Physical Therapist vs Real Estate Broker

Side-by-side license comparison

Live DataLast updated: April 13, 2026·Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

Physical Therapist

Easier to Obtain

Real Estate Broker

Lower Fee

Real Estate Broker

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Physical Therapist	Real Estate Broker
Category	Healthcare	Real Estate
Median Salary	$99,710	$86,490
Avg Initial Fee	$313	$298
Difficulty	High	Medium-High
Education	DPT (3 years post-bachelor)	Additional 60-90 hours + 2-3 years experience
Exam	NPTE	State Broker Exam
Time to License	7 years	3-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	30 hrs	24 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	53 of 53

Salary Comparison

Physical Therapist

Median Salary$99,710

Avg Salary$99,710

Avg License Fee$313

Real Estate Broker

Median Salary$86,490

Avg Salary$86,490

Avg License Fee$298

Physical Therapist earns $13,220 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $132,200 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

Physical TherapistView all 53 state requirements Real Estate BrokerView all 53 state requirements

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LicenseWize Editorial TeamData Specialists

The LicenseWize editorial team aggregates and verifies licenses data from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.

✓ Sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards✓ Quarterly review✓ No paid placements

Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Physical Therapist or Real Estate Broker?

Physical Therapist has a higher median salary at $99,710 per year, compared to $86,490 for Real Estate Broker — a difference of $13,220 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Physical Therapist or a Real Estate Broker?

Physical Therapist licensing is rated High difficulty, while Real Estate Broker is rated Medium-High. Physical Therapist requires DPT (3 years post-bachelor) and typically takes 7 years, compared to Additional 60-90 hours + 2-3 years experience and 3-5 years for Real Estate Broker.

Which license costs more: Physical Therapist or Real Estate Broker?

Physical Therapist has a higher average initial fee of $313, while Real Estate Broker averages $298 — a difference of $15.

Do all states require a license for Physical Therapist and Real Estate Broker?

Physical Therapist requires licensing in 53 of 53 jurisdictions, while Real Estate Broker requires it in 53 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Physical Therapist or Real Estate Broker?

Physical Therapist typically takes 7 years from start to licensure, while Real Estate Broker takes 3-5 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Physical Therapist	Real Estate Broker
Category	Healthcare	Real Estate
Median Salary	$99,710	$86,490
Avg Initial Fee	$313	$298
Difficulty	High	Medium-High
Education	DPT (3 years post-bachelor)	Additional 60-90 hours + 2-3 years experience
Exam	NPTE	State Broker Exam
Time to License	7 years	3-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	30 hrs	24 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	53 of 53