Physical therapy aide vs rehab aide

The differences between physical therapy aides and rehab aides can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a physical therapy aide has an average salary of $31,160, which is higher than the $27,050 average annual salary of a rehab aide.

The top three skills for a physical therapy aide include patients, patient care and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a rehab aide are patients, rehabilitation, and scheduling appointments.

Physical therapy aide vs rehab aide overview

	Physical Therapy Aide	Rehab Aide
Yearly salary	$31,160	$27,050
Hourly rate	$14.98	$13.00
Growth rate	24%	24%
Number of jobs	99,485	41,872
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 68%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	-	-

What does a physical therapy aide do?

Physical therapy aides are employed under physical therapists' direction. They typically perform non-medical tasks, including helping with patient intake, setting up treatment rooms, and assisting with patient transportation to another health care facility. They are also responsible for documenting the responses and progress of patients and communicating with hospital personnel and physicians' offices. There are several skills and competencies to become a successful physical therapy aide, which include active listening skills, attention to detail, and compassion for patients.

What does a rehab aide do?

A rehab aide is responsible for supporting the rehabilitation team in performing medical and therapy treatments for patients with disabilities and health conditions. Rehab aides perform administrative and clerical duties as needed, such as updating patients' information on the database, responding to patients' concerns, processing medical payments, administering medications, and assisting rehabilitation staff on medical procedures. They also monitor patients' conditions, create reports, and keep an organized medical chart for reference. A rehab aide should be highly communicative and organizational, especially on attending to each patient's needs under different circumstances with high-quality services.

Physical therapy aide vs rehab aide salary

Physical therapy aides and rehab aides have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Physical Therapy Aide	Rehab Aide
Average salary	$31,160	$27,050
Salary range	Between $8,000 And $118,000	Between $21,000 And $34,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	-
Highest paying state	New York	-
Best paying company	Aya Healthcare	-
Best paying industry	Health Care	-

Differences between physical therapy aide and rehab aide education

There are a few differences between a physical therapy aide and a rehab aide in terms of educational background:

	Physical Therapy Aide	Rehab Aide
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 68%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	Kinesiology	Kinesiology
Most common college	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor	Inter American University of Puerto Rico San German

Physical therapy aide vs rehab aide demographics

Here are the differences between physical therapy aides' and rehab aides' demographics:

	Physical Therapy Aide	Rehab Aide
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 35.6% Female, 64.4%	Male, 28.4% Female, 71.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 9.3% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 8.6% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between physical therapy aide and rehab aide duties and responsibilities

Physical therapy aide example responsibilities.

Manage flexible schedule at various company facilities categorize as ILF, ALF, and SNF.
Administer ultrasound and electrical stimulation and start patients with their prescribe exercise programs.
Educate patients on supportive devices, such as braces, splints, and slings.
Earn repeated appreciations from supervisor, co-workers, and patients for providing the best quality care with compassion.
Work closely with PT's/PTA's; OT/COTA's and SLP in providing quality hands on care to rehab patients.
Create and maintain patient charts and paperwork including exercise, insurance authorization, insurance, HIPAA, and patient information.

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Rehab aide example responsibilities.

Assist therapists with exercises, transfers, and ADL's.
Perform therapeutic ultrasounds, electrical muscle stimulation, Iontophoresis and DRS on patients as needed.
Administer prescribe therapeutic exercise for patients with cervical, lumbar, shoulder, hip and knee injuries.
Provide pre-therapy moist heat, set up patients on various machines, and deliver cryotherapy to patients.
Assist patients with exercises using crutches and a variety of physical/ occupational and wheelchair chair clinic equipment.
Provide patients with instruction for exercises (including home programs), thermotherapy, cryotherapy, and electrotherapy.

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Physical therapy aide vs rehab aide skills

Common physical therapy aide skills

Patients, 42%
Patient Care, 10%
Rehabilitation, 8%
Customer Service, 5%
Ultrasound, 5%
Direct Supervision, 4%

Common rehab aide skills

Patients, 20%
Rehabilitation, 15%
Scheduling Appointments, 9%
Splints, 6%
CPR, 6%
Compassion, 6%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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