Physical therapists work in a variety of settings helping patients increase movement and functional use of body parts compromised due to illnesses, injuries or accidents according to the 2010-2011 Occupational Outlook Handbook. The median salary of physical therapists in 2008 was $72,790 per year according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook while the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) reports a median annual physical therapist salary of $80,000. Wages range from less than $50,000 to over $100,000 per year depending on a variety of components.Education
- Physical therapists obtain a high level of education prior to entering the workforce. Physical therapists not long ago practiced with just a bachelor's degree according to a December 2008 article in US News and World Report. Physical therapy programs today require a bachelor's degree for entry and offer master's or doctorate degrees upon completion depending upon the length of the program. All states require a license to practice physical therapy. Physical therapists seeking higher incomes specialize in specific areas or participate in continuing education.
Experience
- Experience proves valuable in almost any career and physical therapy is no different in this respect. As firsthand experience increases, a physical therapist can expect his salary to follow. Experience also lends itself heavily to advancement within this field. Advanced positions require additional duties and responsibilities and so offer more substantial financial incentives. The APTA 2005 Median Income of Physical Therapists Summary Report showed that physical therapists with three years of experience of less earned median annual incomes of approximately $51,000 while those with more than 15 years of experience boast a median income of $75,000 per year. Incomes have continued to rise since the time of this report.
Location
- Physical therapists in certain locations make comparatively more money than their counterparts. Demand generally instigates higher pay, so areas with more potential patients logically offer higher paying positions. These include highly populated urban areas, cities containing universities with large sports programs and professional sports teams and states with large aging populations such as California and Florida. Increasingly, job opportunities in rural areas offer impressive salaries due both to an effort to attract applicants to the area and a lack of services.
Employment Setting
- Physical therapist incomes vary by place of employment. Most physical therapists work in hospitals or offices where they earn an average salary. Those employed in home health care boast the highest median income of slightly over $77,000 annually. Physical therapists working in nursing care facilities follow closely with almost $76,000 per year. The lowest paying employment settings for physical therapists are in the offices of various health care professionals.
Specialties
- Further specialization in physical therapy provides one of the most assured methods for obtaining increased compensation. Common specialties include working with amputees, in sports therapy and even specialization within one sport such as dancing. The APTA offers a voluntary Clinical Specialization Program by which participants prove their knowledge and abilities to receive certification within their chosen areas.
Future
- The health care field in general continues to see unprecedented growth which is expected to continue increasing for the foreseeable future. Growth in physical therapy jobs is likewise expected to grow exponentially, at an annual rate of 30 percent through 2018. This will create a projected 78,000 or more job opportunities. Much growth in the sector should occur as the general population continues to age. Technological advances and changes in insurance reimbursement will also drive this increase. As demand grows, physical therapists will continue to be paid as well as or better than current demand dictates.
Read more: What is a Physical Therapists' Salary? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_6578475_physical-therapists_-salary_.html#ixzz1gjHfPqWC
