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PRN Physical Therapist
Salary range: $83,500-$131,000 per year
A PRN physical therapist is part of an on-call pool of physical therapists who work on a per diem basis. PRN is short for the Latin term “pro re nata,” which means “as needed.” As a PRN physical therapist, you work when a hospital or outpatient facility needs an extra physical therapist to handle their patient load. Your job skills, duties, and responsibilities are the same as a part-time or full-time physical therapist. You evaluate and diagnose a patient’s mobility and strength, then provide treatment to decrease pain while increasing strength and range of motion.
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Pediatric Physical Therapist
Salary range: $73,000-$107,500 per year
A pediatric physical therapist oversees the physical therapy treatments for infants, children, and young adults. As a pediatric physical therapist, your responsibilities and duties include assessing the patient, determining what course of treatment best suits them, and conducting the course of treatment. You also record data to show the patient’s progress throughout their therapy. You manage the physical therapy care of the patient, ensuring the course of action is effective.
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Per Diem Physical Therapist
Salary range: $84,000-$105,500 per year
As a per diem physical therapist, you take on a temporary assignment and help people through the rehabilitation of their injuries in order to regain their range of motion. Per diem physical therapists help address staffing shortages at facilities—there is no way to predict how many people will have injuries or need services at any given time, so per diem physical therapists act as extra help when needed. In this role, you may coordinate with other caregivers, perform tests, encourage patients, and help find solutions to lifestyle problems caused by injuries. Average hours can vary widely, so be sure to talk to potential employers about how often they expect to call you in.
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Correctional Facility Physical Therapist
Salary range: $52,000-$101,000 per year
The majority of Correctional Facility Physical Therapist salaries across the United States currently range between $52,000 (25th percentile) and $101,000 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Correctional Facility Physical Therapist job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
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Senior Physical Therapist
Salary range: $78,500-$101,000 per year
The majority of Senior Physical Therapist salaries across the United States currently range between $78,500 (25th percentile) and $101,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Senior Physical Therapist job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
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Certified Hand Therapist
Salary range: $85,000-$100,500 per year
A certified hand therapist is an occupational therapist or physical therapist with a specialty in rehabilitation therapies for hands, wrists, and arms. Your main responsibilities are to rehabilitate and to treat patients who are recovering from burns, carpal tunnel syndrome, fractures, and tendonitis. Other job duties include maintaining patient charts and updating medical records. You need a compassionate personality, patience, and excellent communication skills to succeed in a career as a certified hand therapist. You’ll find jobs in hospitals, medical practices, assisted living facilities, and home health care services.
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Acute Care Physical Therapist
Salary range: $84,500-$98,500 per year
Acute care physical therapy involves providing care to patients who have been admitted to a hospital or care facility and have an immediate need for physical therapy (PT). Acute care physical therapists generally do not work on an outpatient basis. Responsibilities of this job include triage, developing treatment plans, providing therapeutic services, making discharge recommendation, and teaching patients proper assistive device usage. The primary qualification for an acute care physical therapist is the completion of a Doctor of Physical Therapy program. You must meet your state requirements for licensure as well.
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Licensed Physical Therapist
Salary range: $76,000-$97,000 per year
The majority of Licensed Physical Therapist salaries across the United States currently range between $76,000 (25th percentile) and $97,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Licensed Physical Therapist job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
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Hand Therapist
Salary range: $62,500-$94,500 per year
The majority of Hand Therapist salaries across the United States currently range between $62,500 (25th percentile) and $94,500 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Hand Therapist job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
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Rehabilitation Therapist
Salary range: $48,500-$93,500 per year
A rehabilitation therapist helps injured patients recover from surgery, sports injuries, or accidents. Job duties include evaluating a patient’s recovery progress, as well as helping them rebuild their physical strength, flexibility, and range of motion to injured body parts. A rehabilitation therapist can also work as an occupational therapist and assist injured workers in returning to the workplace. People in this career are often employed by hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, and private practices.
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Outpatient Physical Therapist
Salary range: $74,500-$89,000 per year
The majority of Outpatient Physical Therapist salaries across the United States currently range between $74,500 (25th percentile) and $89,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Outpatient Physical Therapist job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
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Orthopedic Physical Therapist
Salary range: $73,000-$88,000 per year
An orthopedic physical therapist provides patient care concerning muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. A patient might seek treatment from an orthopedic physical therapist for pain, swelling, or stiffness. They may also help implement recovery programs for people who have recently been injured or have just undergone surgery. In entry-level positions, they may work directly under the supervision of a clinical supervisor or doctor.
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Staff Physical Therapist
Salary range: $70,500-$86,000 per year
The majority of Staff Physical Therapist salaries across the United States currently range between $70,500 (25th percentile) and $86,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Staff Physical Therapist job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
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Travel PT
Salary range: $52,000-$85,000 per year
Instead of working at one office or therapy facility, a travel physical therapist travels across a city, state, region, or country to provide physical therapy. You may focus specifically on providing services to at-risk or underserved populations, or you may contract with a health care staffing agency that sends you to wherever extra PTs are needed. As a travel PT, your duties and responsibilities are the same as they would be if you worked in a hospital, pain clinic, or outpatient facility. You provide pain management strategies and help your patients recover and regain mobility after accidents, injuries, or surgeries.
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Physiotherapist
Salary range: $40,000-$80,000 per year
Physiotherapists, also known as physical therapists, use a variety of techniques to treat ill or injured people manage pain and improve mobility. They also counsel patients on procedures to prevent further injury. Treatment methods include massage, heat or cold applications, water therapy, and ultrasound.
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PTA
Salary range: $53,000-$78,000 per year
A PTA, or physical therapy assistant, works with patients receiving physical therapy due to injury, surgery, or a chronic condition. They provide care under the direction of a primary physical therapist. Patients are assigned a series of exercises and stretches, depending on what needs to be treated. As a PTA, you set up therapies, such as heat therapy, for the patients to enable them to relax their muscles and reduce pain. You then instruct the patients on how to perform the treatments prescribed by their doctor and the physical therapist. Some examples of exercises used during physical therapy include pedaling on a stationary bike, arm lifts on a weight machine, or forward lunges. You follow the patient from station to station, ensuring they have proper form, and document their progress.
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Clinical Rehabilitation Coordinator
Salary range: $39,500-$74,000 per year
The majority of Clinical Rehabilitation Coordinator salaries across the United States currently range between $39,500 (25th percentile) and $74,000 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Clinical Rehabilitation Coordinator job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
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Recreational Therapist
Salary range: $44,000-$73,000 per year
Recreational therapists are therapists who work with patients recovering from injury or illness, as well as those with disabilities. They design creative activities that help their patients improve their wellbeing. Examples of therapeutic activities can include art, dance, swimming, and sports, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Massage Therapist
Salary range: $42,000-$72,000 per year
A professional massage therapist manipulates body tissue using physical touch to help their clients relieve pain, reduce stress, and/or reach a more relaxed state. While there are a variety of massage therapy styles, all are used to increase and promote physical and emotional well-being.
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Kinesiotherapist
Salary range: $31,500-$63,500 per year
The majority of Kinesiotherapist salaries across the United States currently range between $31,500 (25th percentile) and $63,500 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Kinesiotherapist job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.
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Recreational Therapy Aide
Salary range: $26,000-$35,000 per year
The responsibilities of a recreational therapy aide include working to assist a therapist or therapy assistant as they carry out planned recreational treatment. In this career, you work directly under a recreational therapist who ultimately decides your job duties. You often engage in activity with patients with mental or physical disabilities. You may help with the assessment of patients before, during, and after the treatment. In addition to being involved in therapeutic activities, you may work to prepare for treatment or clean and store equipment afterward.
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Physical Therapy Technician
Salary range: $23,000-$30,000 per year
As a Licensed Physical Therapist Technician, also known as a Physical Therapy aide, you work alongside doctors and therapists, assisting in any way needed to further the patient’s therapy process. You may be asked to supervise physical therapy, do paperwork, prepare and clean equipment, or conduct treatments, like massage. You may work as a Physical Therapy Tech in a variety of healthcare facilities, including rehabilitation centers, doctor’s offices, and hospitals.
Physical therapists, or PTs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, help injured clients with mobility and pain management. Individuals in need of rehabilitation or those who suffer from chronic conditions rely on PTs to improve their range of motion, strengthen injured muscles, and correct alignment issues. Physical therapists should have a thorough knowledge of a patient’s medical history and should be in frequent communication with the patient’s primary care physician. It is also their job to track patient progress, modify treatment plans, and educate the patient’s family on stretches and other aftercare.
According to the American Physical Therapy Association, there are numerous specialties within the PT field. A physical therapist may work in a medical facility, performing intensive rehabilitation or subacute rehabilitation exercises on patients. They may also operate out of an outpatient clinic or private practice, treating patients with less urgent neuromuscular and musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses. PTs may also choose to pursue a career in hospice. These therapists deal mainly in pain management and quality of life improvements for clients with incurable health conditions.
