Physical therapists (PTs) are a critical component of our nation’s healthcare system, working in hospitals and clinics to help injured, ill, or post-surgery patients improve physical movement and manage pain. As part of a coordinated healthcare team, these allied health clinicians care for patients of all ages, providing useful exercises, stretches, techniques, and equipment to help them on their path to recovery. If you’re a PT and you’re wondering what the job outlook for your profession is looking like in 2024 and beyond, we’ve compiled all the information you need to know. Read on to learn more about the physical therapy jobs landscape in the United States, and why you should consider taking travel PT jobs as you continue your career.
What is the job outlook for physical therapists?
Employment of physical therapists is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations in the United States. In fact, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projections show that PT employment will grow 15% from 2022 to 2032, which is faster than the national average of 3% for all occupations.
More specifically, the BLS projects employment of PTs will grow from 246,800 in 2022 to 284,100 in 2032, an increase of about 37,300 jobs. The BLS also predicts that an average of 13,900 PT openings will pop up each year between 2022 and 2032.
How much do physical therapists make?
According to the BLS, physical therapists had a median annual wage of $99,710 in May 2023. The highest 10% of earners made more than $130,870, while the lowest 10% of earners made less than $72,260.
PT salaries depend heavily on where they work—here are some median annual wages for PTs by practice environment:
- Home healthcare services: $107,870
- State, local, and private hospitals: $103,690
- Nursing and residential care facilities: $102,810
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapist offices; and audiologist offices: $93,050
These salary numbers encapsulate earnings of all PTs in the United States—permanent and travel—continue reading to learn more about what you can expect as a travel PT.
What is a travel physical therapist?
Travel physical therapists take short- or long-term temporary assignments at medical facilities across the country that are understaffed, whether that’s because a permanent clinician is on leave, had an unexpected absence, or the facility is struggling to keep up with increased patient volumes.
These travel allied health clinicians have the same job responsibilities as a PT in a permanent role, as they are still responsible for working alongside patients to improve motor function and manage pain associated with injuries.
Travel physical therapist jobs can last anywhere from a few days to a few months, and most travel PTs move from state to state to deliver their skills to patients in need.
How much does a traveling PT make?
Like most allied health jobs, travel physical therapists often make more money than their permanent counterparts. According to our own analysis, we’ve discovered that travel PTs can make around 8.4% more than those who take permanent positions.
This is partly due to the nature of travel healthcare work: facilities are typically willing to pay more for a travel PT if they are struggling to fill with permanent clinicians, as a travel allied health clinician is already vetted and can be deployed quickly.
Why take travel PT jobs?
One of the biggest reasons to take a travel physical therapy job in 2024 is because of a booming temporary allied health staffing market. The market grew by 8% in 2023, according to Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) , capping off five years of tremendous growth.
While there may be more opportunities for you because of an expanding temporary allied health market, that isn’t the only reason to take a travel PT job. Becoming a travel PT with Barton Healthcare Staffing offers several advantages over permanent roles, including:
- Increased compensation
- More flexible scheduling options
- Opportunities to work in different locations across the country
- Exposure to diverse practice settings
- Support with licensing and credentialing processes
- Assistance arranging travel and accommodations
What states are hiring travel physical therapy providers?
At Barton Healthcare Staffing, we’re constantly recruiting new physical therapists to take assignments at our client’s facilities. This summer we’ve seen an increased demand for travel PTs in the following states:
- California
- Missouri
- Texas
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- New Mexico
- Kansas
- Oklahoma
Find Travel PT Jobs with BHS
Interested in taking on a travel physical therapy job? Want to travel the country while providing critical healthcare services to patients in need? Reach out to one of our recruiters today or apply to one of our open jobs to get started!