Research Summary. Here are some key points about hiring rehabilitation aides in the United States:

  • There are a total of 31,052 rehabilitation aides in the US, and there are currently 42,701 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a rehabilitation aide is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per rehabilitation aide on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • San Mateo, CA, has the highest demand for rehabilitation aides, with 9 job openings.

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How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Rehabilitation Aide

Recruiting rehabilitation aides involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

Rehabilitation aides earn a median yearly salary is $28,284 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find rehabilitation aides for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $10 and $16.

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How to hire a Rehabilitation Aide, step by step

To hire a rehabilitation aide, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a rehabilitation aide:

  • Step 1: Identify your needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Writing a rehabilitation aide job description
  • Step 5: Post the job
  • Step 6: Interview process
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new rehabilitation aide
  • Step 8: Go through the checklist for the hiring process

1
Identify Your Needs

The first step to find rehabilitation aides for hire is determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

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Before you hire a rehabilitation aide, you should also consider the ideal background you'd like them to have. For example, what industry or field they have experience in, what level of seniority or education the job requires, and how much it'll cost to hire a candidate that fits the bill.

This list presents the salaries of various rehabilitation aide positions.

Type Of Rehabilitation AideDescriptionHourly Rate
Rehabilitation AidePhysical therapist assistants, sometimes called PTAs, and physical therapist aides work under the direction and supervision of physical therapists. They help patients who are recovering from injuries and illnesses regain movement and manage pain.$10-16
Physical Therapy TechnicianA 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... Show More$9-28
AideAides are personal employees of their clients who commonly have health issues that render them unable to do certain tasks. They help out their clients with activities they may need assistance in... Show More$10-16

2
Create An Ideal Candidate Profile

Before you draft a rehabilitation aide job description, imagine the ideal employee for the role and begin creating a profile. What are they proficient in and what sort of background do they have?

Here are some of the most common rehabilitation aide skills:

Common Skills:
  • Patients
  • Rehabilitation
  • CPR
  • Direct Supervision
  • Cleanliness
  • Data Entry
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Vital Signs
  • Patient Treatment
  • Front Desk
  • Compassion
  • Home Health
  • Medical Equipment
  • Resuscitation
Check All Skills

Here is a list of common responsibilities that rehabilitation aides may be expected to fulfill:

Responsibilities:
  • Manage inventory of supplies and splints for the department.
  • Manage organization and cleanliness of therapy room and equipment.
  • Help patients who used wheelchairs and walkers.
  • Assist patients with ADL's, collect lab specimens, perform EKG's, occasionally perform duty as a patient sitter.
  • Assist physical therapists and occupational hand therapist in implementing rehabilitation programs for patients in an outpatient orthopedics and hand therapy clinic.
  • Assist OTR/L in patient education and DME distribution at SNF
Check all Duties

Beyond the basics, you should also consider how well a candidate fits into your company culture. In other words, you should think about how your ideal rehabilitation aide will live by the company's mission statement and contribute to the team dynamic you already have in place.

Most Common States For Rehabilitation Aides In The US

Rank #State# Of Jobs% of PopulationAvg. Salary
1Pennsylvania1,1149%$26,073
2Indiana95314%$25,868
3Massachusetts95314%$26,944
4Michigan95210%$27,136
5New Jersey7919%$26,936

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3
Make A Budget

Including a salary range in the job description is a good way to get more applicants. A rehabilitation aide salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, their level of experience, education and certifications, and the prestige of the employer. For example, the average salary for a rehabilitation aide in Tennessee may be lower than in Colorado, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level rehabilitation aide. Additionally, a rehabilitation aide with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

Updated March 16, 2023

Rehabilitation Aide Salary Estimate

$13.60hourly

$28,284 yearly

Entry level Salary
$22,000 yearly

Rehabilitation Aide Average Salary By Location

RankStateAvg. SalaryHourly RateJob Count
1Colorado$33,169$16
2Washington$32,272$16
3Maine$30,358$15
4Oregon$30,006$141
5Utah$29,786$144

Rehabilitation Aide Average Salary By Company

RankCompanyAverage SalaryHourly RateJob Openings
1Lifespan$34,120$16.4033
2AltaMed Health Services$34,075$16.382
3Sutter Health$33,435$16.0773
4Mayo Clinic$32,130$15.4520
5Hackensack Meridian Health$32,059$15.41129
6Catholic Health East$32,025$15.40101
7Banner Health$31,737$15.268
8Kaiser Permanente$31,736$15.2654
9Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital$31,539$15.1636
10Piedmont Healthcare$31,323$15.067
11Health Alliance$31,320$15.0612
12Maine Health/maine Mental Health Partners$31,300$15.0512
13Tuality Healthcare$31,222$15.011
14Novant Health$31,102$14.95
15Premier Inc.$31,098$14.952
16Select Medical$31,059$14.93109
17Catholic Health Care System$31,051$14.93
18Connecticut Children's Medical Center$31,047$14.936
19Virginia Hospital Center$30,945$14.8810
20Carilion Clinic$30,881$14.85

4
Writing a Rehabilitation Aide Job Description

A good rehabilitation aide job description should include a few things:

  • Summary of the role
  • List of responsibilities
  • Required skills and experience
Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a rehabilitation aide job description:

Example of Full Job Description

Job DescriptionWorking under the direct supervision of a licensed OTR, PT, COTA, PTA or SLP, provide routine direct patient care treatment programs, clerical duties, and light housekeeping activities to support the care of patients and the efficiency of the operation. Collaborate with all members of the healthcare team to provide services to patients.

Direct patient care treatment programs, such as range of motion and exercise programs, ADLs, ambulation, bed mobility, endurance training, and application of superficial modalities, fabrication of adaptive equipment, carryover of positioning techniques, and carryover of use of assistive devices are carried out in accordance with professional guidelines.

Patient objective and subjective responses to treatment is observed and accurately recorded. Any changes are immediately reported to appropriate team member.
Clerical activities are performed, including recording services rendered to the patient Cleanliness and organization of assigned areas is maintained and routine cleaning of equipment is performed per department guidelines. Maintains cleanliness and safety of the patient treatment area, including daily temperature checks, logs and disinfecting surfaces and equipment used in patient care. Documentation to support reimbursement is completed SRN Organizational Values of Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence are upheld

Qualifications
Education/Degree
High school diploma or equivalent required. Experience
Experience in hospital or outpatient setting desirable. Skills (Specific learned activity gained through training (e.g. computer skills, keyboarding, presentation, CPR, ACLS, etc.)

Required
Effective verbal and written communication skills with English. Basic skills in math Basic skills at establishing interpersonal relationships with patients, families, and staff. Computer proficiency required. Microsoft office applications preferred with ability to learn new software. Preferred
Highly developed communications and interpersonal skills, working with diverse population. Work independently, be self-directed and contribute as a member of a team. Anticipates challenges and develops and implements strategies for addressing them. High level of service delivery. Demonstrate initiative with ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines and adapt to changing situations. Attention to detail.

EEO Statement
Spaulding Rehabilitation Network (SRN) is committed to diversity in the workplace which begins with respect and opportunity for all. SRN takes affirmative action to ensure that equal employment opportunity is provided to all persons regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, ancestry, veteran status, disability or any other basis that would be inconsistent with any applicable ordinance or law. If you need a reasonable accommodation in coming to or participating in the interview process, please let us know. Partner's Healthcare is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

5
Post A Job

To find the right rehabilitation aide for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

  • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
  • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with rehabilitation aides they would recommend.
  • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit rehabilitation aides who meet your education requirements.
  • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

Post your job online:

  • Post your rehabilitation aide job on Zippia to find and recruit rehabilitation aide candidates who meet your exact specifications.
  • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
  • Post a job on free websites.

6
Interview Process

To successfully recruit rehabilitation aides, your first interview needs to be all about engaging with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

You should also ask about candidates' special skills and talents to see if they match with the ideal candidate profile you came up with earlier. Candidates who are good enough for the next step can then move on to the technical interview.

The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7
Send A Job Offer And Onboard Your New Rehabilitation Aide

Once you've selected the best rehabilitation aide candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks that you're offering the candidate. It's essential to ensure that your offer is competitive, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it's important to be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new rehabilitation aide. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8
Go Through The Checklist For The Hiring Process

  • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
  • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
  • Define job responsibilities and requirements
  • Establish budget and timeline
  • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
  • Write job description
  • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
  • Promote the job internally
  • Process applications through applicant tracking system
  • Review resumes and cover letters
  • Shortlist candidates for screening
  • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
  • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
  • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
  • Conduct background checks on top candidates
  • Check references of top candidates
  • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
  • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
  • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
  • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
  • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
  • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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Hiring Rehabilitation Aides FAQs

How Much Does A Good Rehabilitation Aide Cost?

A good rehabilitation aide costs $13.6 an hour in the US. However, it can vary based on factors such as the rehabilitation aide experience, abilities, industry, and the specific requirements of your business.

What Are The Duties Of A Rehabilitation Aide?

The duties of a rehabilitation aide are:
  • Manage inventory of supplies and splints for the department.
  • Manage organization and cleanliness of therapy room and equipment.
  • Help patients who used wheelchairs and walkers.

Should I Hire A Rehabilitation Aide With No Experience?

Yes, you should hire a rehabilitation aide with no experience. Hiring an entry-level rehabilitation aide with no experience offers versatility for your team. They may lack some qualifications, but are adaptable and have not yet formed problematic habits. However, more training may be required compared to experienced.

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