Physical therapist vs clinical therapist

The differences between physical therapists and clinical therapists 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 $57,864 average annual salary of a clinical therapist.

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

Physical therapist vs clinical therapist overview

	Physical Therapist	Clinical Therapist
Yearly salary	$73,070	$57,864
Hourly rate	$35.13	$27.82
Growth rate	17%	17%
Number of jobs	86,697	136,898
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Master's Degree, 51%
Average age	41	41
Years of experience	-	-

What does a physical therapist do?

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.

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.

Physical therapist vs clinical therapist salary

Physical therapists and clinical therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Physical Therapist	Clinical Therapist
Average salary	$73,070	$57,864
Salary range	Between $56,000 And $94,000	Between $42,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Los Angeles, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Parkway	CVS Health
Best paying industry	Professional	Government

Differences between physical therapist and clinical therapist education

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

	Physical Therapist	Clinical Therapist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Master's Degree, 51%
Most common major	Physical Therapy	Social Work
Most common college	Duke University	California State University - Long Beach

Physical therapist vs clinical therapist demographics

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

	Physical Therapist	Clinical Therapist
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 36.3% Female, 63.7%	Male, 23.4% Female, 76.6%
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, 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 physical therapist and clinical therapist duties and responsibilities

Physical therapist example responsibilities.

Conduct in-services and train colleagues in effective techniques for safely managing the CVA patient.
Achieve high level of patients satisfaction due to sound clinical management, quality of care and compassion.
Perform physical therapy evaluation and treatment of orthopedic patients and supervise PTAs.
Progress patients' functional mobility during treatment sessions by modifying task, intensity, and adaptive equipment utilize.
Motivate patients to participate in treatment sessions by educating them on the benefits of early mobility following cardiac and thoracic surgery.
Experience include IFSP and IEP writing and implementation

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.

Physical therapist vs clinical therapist skills

Common physical therapist skills

Patients, 30%
Rehabilitation, 15%
Home Health, 13%
Quality Care, 5%
Physical Therapy, 3%
Treatment Programs, 3%

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
Physical Therapist
Physical Therapist vs Clinical Therapist

Updated January 8, 2025

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