A typical physical therapist position involves working with patients to evaluate and assess physical needs, recommend training programs, and work with physicians to administer proper treatment plans. A physical therapist may also supervise one or more assistants and rely on sound judgment, proper training and adequate experience. Physical therapists commonly work in areas such as health care and rehabilitation or sports and recreation, but can provide services across a number of different industries.
Average Wages
Physical therapists can earn a wide range of salaries depending on their location of employment, level of education, amount of training and previous experience. At the time of publication, according to Payscale.com, a first-year physical therapist can expect to earn a yearly salary ranging from $48,399 to $67,180, which equals a $930 to $1,291 weekly salary range. At the highest levels, usually after 20 or more years of experience, a physical therapist can earn a yearly wage of $90,750, or $1,745 weekly. According to the Certified Compensation Professionals' analysis reported by Salary.com at the time of publication, the average annual income of a physical therapist in the United States is $74,247, which equates to a $1,427 weekly wage.
Other Benefits
Physical therapists at any level can expect a good benefits package. Paid vacations, sick leave, retirement programs and hospital and group insurance benefits can also be expected. Additionally, many physical therapists receive annual bonuses. According to by Payscale.com, at the time of publication, these bonuses can range from $500 to $5,000 depending on experience, location and employer.
Trends
The average annual salary for physical therapists has dropped slightly in the last year. According to a July 2010 report by Payscale.com, the entry level average salary ranged from $50,937 to $61,006 annually, or $979 to $1,173 weekly. Despite this, the 2010-2011 Occupational Outlook Handbook reports a faster than average expected growth in physical therapy employment. A 30 percent increase in physical therapist employment is expected from 2008 to 2018, with opportunities involving elderly health care yielding particularly good expectations.
Required Training
The physical therapy field is regulated by all states and entrants are required to pass national and state exams in addition to achieving a post-baccalaureate degree. Undergraduate coursework is science-intensive and can include areas of study in anatomy, biology, physiology, exercise physiology, cellular histology, neuroscience, biomechanics, pharmacology, pathology, and radiology. Behavioral science courses and volunteer work or internships in hospitals or clinics are often required as well. Typical master's degrees require two years of education while doctorates require three. Physical therapists are often required to continue their education even after passing the exams and training as a condition of their continued licensing.
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