The Average Salary for Physical Therapist Professionals

The salary for physical therapist professionals can vary greatly depending on numerous factors. Therefore, those who choose to pursue such a career will likely have questions regarding the average salary that is associated with the position.

Physical Therapist Salary

The Average

As of 2010, licensed physical therapists, regardless of their level of experience, earned an average hourly wage of $37.78,according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics-USBLS. Therefore, the annual salary for such professionals is approximately $78,000 per year. As one would expect, the salary for physical therapist professionals in certain areas of the country may be a bit higher than the figure previously mentioned. One may also find that the average salary in his or her state is a bit lower than the national average.

Those employed in regions or at facilities where top salaries are offered will earn approximately $94,000 per year, while those at the lower end of the salary range can expect to earn about $60,000 annually. Those whose salaries fall within the average of this range will earn approximately $74,000 each year.

The Correlation Between Experience and Salary

Experience is a factor that has a direct influence on the salary of physical therapist professionals. As one's clinical experience increases, the professional can expect his or her salary to increase as well. This is because advanced positions typically require that one perform additional duties and complicated therapies. Therefore, those who are able to offer such services to a prospective employer will be rewarded financially.

According to the USBLS, physical therapists with ten years experience in their chosen profession earn approximately $15,000 more per year than those who have only three years experience.

Employment options

There is a wide selection of positions from which one can choose from when he or she has acquired the appropriate education and is ready to seek employment. The majority of physical therapists are employed by doctor's offices, rehabilitation facilities or hospitals. Following closely in second place are nursing homes. The professional may also choose to work in a private practice. However, the salary for physical therapist professionals who choose this option may be at the lower end of the spectrum until they have obtained a couple of years experience in the health care field.

Before a final decision is made regarding the kind of facility in which one chooses to work in, it is wise for those planning to work in this field to explore all their options. In addition, the salary for physical therapist entry-level positions will vary significantly, depending on the level of demand. For instance, facilities with several openings for which there is an urgent need to fill may offer a much higher starting salary than those who are well staffed. For this reason, it is wise to obtain specific salary information from each employer one is considering working for and compare them against each other before making a final decision. In this way, one can be sure that the most appropriate employer is selected, with whom a rewarding and lucrative career can be expected.