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The differences between physical therapists and certified athletic trainers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a physical therapist has an average salary of $73,070, which is higher than the $47,184 average annual salary of a certified athletic trainer.
The top three skills for a physical therapist include patients, rehabilitation and home health. The most important skills for a certified athletic trainer are rehabilitation, CPR, and patient care.
| Physical Therapist | Certified Athletic Trainer | |
| Yearly salary | $73,070 | $47,184 |
| Hourly rate | $35.13 | $22.68 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 86,697 | 90,171 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
Physical therapists are health care professionals who diagnose and treat patients with health conditions and limited ability to move and perform daily activities. They help in restoring physical function and mobility and teach how to properly use therapeutic exercise techniques. They also help promote overall wellness and encourage healthier and more active lifestyles. They design a recovery plan unique for every patient, provide treatment and therapy to help improve and manage their condition. They provide care to all kinds of individuals, from newborns to people at the end of their life.
A certified athletic trainer is a health and medical expert who specializes in providing health care assistance to athletes. They typically devise strategies to prevent injuries during training sessions and other activities, develop health care plans, and provide immediate care or first aid when injuries occur. There are also instances where they work together with physicians and other health care professionals, such as when diagnosing and treating injuries, developing rehabilitation structures, and administrating other health care services.
Physical therapists and certified athletic trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Physical Therapist | Certified Athletic Trainer | |
| Average salary | $73,070 | $47,184 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $94,000 | Between $36,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Parkway | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between a physical therapist and a certified athletic trainer in terms of educational background:
| Physical Therapist | Certified Athletic Trainer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Physical Therapy | Athletic Training |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between physical therapists' and certified athletic trainers' demographics:
| Physical Therapist | Certified Athletic Trainer | |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.3% Female, 63.7% | Male, 41.5% Female, 58.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 8.3% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 10% |