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Job outlook for staff physical therapists in the United States
Staff physical therapist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected staff physical therapist job growth rate is 17% from 2018-2028.
About 40,400 new jobs for staff physical therapists are projected over the next decade.
Staff physical therapist salaries have increased 7% for staff physical therapists in the last 5 years.
There are over 103,349 staff physical therapists currently employed in the United States.
There are 148,908 active staff physical therapist job openings in the US.
The average staff physical therapist salary is $73,174.
Are staff physical therapist jobs in demand?
Staff physical therapist job and salary trends over time
Staff physical therapist jobs over time
Staff physical therapist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 103,349 | 0.03% |
| 2020 | 101,294 | 0.03% |
| 2019 | 107,018 | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 104,839 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 103,381 | 0.03% |
Average staff physical therapist salary over time
Staff physical therapist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $73,174 | $35.18 | +1.8% |
| 2025 | $71,912 | $34.57 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $70,697 | $33.99 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $69,829 | $33.57 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $68,663 | $33.01 | +1.6% |
Staff physical therapist jobs by state
Most common states for staff physical therapists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 491 | 37% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 258 | 37% |
| 3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 229 | 37% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,196 | 32% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 321 | 30% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 209 | 28% |
| 7 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 528 | 27% |
| 8 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 337 | 25% |
| 9 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 258 | 25% |
| 10 | Delaware | 961,939 | 238 | 25% |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 3,114 | 24% |
| 12 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 703 | 24% |
| 13 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,726 | 23% |
| 14 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,561 | 23% |
| 15 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,381 | 23% |
| 16 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,376 | 23% |
| 17 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 738 | 23% |
| 18 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,830 | 22% |
| 19 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 913 | 22% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 126 | 22% |
Most common cities for staff physical therapists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyandotte | 2 | 8% | $70,152 |
| 2 | Lowell | 2 | 2% | $78,365 |
| 3 | Novi | 1 | 2% | $70,136 |
| 4 | Palm Beach Gardens | 1 | 2% | $67,075 |
| 5 | Petaluma | 1 | 2% | $108,666 |
| 6 | West Bloomfield | 1 | 2% | $70,133 |
| 7 | Pembroke Pines | 2 | 1% | $66,940 |
| 8 | Miramar | 1 | 1% | $66,931 |
| 9 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $79,313 |
| 10 | Detroit | 2 | 0% | $70,144 |
| 11 | Miami | 2 | 0% | $66,877 |
Staff Physical Therapist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of staff physical therapist experts
Xavier University
University of South Florida
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Weber State University
University of Akron
Hope College
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Willamette University
Endicott College
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of Puget Sound
Andrews University
Saint Mary's College of California
University of Vermont
Gulf Coast State College
The University of Texas at El Paso
George Fox University
George Fox University
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Ashley Varol: Kinesiologists have a wide variety of settings they can work in, and no two days will ever be the same. The role is very flexible with the type of client they may work with and as the world becomes more interested in preventive health and wellness, the market will continue to need individuals who understand the human body and how to move it, with and without disease, illness or injury.
What Staff Physical Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ashley Varol: A kinesiologist is someone who creates exercise programming with movements specific to an individual to meet a goal – whether it be to enhance posture, prevent or rehabilitate from an injury, improve elements of sports performance, or weight loss. Day to day life includes performing assessments to understand strength, flexibility, endurance, as well as overall movement pattern assessment to look for muscle development and imbalances. It will also include creative time, developing exercise programs that match the goals of the client, and requires coaching and cuing movement effectively while providing excellent service to their clients/members/patients.
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Ashley Varol: There is a wide variety of employment options which is great as you can avoid burnout by changing setting/client type, but can also mean working “off” hours – many people want to exercise before or after work or on lunch breaks, so the schedule can be a little bit stretched or non-linear.
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Sumer Samhoury: The best way to maximize your salary potential is to specialize and get board certified in a specific area or population and if you’re passionate about a specific area of expertise, apply for a 1 year residency program. You will learn one on one with board certified experts and save a lot of money on continuing education and be able to sit for a board certification exam by the time you finish it. You will also learn so much more in a short period of time than if you decide to take multiple continuing education courses.
What Staff Physical Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sumer Samhoury: My advice would be to find a job where there are many other therapists that can serve as mentors that you can continue to learn from. Being a new grad is challenging because you are now applying everything you learned in school in the clinic and that can be overwhelming without some guidance. It’s also best to start working in an outpatient clinic with patients with a variety of diagnoses and a diverse population to further increase your knowledge base.
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Sumer Samhoury: Telehealth and remote PT is becoming more prevalent and being able to educate patients to become more independent in their care and healing is the direction in which this field is going. It will also allow for greater access to PT for less mobile individuals.
Dr. Shala Davis Ph.D., FACSM
Professor/Department ChairEast Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Sports, Kinesiology, And Physical Education/Fitness
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Dr. Shala Davis Ph.D., FACSM: Get as much experience working with varied populations as possible to enhance your interpersonal communication skills as well as your clinical competencies. In addition, sitting for and passing a professional credentialing exam demonstrates your commitment to professional development.
What Staff Physical Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Shala Davis Ph.D., FACSM: The field is expanding and the new professional needs to adapt along with the contemporary trends. Communication, varied exercise programming, use of technology and the ability to motivate clients/patients to be compliant with exercise will be the key to success in the next few years.
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Shala Davis Ph.D., FACSM: Holding a professional credential and having varied skills to work with apparently health adults and patients with clinical conditions makes the professional more marketable.
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Saori Hanaki: Those who are going into fitness and/or coaching-related areas definitely want to consider getting certifications from respected organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength & Conditioning Association. I would specifically recommend getting certifications that require a college degree and/or exercise science-specific coursework since many fitness certifications including personal training certifications can be obtained without a college degree. Additionally, extensive practical experiences in health and fitness assessments, exercise prescriptions, and client/patient interactions through internships would be a plus.
What Staff Physical Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Saori Hanaki: Keep open-minded. Exercise science/kinesiology is an interdisciplinary field of study that allows you to explore options in different professional areas including fitness, coaching, healthcare-related fields, and education. With experiences after college, your professional interests likely evolve.
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Saori Hanaki: As with any other professions, transferable skills including information literacy - the ability to locate, assess the credibility of information available, and making a sound decision based on information available will be critical in exercise science professionals. This allows you to continue updating the knowledge and the abilities to perform responsibilities effectively and safely, whether it is personal training, providing clinical care, or conducting research. The ability to work in a team/collaborate is another important skill for anyone who wants to be successful in exercise science and related fields.
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Ronald Otterstetter Ph.D., FACSM: Being proficient in the latest technology and its use within the field. Staying up to date on the latest research and being able to apply the information into everyday interactions and scenarios. Being flexible and skilled to work with different populations to help achieve whatever their exercise goals might be.
What Staff Physical Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ronald Otterstetter Ph.D., FACSM: Try to maximize your experiences before entering the field. Be proactive and try to expose yourself to as many skills and settings as possible, so that when you encounter it in your job, you'll know how to deal with it. The more expertise you bring to the job and acquire during your work, the more valuable you will be as an employee.
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Ronald Otterstetter Ph.D., FACSM: Take every opportunity to make yourself a better professional. Seek to learn skills that will make you so integral to the company that you can’t be replaced. Work on people skills: both with the ones you work with and the ones you work for. Be open to advice and constructive criticism. They will both make you better in the long run.
Dr. Brian Rider Ph.D, CSCS, FACSM
Associate Professor & Exercise Science Program DirectorHope College
Sports, Kinesiology, And Physical Education/Fitness
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Dr. Brian Rider Ph.D, CSCS, FACSM: The professor did not provide a specific answer to this question.
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Brian Rider Ph.D, CSCS, FACSM: The field of kinesiology and/or exercise science is important due to the aging population dealing with lifestyle diseases. Exercise is crucial in managing and preventing these diseases.
Dr. Matthew Miltenberger PhD, CSCS, ATC
Associate ProfessorEast Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Sports, Kinesiology, And Physical Education/Fitness
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Dr. Matthew Miltenberger PhD, CSCS, ATC: Maximizing salary comes down to a few things: 1. Education/ degree having an MS enhances starting salaries. 2. Certifications through national organizations like NSCA and ACSM. 3. Specialize within the field, find your area. 4. Market your skills on your resume… what can you do from a technology standpoint, what equipment are you proficient in using, special coursework or certificates. 5. Get involved while in school, do an internship or several, make contact with experts in the field, volunteer within the field. Get your name out there and make connections!
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Matthew Miltenberger PhD, CSCS, ATC: A couple pieces of advice I would give is trust your education and be confident in the skills you learned, the next is really important, be a life long learner, continue to learn new skills, challenge yourself to grow. Lastly, I would say that the field of kinesiology is so diverse and ever changing, find your specialty/ niche and become the expert!
Michael Lockard Ph.D.
Professor of Exercise and Health ScienceWillamette University
Sports, Kinesiology, And Physical Education/Fitness
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Michael Lockard Ph.D.: Of the many potential career paths seen within Kinesiology and Exercise Science, they commonly involve working directly with people (patients, athletes, clients, or students) to help improve their health, function, and overall well-being. Regardless of the specific career, this can be extremely rewarding on a daily basis.
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Matthew Ibrahim Ph.D.(c): Become as versatile as possible. That's going to separate you from your peers. We live in a day and age where having one set of skills simply isn't enough. It is imperative that you develop as many skills as possible that pertain to the career field, which in turn will make you more valuable. The more value you bring to the table, the greater the asset you become to a company. It's as simple as that.
What Staff Physical Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Matthew Ibrahim Ph.D.(c): Without a doubt, I would strongly encourage students and up-and-coming professionals to build soft skills through effective communication, develop coaching skills through efficient instruction, and lastly, improve their public speaking skills. Notice how all 3 of these skills are related to the communication side of things. Ultimately, this is where I feel most strongly that we can improve as a whole, especially with the rise in technology. After you've mastered these 3 skills, I would encourage you to then begin to learn the nuances of the technology side of things in our field since that area is only going to grow the more it is around.
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Matthew Ibrahim Ph.D.(c): If you're about to graduate with a degree in Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology or Kinesiology, my top 3 recommendations would be: #1 - Be yourself. Avoid trying to mimic others in the field. Steer clear of a simple 'copy and paste'. Most importantly, forge a path of your own. I know that this may sound too simple, but I firmly believe in being yourself in every avenue of life. Ultimately, you will attract what you exude; therefore, exude energy, enthusiasm, curiosity and a deep passion for your work. #2 - Be patient. So many young, up-and-coming professionals in our field (i.e., Strength and Conditioning, Physical Therapy, Athletic Training, etc.) seem to be in a rush and want to leap past the journey to the end result. In my humble opinion, it is the journey that teaches you life's most valuable lessons, especially as they pertain to this career field. Instead of leaping past these valuable career lessons, lean into them, learn from them and grow from them. #3 - Seek mentorship. After graduating with a degree in this field, you may feel lost, unsure of your next steps or confused. Trust me, this is very typical. I've been there before as well. One thing that truly helped me along my path when I was in your shoes was to seek out mentors in and out of the career field. In doing so, I was able to develop from a professional standpoint, and I was also able to grow my overall network. In my book, it was a huge win-win for my career, especially in the early stages. Ultimately, this need for mentorship is why I created my mentorship program for students and up-and-coming professionals like yourself: Athletic Performance University (APU).
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Joshua Wooten Ph.D.: Kinesiology offers diverse career opportunities in helping people physically and mentally. Graduates can pursue certifications like Certified Exercise Physiologists, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists, Certified Mental Performance Coaches, or enhance their coaching and teaching abilities.
Holly Roberts PT, PhD
Director and Associate ProfessorUniversity of Puget Sound
Rehabilitation And Therapeutic Professions
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Holly Roberts PT, PhD: Residency or fellowship training and/or ABPTS board certification can improve salary potential in some settings. It is important for graduates to consider things that are valuable beyond salary. You might value additional time off (flex days or floating holidays), paid continuing education, paid membership for your professional organization, or a flexible schedule. After a certain point, those benefits may be more negotiable than salary.
What Staff Physical Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Holly Roberts PT, PhD: I think technology will play a bigger role in rehabilitation. It will be important to identify valid and reliable technology tools to enhance rehabilitative care. I also think that AI is going to become more prevalent in our field. It will be important for physical therapists to determine when AI may enhance care or improve clinical efficiency. However, AI cannot replace the clinical reasoning of a Doctor of Physical Therapy, nor can it use its hands to assess, guide, or facilitate movement.
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Holly Roberts PT, PhD: I advise new graduates to be open to new experiences. We are lifelong learners and there are advances in rehabilitation science every day. Ask questions. Identify a formal or informal mentor, but also know that new graduates have something to teach more "seasoned" clinicians as well. I also recommend considering residency or fellowship training and pursuing specialist certification. Finally, find a way to contribute to enhancing our profession and improving the quality of care for patients. That could be through advocacy, research, health promotion and wellness, or clinical instruction.
Nathan Hess PT, DPT, Ph.D. Candidate
Assistant ProfessorAndrews University
Rehabilitation And Therapeutic Professions
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Nathan Hess PT, DPT, Ph.D. Candidate: PTs like helping people achieve their goals and return to desired functional levels but dislike dealing with insurance and paperwork.
What Staff Physical Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nathan Hess PT, DPT, Ph.D. Candidate: Employment of PTs is expected to grow by 15% over the next 10 years, much faster than the average for all occupations.
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Nathan Hess PT, DPT, Ph.D. Candidate: A PT evaluates and treats patients with mostly neurological or musculoskeletal injuries, focusing on improving mobility, maximizing function, and managing pain.
Derek Marks PhD
Associate Professor, Director Graduate Kinesiology, Director Human Performance LaboratorySaint Mary's College of California
Sports, Kinesiology, And Physical Education/Fitness
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Derek Marks PhD: I generally have 3 pieces of advice I share with my graduating students. 1) be flexible - our field does not always have perfectly defined career options and sometimes you will need to take on roles you may not have thought of before in order to get the experience you need to move forward. 2) Be patient - there is often a process involved with getting experience and earning the qualification to progress to your 'dream' position. It takes time and dedication to get there. 3) Be creative - building on point #1 above, there is not always a perfect job out there and sometimes you have to go out and make it for yourself. Creating your own niche or finding positions that you can make for you can be very rewarding.
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Carissa Wengrovius: Stay curious and continue to review new literature as the evidence in our field grows and evolves quickly. Find a couple of strong mentors who will support you and help you build your skill set.
What Staff Physical Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Carissa Wengrovius: Skilled nursing facilities or home health agencies are higher paying settings for a therapist. Travel therapy also offers significantly higher pay. Working in rural areas will maximize your salary because cost of living is low.
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Carissa Wengrovius: Adaptability will be the most important skill for early-career PTs. This will involve being open to learning new technologies, responsive to protocol and treatment changes, and staying current to diverse patient needs.
Adam Padgett PTA
Assistant Coordinator & Director of Clinical EducationGulf Coast State College
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Adam Padgett PTA: As the field of physical therapy continually adapts to fluctuating reimbursement rates, the ability to incorporate evidence-based interventions that are also financially viable will be crucial. Examples of such interventions include manual techniques/soft tissue mobilization, neuromuscular education, alongside the therapeutic exercise and activities that are familiar to us. Many facilities are already implementing these practices. Looking ahead, I anticipate the increasing prevalence of interventions such as blood flow restriction techniques and the utilization of augmented/virtual reality technologies.
What Staff Physical Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Adam Padgett PTA: In my experience, a new graduate clinician's salary often reflects their potential. Employers view hiring new graduates as an investment, and they are more inclined to offer competitive salaries to individuals who exhibit a strong work ethic and a keen desire to learn. This reassures employers that the clinician will continue to develop and improve, leading to better patient outcomes. These improvements can manifest in various ways, such as shorter hospital stays, enhanced patient safety and awareness during daily activities, and overall maximization of patient independence.
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Adam Padgett PTA: Do not mistake graduation and passing the board exam as reasons to stop learning. Your journey from entry-level to mastery-level clinician is just beginning. Seek positions that are willing to continue teaching and molding you into the clinician you aspire to be. This could involve finding a mentor who is willing to guide you as you gain experience or having access to resources such as an allowance or budget for continuing education (CEUs).
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Asia Heynen M.S.: Kinesiology is very interdisciplinary. You will learn a lot of very interesting and different things during your studies and professional life. Some folks might not like this aspect of the field, but it allows Kinesiologists the best advantage in their professional lives from drawing on many different sources of information to solve problems.
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Dr. Alvaro Gurovich PT, PhD, FACSM: Find a job with solid mentorship and professional development opportunities. You still need to learn a lot. We educate entry-level generalist Physical Therapists that embrace life-long learning as the field is constantly changing. Ten years from now, ~50% of what you learned won’t be that accurate anymore; the main problem is that we don’t know which 50%. Your DPT degree is not the finish line, it is the beginning of your professional career. Your DPT degree is the launch pad to “the infinity, and beyond”.
What Staff Physical Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Alvaro Gurovich PT, PhD, FACSM: The physical therapy field has significantly grown in the past few years. It is impossible to cover all new trends and discoveries in 3 years of PT school. Therefore, general PTs will need to start considering more specialized work to keep up with changes in a specific area. I think new graduates should consider a residency or fellowship to continue with their education within 3 to 5 years of graduation. That will allow them to keep up with the new trends and evidence.
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Alvaro Gurovich PT, PhD, FACSM: First, I would definitely advise our students to save and invest in their professional knowledge. More education should mean more income in the future. A recent study published in the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Journal showed that physical therapists that enrolled in further educational programs, such as a PhD, can earn better salaries down the road. In addition, investing in advocacy toward the profession is always a smart investment. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is constantly working to improve the conditions of PTs. If we support the APTA, the APTA will work for us for better conditions. It’s a smart investment.
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Jason Brumitt Ph.D.: Couple thoughts. First, it is valuable to stay current on emerging areas of practice. When I was a new graduate 25 years ago, things like blood flow restriction training and dry needling were not around. Now these treatments are emerging as potentially valuable tools in outpatient orthopedic practice. As one stays current on emerging areas one also needs to appreciate the efficacy that supports the use of these treatments. There have been other 'treatments' that have come and gone during my time because they ultimately did not improve patient outcomes. It will be interesting to see how advancements in technology (e.g., AI, virtual reality, gaming) impact how we deliver care. Second, it is always hard to predict the future; because 'we' often focus on what 'we' can get reimbursed to do now. That being said, the visionary therapist will try to work outside the boundaries of traditional practice. What is needed? Health coaching, nutritional counseling, lifestyle medicine. These are areas that we touch on as PTs; however, if we really want to make an impact on population health, these need to be the areas where we lead and excel. There are some working in these realms now and succeeding.
What Staff Physical Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jason Brumitt Ph.D.: One needs to 'be known'. When you are known in your community you will either have a thriving independent practice or become indispensable to your employer. You want to 'be known' in your community for providing good service. Patients often have the choice where to go for treatment - do they come to you because of word of mouth? Can you create a presence online that attracts clients? Another goal is to 'be known' to referral sources. Referral sources (MD, DO, PA, NP) obviously want their patients to be cared for and feel value for PT service (even if the patient's case didn't improve with conservative treatment). Another way to improve your salary potential is to address needs. For example, some are becoming certified in women's health. Having specialty certifications helps to increase your value because you are able to treat a greater variety of patients. Consider working where others are not. There are regions in the country where there is a lack of PTs. You may be able to demand more since there is a critical need.
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Jason Brumitt Ph.D.: It is important to be a life-long learner. Prior to starting their first job the new graduate has likely only observed a fraction of the types of cases that they will see in their new specialty area. Learning doesn't stop once you have your diploma. Seek knowledge and experience by working with mentor(s), reviewing cases, reading, and taking continuing education courses.
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Tess Swake PT, DPT, OCS, MTC: My biggest advice for a new graduate is to stay connected to professional groups, colleagues or others in the field who will continue to push you to grow. Even though it might seem like you learned most of what Physical Therapy has to offer during your Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, you are just scratching the surface. Surround yourself with people who are pushing the field forward.
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Tess Swake PT, DPT, OCS, MTC: As a new graduate, you have many exciting options. I spent the first seven years of my career as a Traveling Physical Therapist, which was a great way to explore different settings within Physical Therapy, create a professional network and pay off student loans. Another great option is to have your main employment and then work On-Call or As Needed (PRN). You can work in a variety of settings such as Acute Care, Skilled Nursing or Outpatient. This is a way to supplement your income and improve your skills as a well-rounded Physical Therapist.
What Staff Physical Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Tess Swake PT, DPT, OCS, MTC: Utilization of technology in the clinical setting is the future of Physical Therapy. Previously, you might have only used technology in a research setting, but use of Handheld Dynamometry (HHD), Force Plates and modalities such as Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) will be the standard of practice for objective measures and treatment in the future.
What general advice would you give to a Staff Physical Therapist?
Dr. Ken Kosior Prof.: Earning potential has grown with the demand for skills rehabilitation professionals. The best way to maximize growth and salary is continuing education (certificates, advanced credentials, and specialization), exploring non-clinical opportunities in growing fields of healthcare (software, technology, health & wellness), and leveraging your professional degree for per diem, or part-time, employment to build your professional experience.
What Staff Physical Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Ken Kosior Prof.: Rehabilitative Science fields are people first professions, the skills that will be most important in the next 3-5 years are the interpersonal and 'soft skills'. The advancements in technology, AI, and complexity of the healthcare system the ability to empathize with a client, communicate effectively, and make informed decisions based on data will be critical.
What will help Staff Physical Therapists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Ken Kosior Prof.: Network and take every learning opportunity that comes your way. The professions of PT, OT, etc. within the Rehabilitation Science field are small. Continuing to learn and meet other professionals is critical to your professional success.