Physical Therapist Salary
Physical Therapist Salary
The physical therapy career path is becoming increasingly popular today, owing to the growing number of people who are becoming concerned about their physical health. As such, not only are there more career opportunities in this field, the physical therapist salary is also something that shouldnt be sneezed at. This article discusses the information you will need to know about the physical therapist salary.
Factors that Affect Physical Therapist Salary
In the United States, the basic physical therapist salary is combined by most employers with several benefits (which can include dental, medical, disability, optical, and life insurance, paid vacations, and the 401(k) stock purchase plan) making for an attractive package. Aside from the differences between the salary packages, there are also other factors that can affect physical therapist salary, including:
- Training and specialization. The amount of training you get and whether or not you’re specializing in a certain area of physical therapy can directly affect how much income you will be making. In most cases, those who have more training or have specializations can command a higher pay check than those who don’t have these.
- Experience. The amount of experience you’ve gotten on the field will also affect the amount of salary you can get. As with the training and specialization, those who have more work experience and have handled more patients over the years will receive better financial compensation than those who are only starting out in the industry.
- Location. The area that you choose to work in will also affect the amount of salary you will be receiving. For example, in the United States, Nevada, California, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Texas are known for those who provide the best physical therapist salary among all the states.
- Industry and employer. Finally, the industry that you choose to work in can also affect how much wages you will be receiving. Physical therapists aren’t just automatically bound to hospitals; they can also work in other areas, or even choose to become self-employed. In the past years, the industry that has been receiving the highest pay comes from social advocacy organizations, followed by the amusement and recreation industries, home and health care services, and vocational rehabilitation services. Those who are working in government organizations are said to be one of the lowest-earning industries in the field of physical therapy. Of course, who your employer is can also affect how much salary you will be getting, as there are some who are known to be more generous to their employees than others.
How Much is the Physical Therapist Salary on Average?
As mentioned, there are several factors that can affect the amount of salary you will be getting as a physical therapist. Nonetheless, it’s possible to make an estimate of how much those working in the industry are getting. The average salary of an entry-level physical therapist is about $54,000 annually, while a senior therapist can command up to $85,000 yearly. Staff therapists can earn between $67,000 and $75,000 annually.
Having a job in the physical therapy is rewarding, both financially and emotionally. If you’re considering what career options to take, this field can be very lucrative, considering that even the entry-level physical therapy salary is already quite good.