Physical therapist vs rehabilitation technician

The differences between physical therapists and rehabilitation technicians 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 $29,533 average annual salary of a rehabilitation technician.

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

Physical therapist vs rehabilitation technician overview

	Physical Therapist	Rehabilitation Technician
Yearly salary	$73,070	$29,533
Hourly rate	$35.13	$14.20
Growth rate	17%	24%
Number of jobs	86,697	31,196
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age	41	43
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 rehabilitation technician do?

A rehabilitation technician is responsible for assisting therapists and other medical personnel on supporting the patients in their daily activities and physical therapy sessions. Rehabilitation technicians provide high-quality care services for the patients by administering medications, accompanying them on medical appointments, and ensuring the cleanliness and orderliness of all equipment and facilities to prevent hazards within the premises. They may also perform administrative and clerical duties such as updating patients' information on the database, writing reports, processing payments for medical procedures, and maintaining medical charts for reference.

Physical therapist vs rehabilitation technician salary

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

	Physical Therapist	Rehabilitation Technician
Average salary	$73,070	$29,533
Salary range	Between $56,000 And $94,000	Between $23,000 And $37,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	California	Washington
Best paying company	Parkway	Lawrence General Hospital
Best paying industry	Professional	Health Care

Differences between physical therapist and rehabilitation technician education

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

	Physical Therapist	Rehabilitation Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common major	Physical Therapy	Kinesiology
Most common college	Duke University	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Physical therapist vs rehabilitation technician demographics

Here are the differences between physical therapists' and rehabilitation technicians' demographics:

	Physical Therapist	Rehabilitation Technician
Average age	41	43
Gender ratio	Male, 36.3% Female, 63.7%	Male, 31.0% Female, 69.0%
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, 14.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.5% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	12%	8%

Differences between physical therapist and rehabilitation technician 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

Rehabilitation technician example responsibilities.

Manage organization and cleanliness of therapy room and equipment.
Record vital signs and assist patients in performing their ADL's as directed by medical or nursing staff.
Assist patients with neurological conditions with different mobility training, ADL training, and strengthening exercises.
Assist with the modification of therapy plans, assist with manual stretching and traction of patients.
Prepare patients for electrical stimulation, mechanical traction, and ultrasounds.
Assist in operating a physical therapy facility by helping patients improve their movement, stamina, coordination, and intellectual capacity.

Physical therapist vs rehabilitation technician skills

Common physical therapist skills

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

Common rehabilitation technician skills

Patients, 23%
Rehabilitation, 18%
Physical Therapy, 12%
CPR, 9%
Customer Service, 5%
Occupational Therapy, 4%

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Physical Therapist
Physical Therapist vs Rehabilitation Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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