP and audiology roles for hospitals, skilled nursing, home health, outpatient clinics and schools in California. Below is the current federal picture of the California therapy workforce, what it is paid, where it works and how licensing across state lines applies, the same numbers we use when we take a search.
Therapy workforce
Who practices in California today
23,041
Physical therapists
+ 3,600 PTAs
9,526
Occupational therapists
+ 1,923 OTAs
13,784
Speech-language pathologists
1,689
Audiologists
Per 100,000 residents, California has 58.5 physical therapists, 24.2 occupational therapists, 35.0 speech-language pathologists and 4.3 audiologists.
Over the last 12 months the registry added 1,275 physical therapists, 1,015 occupational therapists, 3,267 speech-language pathologists and 81 audiologists with a practice address in California, plus 479 PTAs and OTAs. Newly enumerated providers are mostly new graduates and clinicians relocating in, which is the pool every open seat in California is competing for.
Source: NPPES monthly file, October 2026 (CMS, public domain).
Pay
What therapists earn in California
| Role | Employed | Mean annual wage | Median | National mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical therapists | 26,580 | $122,580 | $124,190 | $105,280 |
| Physical therapist assistants | 9,400 | $83,080 | $83,110 | $68,730 |
| Occupational therapists | 13,810 | $121,920 | $124,510 | $101,280 |
| Occupational therapy assistants | 3,840 | $84,690 | $81,770 | $70,710 |
| Speech-language pathologists | 16,930 | $118,600 | $118,970 | $98,170 |
| Audiologists | 1,740 | $112,680 | $114,910 | $97,740 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025 estimates. Suppressed cells show n/a.
Where therapists work
The employers in California
Therapy offices and clinics
Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists and audiologists.
48,629 employed across 5,795 establishments, employment up 5.6% year over year and the establishment count up 6.7%.
Average weekly wage $1,116, about $58,032 a year in sector payroll terms, up 2.2% year over year.
Home health
Home health care services.
138,927 employed across 6,687 establishments, employment up 3.5% year over year and the establishment count up 5.4%.
Average weekly wage $978, about $50,856 a year in sector payroll terms, up 4.0% year over year.
Nursing facilities
Skilled nursing and nursing care facilities.
152,743 employed across 2,054 establishments, employment up 2.1% year over year and the establishment count down 2.8%.
Average weekly wage $1,114, about $57,928 a year in sector payroll terms, up 2.7% year over year.
Hospitals
General medical and surgical hospitals.
392,775 employed across 673 establishments, employment up 2.6% year over year and the establishment count up 6.7%.
Average weekly wage $2,171, about $112,892 a year in sector payroll terms, up 2.5% year over year.
Source: BLS QCEW, statewide, private ownership, Q4 2024 vs Q4 2025.
Facilities
1,165 Medicare-certified nursing homes and 3,213 home health agencies in California.
Nursing homes
1,165 facilities with 114,991 certified beds. Average overall CMS star rating 3.2 of 5. 87% are for-profit. Every one of them bills therapy minutes, and every one of them is hiring PTs, OTs and SLPs in the same market you are.
Home health agencies
3,213 agencies, average quality-of-care star rating 3.2 of 5. 98.6% offer physical therapy, 97.7% occupational therapy and 95.9% speech therapy, so most are staffing at least one therapy discipline and many all three.
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (nursing homes 4pq5-n9py, home health 6jpm-sxkc), pulled 2026-10-15.
Tell us about the openingLicensure compacts
Hiring across state lines into California
Not a member
Physical Therapy Compact
California is not a member of the PT Compact: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another state need a full California license before starting.
All states on the PT Compact →Not a member
Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact
California is not a member of the OT Compact: occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants licensed in another state need a full California license before starting.
All states on the OT Compact →Not a member
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact
California is not a member of the ASLP-IC: audiologists and speech-language pathologists licensed in another state need a full California license before starting.
All states on the ASLP-IC →Source: ptcompact.org, otcompact.gov, aslpcompact.com, checked 2026-09-02.
For employers
Hiring in California? Physical therapy, OT and SLP recruiting, run by a clinician.
Engagement model
Contingency recruiting. There is no fee unless a successful placement is made.
Speed to first candidates
Clients typically receive the first vetted candidates within one to two weeks of providing the recruiting brief and search requirements.
Guarantee
Every direct-hire placement carries a 90-day replacement guarantee. If the candidate resigns or is terminated for cause during the first ninety calendar days of employment, APT Recruiting immediately begins a one-time search for a replacement in the same position, at no additional charge.
Questions hiring managers and directors of rehab ask us
How does a therapy search with APT Recruiting work in California?+
It starts with a short call to take the brief: the discipline, the setting, the caseload and productivity expectations, the schedule and the pay range. Because APT is run by a licensed speech-language pathologist, the screen covers clinical fit, not just a license check. We then work the California market for PTs, OTs, SLPs or audiologists who match, confirm interest, and send you candidates who have already said yes to a conversation about your organization. Clients typically receive the first vetted candidates within one to two weeks of providing the recruiting brief and search requirements.
Do you work on contingency or retained?+
Contingency recruiting. There is no fee unless a successful placement is made.
What does it cost to hire through a therapy recruiter?+
Agreed in writing before you see a candidate's details. Every direct-hire placement carries a 90-day replacement guarantee. If the candidate resigns or is terminated for cause during the first ninety calendar days of employment, APT Recruiting immediately begins a one-time search for a replacement in the same position, at no additional charge.
Which roles and settings do you cover?+
Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and audiologists, including PTAs, COTAs and SLPAs, plus directors of rehab and other therapy leadership. Settings in California include hospitals and acute rehab, skilled nursing, home health, outpatient clinics, schools and pediatrics, and telehealth. We also recruit nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Or email molly@aptrecruiting.com. Molly reads every brief herself.
Reviewed by a licensed SLP
Molly Salinas, M.S., CCC-SLP
The California figures on this page are drawn from public federal sources and reviewed by Molly, a licensed speech-language pathologist who has worked across healthcare settings and founded APT Recruiting. She has recruited therapists for 3 years and works from Austin, Texas. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.
Metros
Therapy recruiting by metro in California
Hiring in California?
Tell us the discipline, the setting and the pay range. We will give you an honest read on the market before the search starts.