Physician extender vs physical therapist

The differences between physician extenders and physical therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a physician extender has an average salary of $244,718, which is higher than the $73,070 average annual salary of a physical therapist.

The top three skills for a physician extender include patients, patient care and medical care. The most important skills for a physical therapist are patients, rehabilitation, and home health.

Physician extender vs physical therapist overview

	Physician Extender	Physical Therapist
Yearly salary	$244,718	$73,070
Hourly rate	$117.65	$35.13
Growth rate	28%	17%
Number of jobs	73,599	86,697
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age	39	41
Years of experience	-	-

What does a physician extender do?

Physician extenders are not physicians. However, physician extenders perform a vital task in the overall care of patients. They diagnose and treat medical conditions, document and update patient records, consult patients, and perform physical exams. They may serve either as physician assistants or nurse practitioners. In becoming a physician extender, they must be a registered nurse or must have medical experience by working in the medical field even at a lower level. They need to be a regulatory agency certified and licensed instructor in their region or state.

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.

Physician extender vs physical therapist salary

Physician extenders and physical therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Physician Extender	Physical Therapist
Average salary	$244,718	$73,070
Salary range	Between $125,000 And $476,000	Between $56,000 And $94,000
Highest paying City	Des Moines, IA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	New Mexico	California
Best paying company	UnitedHealth Group	Parkway
Best paying industry	Professional	Professional

Differences between physician extender and physical therapist education

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

	Physician Extender	Physical Therapist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common major	Athletic Training	Physical Therapy
Most common college	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor	Duke University

Physician extender vs physical therapist demographics

Here are the differences between physician extenders' and physical therapists' demographics:

	Physician Extender	Physical Therapist
Average age	39	41
Gender ratio	Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6%	Male, 36.3% Female, 63.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.5% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	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%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between physician extender and physical therapist duties and responsibilities

Physician extender example responsibilities.

Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
Render emergency medical treatment and transport patients.
Initial reading of EKG's.
Assess patients' symptoms while conducting initial injury evaluation.
Work in an outpatient orthopedic clinic with emphasis on physical medicine, rehabilitation of both chronic and acute orthopedic conditions.
Perform wound care.perform laceration repair including suturing.

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

Physician extender vs physical therapist skills

Common physician extender skills

Patients, 43%
Patient Care, 15%
Medical Care, 5%
Rehabilitation, 4%
Physical Therapy, 3%
Clinical Care, 3%

Common physical therapist skills

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

Physician Extender vs. similar jobs

Physician Extender related careers

Physician Extender related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Physician Extender
Physician Extender vs Physical Therapist

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs