Director of physical therapy vs registered physical therapist

The differences between directors of physical therapy and registered physical 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 $72,910 average annual salary of a registered physical therapist.

The top three skills for a director of physical therapy include patients, rehabilitation and physical therapy. The most important skills for a registered physical therapist are patients, respiratory care, and healthcare.

Director of physical therapy vs registered physical therapist overview

	Director Of Physical Therapy	Registered Physical Therapist
Yearly salary	$107,759	$72,910
Hourly rate	$51.81	$35.05
Growth rate	17%	17%
Number of jobs	65,423	85,771
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
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 registered physical therapist do?

A registered physical therapist restores a patient's function, alleviates pain, and prevents disabilities by planning and administering medically prescribed physical therapy. Their main job is to diagnose and treat patients who have health conditions that limit their ability to move and perform everyday activities. Their responsibilities include consulting with patients to learn and understand their physical conditions and administering massages to help in the healing process.

Director of physical therapy vs registered physical therapist salary

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

	Director Of Physical Therapy	Registered Physical Therapist
Average salary	$107,759	$72,910
Salary range	Between $63,000 And $183,000	Between $49,000 And $107,000
Highest paying City	Walnut Creek, CA	Richmond, CA
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	California
Best paying company	Prime Healthcare	Functional Pathways
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between director of physical therapy and registered physical therapist education

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

	Director Of Physical Therapy	Registered Physical Therapist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common major	Physical Therapy	Physical Therapy
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Director of physical therapy vs registered physical therapist demographics

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

	Director Of Physical Therapy	Registered Physical Therapist
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5%	Male, 33.8% Female, 66.2%
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, 3.6% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 15.0% White, 69.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between director of physical therapy and registered physical 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.

Registered physical therapist example responsibilities.

Manage rehabilitation department and coordinate the rehabilitation program to the facility.
Excel in ability to customize/adapt conventional physical therapy techniques to meet the specific needs of patients.
Place orders for appropriate assistive devices, orthotics and prosthetics as per patient need.
Administer rehabilitation therapies, which improve patient's mobility and movement.
Operate and supervise oscillating traction for patients depending on insurance qualification.
Evaluate patients and work closely with other clinicians for determining need for and obtaining specialize equipment and/or orthotic devices.

Director of physical therapy vs registered physical 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 registered physical therapist skills

Patients, 47%
Respiratory Care, 12%
Healthcare, 8%
PTA, 7%
Rehabilitation, 6%
Home Health, 6%

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

Updated January 8, 2025

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