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Physical therapist vs director of physical therapy

The differences between physical therapists and directors of physical therapy 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 $73,070 average annual salary of a physical therapist.

The top three skills for a physical therapist include patients, rehabilitation and home health. The most important skills for a director of physical therapy are patients, rehabilitation, and physical therapy.

Physical therapist vs director of physical therapy overview

Physical TherapistDirector Of Physical Therapy
Yearly salary$73,070$107,759
Hourly rate$35.13$51.81
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs86,69765,423
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4141
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 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.

Physical therapist vs director of physical therapy salary

Physical therapists and directors of physical therapy have different pay scales, as shown below.

Physical TherapistDirector Of Physical Therapy
Average salary$73,070$107,759
Salary rangeBetween $56,000 And $94,000Between $63,000 And $183,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAWalnut Creek, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaMassachusetts
Best paying companyParkwayPrime Healthcare
Best paying industryProfessionalHealth Care

Differences between physical therapist and director of physical therapy education

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

Physical TherapistDirector Of Physical Therapy
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorPhysical TherapyPhysical Therapy
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Physical therapist vs director of physical therapy demographics

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

Physical TherapistDirector Of Physical Therapy
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 36.3% Female, 63.7%Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5%
Race ratioBlack 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, 11.3% White, 72.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between physical therapist and director of physical therapy 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
    • Show more

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.
    • Show more

Physical therapist vs director of physical therapy skills

Common physical therapist skills
  • Patients, 30%
  • Rehabilitation, 15%
  • Home Health, 13%
  • Quality Care, 5%
  • Physical Therapy, 3%
  • Treatment Programs, 3%
Common director of physical therapy skills
  • Patients, 39%
  • Rehabilitation, 17%
  • Physical Therapy, 6%
  • Treatment Programs, 5%
  • Occupational Therapy, 5%
  • Outpatient Clinic, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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