Physical therapists are healthcare professionals who work with patients and clients with movement dysfunction to relieve pain, restore function and optimize quality of life. Physical therapists work with a variety of patients and clients, many specialize in working with individuals in certain age groups or with certain conditions, such as musculoskeletal dysfunction, neurologic dysfunction, or sports-related injuries.
A physical therapist’s caseload may include:
- An older adult recovering from knee replacement surgery who wants to go for afternoon walks with their grandchildren
- A recreational tennis player with a rotator cuff tear who hopes to get back on the court next season
- A military veteran who has lost a limb and is learning to use a prosthetic device
- A client undergoing chemotherapy whose aerobic capacity is diminished weakened chemotherapy treatment
- A young adult who sits at a desk throughout the workday and has developed neck, shoulder or back pain as a result
- A ballet dancer with a heavy performance schedule who wants to prevent or address overuse injuries
Becoming a physical therapist takes hard work and dedication but may lead to a lifetime of helping others and making a difference in the world. Learn about education requirements for physical therapists, the settings where they practice, and their earning potential.
How To Become a DPT
Aspiring physical therapists are required to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from an accredited program and become licensed in their state, before they can practice. Admission into a DPT program typically requires a bachelor’s degree with extensive prerequisite coursework, including biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, physiology, psychology, and statistics.
Physical Therapist Education Requirements
Earning a DPT degree is rigorous and takes several years to complete. Students in a DPT program spend many hours taking classes, practicing hands-on skills, and learning from clinical instructors in a variety of practice environments.
By contrast, some individuals earn other advanced academic degrees (e.g. PhD, DSc) that are primarily meant for those who want to conduct research and advance the field’s body of knowledge. These degrees do not prepare graduates to become licensed physical therapists but are critical to the science of physical therapy and advancing the profession.
The length of DPT schooling varies by program. Every program must contain a combination of didactic work and clinical experiences. More clinical experiences in more diverse settings are a sign of a strong program that will prepare students to excel after graduation.
After graduating from an accredited program, students are eligible to sit for the national licensure exam for physical therapists. Licensure is necessary for each state in which a physical therapist practices. License renewal is also required and varies by state. In California, for example, PTs are required to renew their license every two years.
Why Become a DPT?
Employment of physical therapists is projected to grow 22 percent from 2018 to 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some of that demand will come from aging baby boomers who are staying active later in life but also becoming more susceptible to chronic health conditions. Physical therapists are and will continue to be essential practitioners in the rehabilitation and management of individuals with movement dysfunction associated with a variety of chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity.
While projected job growth may influence an individual’s decision to become a physical therapist, other factors, including a strong interest to work with a specific group of people, may lead an individual to pursue a career in physical therapy.
Physical therapists are often inspired by life experiences or a personal passion involving professional sports, healthy aging and neurology, but that’s only the beginning, according to Valerie Teglia, faculty member at the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy.
“Students often begin the program knowing they want to work in a specific area,” Teglia said. “But they’ll come back from their first day [in the clinic] saying, ‘I didn’t even know physical therapists did this.’”
Diverse clinical educational experiences and job prospects in a growing field provide venues for students to discover a host of unique and meaningful applications of physical therapy.
The progression isn’t uncommon; Teglia herself was originally interested in working for a professional football team but discovered a new interest from her clinical education experience where she cared for clients with spinal cord injuries. After earning a neurological clinical specialist certification and practicing in outpatient facilities, hospitals and community rehabilitation centers, she now shares her professional experience as an educator.
Physical Therapy Specializations and Practice Settings
Physical therapists train as generalists. Through their coursework and clinical education experiences, they begin developing their particular areas of interest and passion. After graduation from physical therapy school, physical therapists can pursue specialty training and certification. The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties recognizes the following physical therapy specialty areas:
- Cardiovascular and Pulmonary
- Clinical Electrophysiology
- Oncology
- Women’s Health
- Geriatrics
- Neurology
- Orthopedics
- Pediatrics
- Sports
- Wound Management
Physical therapists may also address issues related to pelvic health, industrial health, and home health, or provide wellness and preventative care to individuals in the performing arts, such as ballet and theater.
“There are an abundance of options for specialization. Each one leads therapists to developing high level skills for a particular patient population,” said Julie Tilson, USC DPT hybrid pathway program director and professor of clinical physical therapy at the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy.
Physical Therapy Practice Settings
Physical therapists work in a wide variety of practice settings. Private practice and hospital-based outpatient facilities are most common. However, physical therapists are also essential members of care teams in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, schools, sports teams, and as part of services in people’s homes.
According to the BLS, common settings for physical therapists include:
- Private practices
- Hospitals
- Home health care services
- Nursing care facilities
- Specialty hospitals
- Continuing care and retirement facilities
- Management, scientific and consulting facilities
- School settings
- Performing arts companies
Across most physical therapy settings, the core expectations and responsibilities of providers are generally similar, according to Teglia. They include:
- Evaluating the client’s needs
- Identifying the client’s strengths, deficits and opportunities of their physical capacity
- Designing and implementing a plan of care
- Overseeing support staff
- Collaborating with an interdisciplinary team
- Planning for the client’s discharge
“The biggest difference between settings is how often you work with an interdisciplinary team and how closely,” Teglia said. When working with pediatric and geriatric clients, it’s common for the physical therapist to work closely with the client’s primary caregiver or guardian as well.”
Physical Therapist Salaries
Physical therapists’ starting salaries vary by location and by specialty. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual physical therapist salary in 2019 was $89,440, or $43.00 per hour. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $62,120, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $124,740.[1]
Like starting salaries, DPT average salary is also dependent on a number of factors such as a professional’s level of experience and whether or not they work for themselves.
Typically, physical therapists who own their own practices earn a higher PT salary than the median — that also comes with the additional opportunities and responsibilities of owning and running a business, Tilson said.
DPT salary ranges widely by industry too. The table below lists a few industries where physical therapists work and details annual mean salary per industry[2]:
DPT Salaries by State
How much does a DPT make in your state? Find out the median hourly wage in the table below.
1Annual median wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly median wage (provided by the BLS) by a year-round, full-time hours figure of 2,080 hours.
Source: The Bureau of Labor Statistics
Taking Your Degree to the Next Level
Beyond practicing as a physical therapist, experienced providers may want to bring their skills to settings outside clinic walls. “There are so many opportunities to be entrepreneurial,” Teglia said.
- Practice ownership: Opening a private practice is an opportunity to customize an interdisciplinary team on a smaller scale than a hospital.
- Consulting: Working in business or public health settings, physical therapists can use their knowledge to consult on practice design, billing, engineering, and occupational health.
- Teaching: Experienced physical therapists can be educators at the high school, college or graduate level, including as educators in physical therapist education programs.
Becoming a physical therapist includes a commitment to life-long learning, Tilson said. Development of skills for specialty and niche practices can be gained through residencies, fellowships, and continuing education courses and programs.
[1] Occupational Employment and Wages, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Last updated April 10, 2020. www.bls.gov/oes/2019/may/oes291123.htm
[2] Occupational Employment Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Last updated March 31, 2020. www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291123.htm#st
Citation for this content: USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy
Last updated September 2020
The job outlook for physical therapy shows promise, and average incomes are on the rise. But if you’re a recent PT grad, you might be wondering what to expect for a physical therapist salary.
Here’s the main takeaway: the average physical therapist salary is $85,000, according to 2016 APTA data. But this figure will fluctuate depending on your years of experience, location of practice, and therapy specialty.
Breakdown of A Physical Therapist Salary
Let’s say you are in your first job as a PT. Based on a $67,000 salary, you could expect your gross monthly income to be $5,583 and your net ‘take home’ pay around $3,978 per month, (that is, $918 a week based on a single tax filing status).
How much does a Physical Therapist make per hour?
Short answer: around $35 per hour on average, but $60 per hour or more for contracted PTs.
As a physical therapist, you will be paid on either an hourly or salary basis. Hourly rates among salaried PTs fluctuate based on the total number of hours worked.
Although a job with a set salary might sound appealing, it could entail working more than a standard 40-hour week due to additional paperwork.
Suppose you work at a clinic for an annual salary, but you’re required to complete your documentation on your own time, either at home or by staying after hours. Those extra 10 hours per week spent on documentation can significantly affect your hourly compensation.
Never settle for a salary without knowing how many hours you’ll average on clinic and documentation time. Although some clinics still pay therapists hourly for documentation, this is often not the case.
Documentation Time Can Lower Your Hourly Rate
Just because a salary is higher than $67,000 doesn’t mean you’ll get an above-average hourly rate, especially if you have to carve out unpaid time for documentation. For instance, suppose your salary is $75,000, or about $36/hour for a 40-hour/week schedule. Spending an additional 10 hours/week on documentation will lower your hourly rate to $28/hour.
Compare these two scenarios:
- A salaried therapist with 10+ years of experience earns $89,000, but if she works 50 hours per week, she earns $34/hour.
- An hourly therapist with < 5 years of experience earns $80,000 annually, but by working only 40 hours a week, her rate is $38/hour.
Don’t be swayed by the salary alone! Before you take the job, consider: how many hours will you have to work?
And to find out, ask other PTs how many hours beyond the 40-hour workweek they spend on documentation.
Smart Tip: If your clinic offers a salaried position but requires that you document on your own time, consider renegotiating the hours you spend for clinic time and request that 30–60 minutes per day be reserved for documentation time.
Physical Therapist Pay: What I’ve been offered
Personally, I’ve been offered a range of salaries from $64,000 to $84,000 as a relatively new grad (2.5 years out). I’ve also worked PRN (as needed) and made significantly more per hour ($50+) in a home health setting.
The wide range in PT salaries boils down to three main variables: years of experience, location of practice, and willingness to specialize and travel.
Variables Affecting A Physical Therapist Salary
1. Experience
As a new therapist at an outpatient physical therapy clinic, you’ll likely be paid less than someone with 10 years’ experience. Most new physical therapy graduates have a starting salary of around $67,000. Recent PT graduates with less than 9 years’ experience average about $80,000 per year, while therapists with more than 10 years’ experience average $90,000+ annually, according to the APTA.
But don’t let your experience keep you from achieving a higher income potential. Certain specialties such as home health and travel therapy provide opportunities for you to earn just as much as someone with 10+ years of experience. In these settings, your salary often depends on your caseload and willingness to see more patients.
A newly-graduated physical therapist could earn well over six figures as a travel therapist or in a home health setting. This is especially true when they learn how to become efficient with home health documentation.
DPT Salary: Does a Doctor of Physical Therapy Make More Money?
Short answer: no.
Simply having a DPT (Doctorate of Physical Therapy) doesn’t mean you’ll fetch a higher salary. Physical Therapy training recently changed from a Master’s program to a Doctoral program, but this transition did not bring an increase in pay.
In fact, based on experience alone, many PTs with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree will earn more than a Doctor of Physical Therapy who has only recently graduated. Of all the factors that influence a physical therapy salary, years of experience is at the top of the list.
2. Location
If you’re willing to relocate, you might be able to land an even larger salary. Check out this map of average physical therapist salaries by state:
Which state has the highest physical therapy salary?
The states that pay their physical therapists the most are Nevada, Alaska, California, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Top 5 States with Highest Average PT Salary (May 2019):
3. Specialty
Controlling for experience level and location, not all PT incomes are created the same. You can expect to make more for certain settings or specialties, and even more if you’re willing to travel. A traveling physical therapist salary can be 1.5 to 2 times greater than that of the average therapist.
Here are some average PT salaries by specialty*:
- Acute Care Hospital: $89,000
- Academic Institution: $90,000
- Skilled Nursing Facility: $95,000
- Home Health: $90,000
- Hospital-Based Outpatient: $85,000
- Private Outpatient Clinic: $80,000
- School System: $72,000
- Inpatient Rehab: $82,000
*based on 2016 APTA data
Travel Therapy Salary: The Highest of Them All
What is the highest salary for a physical therapist? That answer is simple: the travel therapist makes the most of all practice settings.
If you are willing to be a traveling therapist, you can make a significant salary depending on the area you choose. It’s not uncommon for a travel therapy staffing agency to provide opportunities that allow you to bring in six figures or more. How much a traveling therapist makes depends on a few factors. Let’s take a look at those.
3 Reasons why Travel Therapists Earn the Highest PT salary:
1. Increased Income: Tax-Free Housing & More
As a traveling therapist, you are entitled to a non-taxable per diem for meals, incidentals, and lodging. If you negotiate this as a cash allotment (instead of accepting a hotel), you can receive this money tax-free. With a little effort, you can choose an AirBnB or other accommodation that is cheaper than your allotted housing per diem. That extra money is tax-free and goes right into your bank account!
2. Higher Pay Based on Location and Specialty
You have a choice for the type of therapy setting in which you wish to practice as a traveling therapist. Typically, the more rural or remote a destination, the higher the compensation. The same is usually true at specialty facilities or for traveling therapists with a specific certification such as pediatrics, orthopedics, or geriatrics.
3. A Travel Therapy Package You Can Negotiate
Your benefits as a contract employee span further than salary or housing perks. With so many elements in your package to consider, you have more things on the table to negotiate in your favor!
Here are a few areas to remember when negotiating a salary as a travel therapist:
- Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance: You can often request a “Day 1” option to have coverage on the day you start.
- Travel reimbursement: Since traveling to the location isn’t free, you can request assistance for travel expenses.
- License renewal coverage: Some agencies offer to cover licensing fees for the duration of your employment.
- Referral Bonuses: If you recruit new travel therapists, you may be thanked with a generous referral bonus. Be sure to ask about this benefit in your interview.
- Continuing Education: Some agencies may give you access to CEUs through a company like MedBridge.
- Retirement Benefits: As a contract employee, you may not have access to a retirement plan at your clinic, but your agency may actually offer a retirement plan that you should take advantage of.
Protect Your Income with Insurance
As a Physical Therapist, it’s important to protect your income with professional liability insurance. Physical Therapy liability insurance is a must for any practicing Physical Therapist.
Higher PT Salary Guide
For more tips on maximizing your PT salary, check out this invaluable resource!
