Rehab aide vs physical therapy attendant

The differences between rehab aides and physical therapy attendants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a physical therapy attendant has an average salary of $39,324, which is higher than the $27,050 average annual salary of a rehab aide.

The top three skills for a rehab aide include patients, rehabilitation and scheduling appointments. The most important skills for a physical therapy attendant are therapeutic exercises, therapy equipment, and rehabilitation.

Rehab aide vs physical therapy attendant overview

	Rehab Aide	Physical Therapy Attendant
Yearly salary	$27,050	$39,324
Hourly rate	$13.00	$18.91
Growth rate	24%	24%
Number of jobs	41,872	104,492
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	-	-

Rehab aide vs physical therapy attendant salary

Rehab aides and physical therapy attendants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Rehab Aide	Physical Therapy Attendant
Average salary	$27,050	$39,324
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $34,000	Between $25,000 And $60,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between rehab aide and physical therapy attendant education

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

	Rehab Aide	Physical Therapy Attendant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common major	Kinesiology	Physical Therapy
Most common college	Inter American University of Puerto Rico San German	Duke University

Rehab aide vs physical therapy attendant demographics

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

	Rehab Aide	Physical Therapy Attendant
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 28.4% Female, 71.6%	Male, 36.8% Female, 63.2%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 10.4% White, 68.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between rehab aide and physical therapy attendant duties and responsibilities

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.

Physical therapy attendant example responsibilities.

Manage flexible schedule at various company facilities categorize as ILF, ALF, and SNF.
Followed/Implement physical and occupational rehabilitation plans.
Followed/Implement physical and occupational rehabilitation plans.

Rehab aide vs physical therapy attendant skills

Common rehab aide skills

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

Common physical therapy attendant skills

Therapeutic Exercises, 33%
Therapy Equipment, 26%
Rehabilitation, 22%
Direct Patient Care, 11%
Patient Treatment, 8%

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Healthcare Support Industry
Rehab Aide
Rehab Aide vs Physical Therapy Attendant

Updated January 8, 2025

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