Some of the most fulfilling occupations are ones where you are in a position to help individuals who need it the most. This in effect is what a physical therapist does. Being there for someone who was badly injured in an accident, for example, making sure he will be able to perform most functional activities even after a life-changing accident. A physical therapist should not only help that individual get well physically, but help him get through the injury emotionally, too. To be a physical therapist is a highly recommended career, a very fulfilling career with a very attractive physical therapist salary.
Physical Therapists are healthcare professionals who examine and treat individuals who have medical or other health-related conditions, illnesses, or injuries that limits the individuals’ abilities to perform functional activities. Examples of incidents that may cause the loss of mobility and functions are sprains, fractures, arthritis, back and neck injuries, burns, amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and work and sports-related injuries. Also, when people age, they lose some of these mobility. A proper treatment developed by a physical therapist may slow down this gradual loss of body mobility and function.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 185,500 physical therapist employed in the United States in 2008. The mean annual physical therapist salary is $76,220 or $36.64 in mean hourly wage. Of these individuals, the low 10% receives $52,170 annually while at the other end of the spectrum, the highest 10% earners receive $104,350 in annual physical therapist salary.
Most physical therapists work in offices of other healthcare practitioners, receiving annual physical therapist salary of $75,760. Those that are working in general medical and surgical hospitals receive slightly lower physical therapist salary at $75, 030 which incidentally, the second most numbers of physical therapists work in hospitals. Although there are no records on the Bureaus of Labor Statistics on the number of physical therapists working in management, scientific, and technical consulting services, individuals working in that setting receive the largest physical therapist salary with $88,260 in annual mean wage. Physical therapists working in home healthcare services earn the second highest salary with $83,500 followed by physical therapists working in individual and family services earning $80,390 a year.
There are States that have higher physical therapist salary than other States. In the State of Alaska, although they have less than 500 physical therapists working there, they record the highest physical therapist salary among all States with $87,410 in mean annual wage or $42.02 an hour. In Maryland, physical therapists receive $86,190 a year, while in the State of Nevada, their physical therapists earn $85,360 a year. There are 14,250 physical therapists in the State of California but they are only ranked fifth in all States with the highest physical therapist salary with $83,740 mean annual wage.
There should be a good job opportunities for licensed physical therapists working in all kid of work settings, particularly in acute hospital, skilled nursing, and orthopedic settings. Physical therapists looking for job prospects should look to rural areas as most physical therapists tend to gather together in urban and sub-urban areas. According to the Occupational Handbook Outlook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physical therapists is expected to grow by 30% from 2008 to 2018, growing much faster than the average for all occupations. This means physical therapists have excellent job security and if you factor in the very competitive physical therapist salary, this is a good career for those that are thinking of switching to a new one, or those that want to start their first careers.
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