Post job

What is a therapist and program manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.,
Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.

The physical therapy department of an organization is generally led and administered by the Therapy and Program Manager. They direct and organize physical therapy services' policies, priorities, and projects. They even oversee personnel, achieve customer loyalty, communicate with interdisciplinary team members, and manage the recovery service therapeutic aspects. In this role, you'll need to train and collaborate with therapy and nursing staff to improve interaction and ensure a positive response from facility residents.

To become a therapy program manager, you need at least a bachelor's degree. Although many program managers have a Bachelor of Science in Business Management or have received their master's degrees, some pursue degrees in their interest areas. According to BLS, The managers who approach this field end up laying claim to annual earnings at $67,249. The current median pay for Therapy Program Manager ranges from $97,261 to $174,813 in the U.S. However, this figure can vary significantly depending upon your experience and skills.

What general advice would you give to a therapist and program manager?

Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Dr., Assistant Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology, Vanguard University

Opportunities come in many different shapes and sizes, but they are still out there. Whether you are seeking to land a job in education or the non-profit sector, you will need to familiarize yourself and get used to all things digital, for the sake of communicating effectively. The younger your student or service partner's mindset, the more digitally savvy you will need to be, especially in the classroom and in the non-profit world.
ScoreTherapist And Program ManagerUS Average
Salary
4.4

Avg. Salary $56,150

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.3

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.62%

Asian 3.12%

Black or African American 7.90%

Hispanic or Latino 7.90%

Unknown 6.24%

White 74.22%

Gender

female 74.87%

male 25.13%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress level
9.3

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.5

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Therapist and program manager career paths

Key steps to become a therapist and program manager

  1. Explore therapist and program manager education requirements

    Most common therapist and program manager degrees

    Master's

    49.0 %

    Bachelor's

    43.9 %

    Associate

    3.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific therapist and program manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Social Work24.01%
    Patients14.78%
    Crisis Intervention8.53%
    Home Health4.65%
    Eating Disorders4.39%
  3. Complete relevant therapist and program manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New therapist and program managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a therapist and program manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real therapist and program manager resumes.
  4. Research therapist and program manager duties and responsibilities

    • Manage ventilator and BiPAP's and create or update care plans per patient needs.
    • Facilitate supportive group therapy and educational groups with patients receiving inpatient psychiatric treatment for psychiatric disorders and/or chemical dependency.
    • Work with a client base which consist of adults seeking detoxification and rehabilitation within a dual diagnosis therapeutic environment.
    • Maintain client files according to Medicaid an
  5. Prepare your therapist and program manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your therapist and program manager resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a therapist and program manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable therapist and program manager resume templates

    Build a professional therapist and program manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your therapist and program manager resume.
    Therapist And Program Manager Resume
    Therapist And Program Manager Resume
    Therapist And Program Manager Resume
    Therapist And Program Manager Resume
    Therapist And Program Manager Resume
    Therapist And Program Manager Resume
    Therapist And Program Manager Resume
    Therapist And Program Manager Resume
    Therapist And Program Manager Resume
  6. Apply for therapist and program manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a therapist and program manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first therapist and program manager job

Zippi

Are you a therapist and program manager?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average therapist and program manager salary

The average therapist and program manager salary in the United States is $56,150 per year or $27 per hour. Therapist and program manager salaries range between $37,000 and $85,000 per year.

Average therapist and program manager salary
$56,150 Yearly
$27.00 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do therapist and program managers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Therapist and program manager reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2022
Pros

Helping others

Cons

Getting approval and watching families go through their proceed with difficulties


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022
Pros

Making a difference in someone's life. Seeing positive changes.

Cons

Late hours after 9 pm or before 9 am


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

Project concept, execution - meeting business and Customer expectations.


Working as a therapist and program manager? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse community and social services jobs