Physical therapy technician vs rehab technician

The differences between physical therapy technicians and rehab technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a physical therapy technician has an average salary of $35,161, which is higher than the $28,505 average annual salary of a rehab technician.

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

Physical therapy technician vs rehab technician overview

	Physical Therapy Technician	Rehab Technician
Yearly salary	$35,161	$28,505
Hourly rate	$16.90	$13.70
Growth rate	24%	24%
Number of jobs	66,670	27,969
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 68%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	-	-

What does a physical therapy technician do?

A physical therapy technician supports both the physical therapists and their physical therapy assistants in planning and implementing patient care. You are expected to perform varied duties and responsibilities that include responding to patients' requests for assistance, assisting with patient preparation before treatment, and maintaining the equipment used by the physical therapist during treatment sessions. In addition, you will be responsible for maintaining patient satisfaction and patient confidentiality. A physical therapy technician will also perform some administrative tasks such as overseeing inventory and scheduling appointments and treatments.

What does a rehab technician do?

A rehab technician's role is to assist physical therapists and patients in a hospital or similar facility. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around gathering a patient's personal information and medical history, escorting them to corresponding rooms, and conducting initial tests and assessments. It is also essential to maintain records of all transactions, updating medical accounts promptly and accurately. Furthermore, a rehab technician may also perform basic treatments under the supervision of a physical therapist. There are also instances when they have to sanitize and clean therapy equipment, all in adherence to the facility's safety regulations and policies.

Physical therapy technician vs rehab technician salary

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

	Physical Therapy Technician	Rehab Technician
Average salary	$35,161	$28,505
Salary range	Between $20,000 And $59,000	Between $22,000 And $36,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	Santa Rosa, CA
Highest paying state	New York	Colorado
Best paying company	St. Tammany Health System	University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between physical therapy technician and rehab technician education

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

	Physical Therapy Technician	Rehab Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 68%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common major	Kinesiology	Kinesiology
Most common college	University of Virginia	University of Virginia

Physical therapy technician vs rehab technician demographics

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

	Physical Therapy Technician	Rehab Technician
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 37.8% Female, 62.2%	Male, 33.7% Female, 66.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 7.8% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.3% Asian, 7.5% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between physical therapy technician and rehab technician duties and responsibilities

Physical therapy technician example responsibilities.

Manage flexible schedule at various company facilities categorize as ILF, ALF, and SNF.
Assist patients in performing ADL tasks and the use of prescribe adaptive equipment.
Help with ADL's for each patient to make sure they make it to the therapy gym.
Schedule rehab sessions, transport patients to sessions, maintain the cleanliness of treatment area and order supplies.
Administer therapeutic ultrasound and prepare patients for mechanical traction.
Assist patients in performing rehabilitation exercises on the equipment; ensure safety and equipment use guidelines are follow.

Rehab technician example responsibilities.

Make rounds for walkers and wheelchairs for patients.
Assist therapist with transfers, monitoring of splints, hot packs, and modalities.
Prepare patients for therapy sessions and assist patients to put on devices such as braces and splints.
Maintain and clean medical equipment, interact with staff and patients, and occasionally cover the reception desk.Skills UsedCNA and CPR
Provide nursing and orthopedic patient care for stroke patients, assisting with rehabilitation, medication and recovery knowledge.
Assist physical therapists in the rehabilitation of patients by providing exercise programs and proper treatment for healthy injury recovery.

Physical therapy technician vs rehab technician skills

Common physical therapy technician skills

Patients, 43%
Patient Care, 13%
Rehabilitation, 7%
Customer Service, 6%
Occupational Therapy, 3%
Treatment Rooms, 2%

Common rehab technician skills

Patients, 24%
Physical Therapy, 10%
Rehabilitation, 10%
Customer Service, 6%
CPR, 4%
Cleanliness, 4%

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Physical Therapy Technician
Physical Therapy Technician vs Rehab Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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