Director of physical therapy vs clinical therapist

The differences between directors of physical therapy and clinical therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a director of physical therapy has an average salary of $107,759, which is higher than the $57,864 average annual salary of a clinical therapist.

The top three skills for a director of physical therapy include patients, rehabilitation and physical therapy. The most important skills for a clinical therapist are social work, patients, and crisis intervention.

Director of physical therapy vs clinical therapist overview

	Director Of Physical Therapy	Clinical Therapist
Yearly salary	$107,759	$57,864
Hourly rate	$51.81	$27.82
Growth rate	17%	17%
Number of jobs	65,423	136,898
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Master's Degree, 51%
Average age	41	41
Years of experience	-	-

What does a director of physical therapy do?

A Director of Physical Therapy manages physical therapy services through developing strategies, policies, and procedures for a hospital, clinic, managed care organization, or similar organization. They supervise and assess the activities of medical, nursing, technical, and other personnel.

What does a clinical therapist do?

A Clinical Therapist works with patients to help identify, examine, and treat mental health and emotional issues or disorders. They counsel individuals or groups regarding psychological or emotional problems, as well as observe clients to detect indications of abnormal physical or mental behavior.

Director of physical therapy vs clinical therapist salary

Directors of physical therapy and clinical therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Director Of Physical Therapy	Clinical Therapist
Average salary	$107,759	$57,864
Salary range	Between $63,000 And $183,000	Between $42,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City	Walnut Creek, CA	Los Angeles, CA
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	California
Best paying company	Prime Healthcare	CVS Health
Best paying industry	Health Care	Government

Differences between director of physical therapy and clinical therapist education

There are a few differences between a director of physical therapy and a clinical therapist in terms of educational background:

	Director Of Physical Therapy	Clinical Therapist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Master's Degree, 51%
Most common major	Physical Therapy	Social Work
Most common college	Duke University	California State University - Long Beach

Director of physical therapy vs clinical therapist demographics

Here are the differences between directors of physical therapy' and clinical therapists' demographics:

	Director Of Physical Therapy	Clinical Therapist
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5%	Male, 23.4% Female, 76.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 11.3% White, 72.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 11.2% White, 72.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between director of physical therapy and clinical therapist duties and responsibilities

Director of physical therapy example responsibilities.

Develop department budgets and manage QA adherence.
Manage PPS details efficiently to ensure high quality clinical care while maximizing reimbursement for the facility.
Attend all daily meetings including stand up, IDT, PPS, and direct and lead weekly rehab meetings.
Develop and improve the documentation system with the use of early EMR documentation software.
Direct the provision of patient care, clinical duties, and development of COTA.
Provide OT treatment for high volume caseloads in rehab, outpatient, SNF, and acute settings.

Clinical therapist example responsibilities.

Provide clinical consultation to consumers and clients regarding manage care services and other benefits available to them through their EAP programs.
Provide direct treatment services such as individual/group therapy and intervene in crisis situations when patients exhibit acute psychiatric symptoms.
Direct patients to designate residential or supportive living options, community base placement/ treatment or other resources as necessary.
Provide training for federal and public organizations regarding the psychological aspects of veterans having experience combat or military sexual trauma.
Work closely with a license orthotist/prosthetist to obtain orthotics for children who require them.

Director of physical therapy vs clinical therapist skills

Common director of physical therapy skills

Patients, 39%
Rehabilitation, 17%
Physical Therapy, 6%
Treatment Programs, 5%
Occupational Therapy, 5%
Outpatient Clinic, 4%

Common clinical therapist skills

Social Work, 26%
Patients, 12%
Crisis Intervention, 8%
Mental Health, 4%
Discharge Planning, 4%
Community Resources, 3%

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Director Of Physical Therapy
Director Of Physical Therapy vs Clinical Therapist

Updated January 8, 2025

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