Therapist salaries on Long Island vary by profession, experience, work setting, and employment arrangement. The local wage figures used in this guide show median annual salaries of $108,297 for physical therapists, $107,274 for occupational therapists, $133,014 for speech-language pathologists, and $115,760 for respiratory therapists. These are 2024 wage figures published in a May 2026 report, not a measurement of wages earned in 2026.
If you’re a therapist working on Long Island, this guide can help you compare pay across Nassau and Suffolk counties and assess annual salaries, hourly rates, and individual job offers.
A therapist salary on Long Island is best understood as an occupation-specific wage benchmark, not a fixed rate for every local job. The following comparison uses the same geographic area, wage measure, and reference year for all four professions.
| Therapy profession | Median annual salary | Approximate hourly equivalent |
| Physical therapist (PT) | $108,297 | $52.07 |
| Occupational therapist (OT) | $107,274 | $51.57 |
| Speech-language pathologist (SLP) | $133,014 | $63.95 |
| Respiratory therapist (RT) | $115,760 | $55.65 |
Data note: The annual figures come from the University at Albany Center for Health Workforce Studies’ The Healthcare Workforce in New York State, published in May 2026, using 2024 New York State Department of Labor occupational wage data for the Nassau–Suffolk region. The hourly figures are illustrative conversions, calculated by dividing each annual salary by 2,080 hours (40 paid hours per week × 52 weeks). They are not separately reported local median hourly wages or guaranteed rates for individual jobs.
Speech-language pathologists had the highest reported median annual salary among these four occupations in this dataset. That does not mean every SLP job pays more than every PT, OT, or RT job. Individual offers depend on the position and its terms.
The distinction between the 2026 report date and the 2024 wage reference year matters. Clinicians exploring jobs in 2026 should use these figures as a local benchmark and check current postings for the pay available in a specific role.
The salary table provides a consistent regional benchmark, but it does not describe the pay offered by every employer. Each profession has different position requirements and employment settings that may affect how candidates compare opportunities.
Physical therapists on Long Island had a reported median annual salary of $108,297 in 2024. That is approximately $52.07 per hour under the illustrative 2,080-hour calculation above.
Physical therapist salaries may differ between individual positions because of experience-level requirements, schedules, responsibilities, and employment arrangements. For example, a position at an outpatient clinic may have different travel expectations and scheduled hours than a home health assignment.
When comparing physical therapist jobs, check the worksite, expected paid hours, qualifications, and complete compensation terms rather than relying on the advertised salary alone.
Flagstar Rehab’s physical therapist staffing services page provides additional information about the agency’s PT recruitment and placement services.
Occupational therapists had a reported median annual salary of $107,274 on Long Island in 2024, equivalent to approximately $51.57 per hour under the same illustrative calculation.
Occupational therapists on Long Island may work in healthcare and educational facilities. When comparing a school-based position with a year-round healthcare role, candidates should check the number of paid weeks, expected hours, position requirements, and benefits, if applicable.
A difference in annual salary does not necessarily indicate a difference in hourly pay. The work calendar and compensation arrangement matter when evaluating an offer. Flagstar Rehab’s occupational therapist staffing services page explains its recruiting and placement services for qualified OTs.
Speech-language pathologists had a reported median annual salary of $133,014 on Long Island in 2024. The approximate hourly equivalent is $63.95, based on the same illustrative full-time schedule.
SLPs may consider positions in schools and healthcare facilities, where work calendars, paid hours, qualifications, and employment terms can differ.
For example, an SLP comparing a school-year role with a year-round position should examine the total paid working time rather than comparing the advertised hourly rates alone. A higher rate per hour does not automatically produce higher earnings per year. Flagstar Rehab’s speech-language pathologist staffing services page provides context about its recruitment and placement services for SLPs.
Respiratory therapists had a reported median annual salary of $115,760 on Long Island in 2024, equivalent to approximately $55.65 per hour under the illustrative calculation.
When reviewing respiratory therapist job postings, candidates should distinguish base pay from additional compensation that may apply to a particular schedule or position. An advertised rate may not include overtime, shift differentials, or other payments, and those additions should not be assumed unless stated in the offer.
The position’s worksite, expected hours, required credentials, and experience-level requirements also matter when comparing opportunities. Flagstar Rehab’s respiratory therapist staffing services page provides additional information about its RT recruitment and placement services.
A search for therapist salaries on Long Island may return different figures from government wage reports, salary websites, and individual job listings. Those differences do not necessarily mean that one source is incorrect: the sources may measure different workers, locations, time periods, or types of pay.
This guide uses Nassau and Suffolk counties as its Long Island employment market. The four-profession comparison comes from a report that identifies its figures as Long Island occupational wages.
Some federal wage tables, however, report figures for the larger New York–Newark–Jersey City metropolitan area. Those figures describe a broader labor market and should not be labeled as Nassau–Suffolk-only salaries.
Brooklyn and Queens are geographically on Long Island but are part of New York City. Their job-market figures should not automatically be combined with those for Nassau and Suffolk.
Long Island City is a neighborhood in Queens, not another name for the Nassau–Suffolk region. A posting located in Long Island City, NY, should therefore be identified as a Queens position when evaluating the job’s location.
The same caution applies to comparisons between individual cities and towns: check where a job is actually located and which geographic area a salary estimate covers.
When comparing the average salary reported by a job platform with an official median wage, check how each figure was calculated before treating them as equivalent.
The mean, or arithmetic average, is the sum of the wage values divided by the number of observations. The median is the midpoint of the wage distribution: half of workers earn less and half earn more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics explains these wage measures in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics guidance.
Job postings on Indeed and other employment platforms may help readers identify advertised compensation for individual positions. A platform’s salary estimate, however, may be based on a different collection of observations and should not automatically be treated as the median wage for all therapists working in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Before comparing figures, check four details like occupation, geographic coverage, wage measure, and reference year. For a particular job, also confirm whether the advertised figure is a base rate, a range, or an estimate supplied by the listing platform.
Two positions in the same therapy profession may offer different compensation because their qualifications, schedules, responsibilities, and employment terms differ. A regional therapist salary benchmark provides context, but an individual job offer determines the pay available for a specific role on Long Island.
Employers may establish different skills, credentials, and experience-level requirements depending on the position. Relevant experience may influence an individual salary offer, but occupational wage percentiles should not be interpreted as fixed pay bands for clinicians with a specific number of years of experience.
Healthcare and educational facilities may have different schedules, position requirements, and compensation arrangements. For example, jobs in hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, and schools may have different employment terms.
A work setting alone does not establish what every PT, OT, SLP, or RT employed there earns. Candidates should review the salary and responsibilities of each position.
Full-time, part-time, temporary, contract, and per diem jobs may use different pay structures. Candidates should check the terms of a specific role instead of assuming that a higher hourly rate will result in higher annual earnings.
When comparing offers, confirm the expected paid hours, employment arrangement, and applicable benefits.
Jobs in different parts of Nassau and Suffolk counties may involve different commutes, worksites, or travel requirements.
Consider the actual job location and expected travel when comparing therapist salaries in Long Island. A position with a higher advertised rate may also involve additional transportation expenses or time commitments.
Overtime, weekend work, evening shifts, bonuses, and other compensation components depend on the applicable position and employment terms.
Candidates should confirm whether an advertised salary represents base pay or includes additional compensation. Do not assume that a particular therapy profession, facility, or city always offers the highest pay.
The primary wage dataset reports salaries for the Nassau–Suffolk region rather than comparable figures for individual cities. It therefore cannot establish which are the highest-paying cities for therapists on Long Island.
A therapist job may advertise compensation per hour or per year. To compare those figures meaningfully, first establish how many paid hours the position includes.
For example, a job paying $50 per hour would have an illustrative annual equivalent of $104,000 per year if the clinician worked 40 paid hours every week for 52 weeks. This calculation does not predict actual earnings or establish guaranteed paid hours.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics uses 2,080 hours as a standard full-time work year for many occupational wage calculations, while noting that annualized estimates may not reflect the pay of people who work more or fewer hours.
When comparing a salaried job with an hourly, contract, or per diem offer, confirm the expected paid hours and whether any minimum hours are guaranteed under the position’s terms. Also review paid time off, benefits, travel expectations, and any additional compensation.
A higher advertised hourly rate does not automatically mean a higher annual compensation package.
A regional salary figure can help you understand the broader labor market, but the terms of an individual position determine what that job offers.
Before comparing therapist jobs on Long Island, review the following details:
| What to check | Questions to ask |
| Pay structure | Is the stated compensation annual, hourly, weekly, per diem, or based on another arrangement? |
| Expected paid hours | How many paid hours are expected? Are any minimum hours guaranteed under the position’s terms? |
| Employment arrangement | Is the role full-time, part-time, temporary, contract, or another arrangement? |
| Benefits | Does the position include paid time off, health insurance, retirement benefits, or other compensation components? |
| Additional pay | Does the advertised figure include bonuses, overtime, shift differentials, or other payments, or are those separate? |
| Worksite and schedule | Where is the position located? What are the expected hours and any commute or travel requirements? |
| Qualifications | Does the role match your professional license, credentials, skills, and experience level? |
If a listing gives a salary range rather than a fixed amount, check which qualifications or conditions determine the offered rate. If a platform estimates the pay instead of displaying an employer-provided figure, do not assume that estimate is the compensation available for the job.
Individual job postings may be updated, changed, or closed. Review the current listing and seek clarification about unclear compensation terms before making an employment decision.
Therapist salaries on Long Island differ across PT, OT, SLP, and RT occupations. The Nassau–Suffolk wage figures published in 2026 provide a consistent comparison using 2024 data, while current postings and individual employment terms help candidates assess the pay available for specific jobs.
Flagstar Rehab is a therapy staffing and recruiting agency that connects qualified professionals with healthcare and educational facilities. If you are a licensed PT, OT, SLP, or RT considering work on Long Island, explore therapy career opportunities with Flagstar Rehab to review relevant positions and their requirements.
That depends on the profession, wage measure, and reference year. A reliable comparison requires Long Island and statewide figures for the same occupation and reporting period. The regional median salaries in this guide should not be compared directly with an unrelated statewide average or a salary-platform estimate.
No. Benefits depend on the employer, employment arrangement, and terms of the specific position. Review the offer to determine whether paid time off, health insurance, retirement benefits, or other compensation components are included.
Eligibility depends on the profession and the requirements of the individual position and hiring facility. Some jobs may require additional credentials or experience. Newly licensed candidates should review each listing’s qualifications rather than assume that all staffing positions have the same requirements.
No. An advertised hourly rate generally describes compensation before applicable taxes and deductions. Take-home pay depends on the position’s terms and the individual’s circumstances. The hourly equivalents in this article are wage-comparison calculations, not take-home-pay estimates.