Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.
Physical Therapists
SOC: 29-1123 O*NET: 29-1123.00
Median Salary
$101,020
per year
Job Growth
🚀 10.9%
Much Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
13.2
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Bachelor's degree plus work experience, or graduate degree
Job Zone 5
Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.
What does a Physical Therapists do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$74,420
10th percentile
Early Career
$83,470
25th percentile
Median
$101,020
50th percentile
Experienced
$117,190
75th percentile
Top Earners
$132,500
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$74,420
25th
$83,470
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$101,020
Mean: $102,400
75th
$117,190
90th
$132,500
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $58,080 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $83,470 and $117,190
- •Salary spread is 33.4% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 248,630 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
High Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:267,200
Top Industries
Ambulatory Health Care Services57.4%
Offices of Other Health Practitioners36.8%
Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists35.8%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+10.9%
Annual Openings:13,200
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)267,200
Current
2034 (Projected)296,400
+10.9%
+29,300
Employment Change
+10.9%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Faster than average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Physical Therapists professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 50 locations
California
24,380 jobs$123,3000.84x
Texas
18,930 jobs$103,7100.85x
Florida
17,050 jobs$98,8801.08x
New York
15,810 jobs$99,4301.03x
Pennsylvania
11,100 jobs$99,5701.14x
Illinois
10,390 jobs$103,3801.06x
Ohio
9,240 jobs$99,7401.04x
Michigan
7,800 jobs$98,9601.10x
New Jersey
7,760 jobs$106,3101.13x
North Carolina
7,350 jobs$96,6700.93x
Virginia
6,700 jobs$100,7101.02x
Massachusetts
6,600 jobs$102,2601.12x
Georgia
5,480 jobs$101,9300.70x
Washington
5,460 jobs$102,1400.96x
Colorado
5,430 jobs$100,2401.17x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Faster than average growth expected
- •High current market demand
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Speaking
100%
#2
Active Listening
94%
#3
Service Orientation
86%
#4
Reading Comprehension
80%
#5
Social Perceptiveness
74%
#6
Critical Thinking
66%
#7
Monitoring
60%
#8
Writing
54%
#9
Judgment and Decision Making
46%
#10
Time Management
40%
Skills Overview
Speaking
advanced5.0
100%
Active Listening
advanced4.7
94%
Service Orientation
intermediate4.3
86%
Reading Comprehension
basic4.0
80%
Social Perceptiveness
intermediate3.7
74%
Critical Thinking
intermediate3.3
66%
Monitoring
intermediate3.0
60%
Writing
basic2.7
54%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Speaking
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Active Listening
advancedImportance94%
skills
4.7/5.0
Service Orientation
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance80%
abilities
4.0/5.0
Social Perceptiveness
intermediateImportance74%
skills
3.7/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance66%
abilities
3.3/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance60%
skills
3.0/5.0
Writing
basicImportance54%
skills
2.7/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
basicImportance46%
abilities
2.3/5.0
Time Management
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Animal Control Workers100%
5 shared skills
Correspondence Clerks90%
5 shared skills
File Clerks90%
5 shared skills
Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage90%
5 shared skills
Registered Nurses82%
5 shared skills
Physician Assistants82%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Service Orientation
Learn on the Job:
- →Monitoring
- →Writing
- →Critical Thinking
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Service Orientation
- ✓Reading Comprehension
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Speaking
- ★Active Listening
- ★Service Orientation
- ★Reading Comprehension
- ★Social Perceptiveness
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Physical Therapists
Technology Intensity
High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires advanced digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Proficiency with specialized softwareTechnical documentationData analysis toolsSystem integration
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TecheClinicalWorks EHR software
🔥 Hot TechMEDITECH software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Outlook
eClinicalWorks EHR software
MEDITECH software
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
HIGH
👥
Team Orientation
CONSTANT TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet high physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy constant team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
Planning & Development (4)Analysis & Evaluation (4)General Responsibilities (9)Training & Development (2)Documentation & Record-Keeping (2)
1
Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development100% perform100%
2
Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Analysis & Evaluation97% perform98%
3
Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Analysis & Evaluation94% perform96%
4
Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Training & Development88% perform92%
6
Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development85% perform90%
7
Review physician's referral and patient's medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping82% perform88%
8
Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping79% perform86%
9
Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Discharge patient from physical therapy when goals or projected outcomes have been attained and provide for appropriate follow-up care or referrals.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on planning & development activities
- •33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Physical Therapists
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Physical Therapists professionals typically have a SIR Holland code and highly value relationships
SSocial
IInvestigative
RRealistic
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Physical Therapists
Integrity
CriticalIntegrity
Importance Level4.80
Concern for Others
CriticalConcern for Others
Importance Level4.80
Social Orientation
CriticalSocial Orientation
Importance Level4.67
Dependability
CriticalDependability
Importance Level4.66
Self-Control
CriticalSelf-Control
Importance Level4.63
Cooperation
CriticalCooperation
Importance Level4.63
Complete Work Styles Profile
Integrity
4.8
Concern for Others
4.8
Social Orientation
4.7
Dependability
4.7
Self-Control
4.6
Cooperation
4.6
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.5
Attention to Detail
4.4
Initiative
4.4
Independence
4.4
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
Bachelor's degree plus work experience, or graduate degree
Typical duration: 4 years
Preparation Level
Job Zone 5
Extensive Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience needed
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:Bachelor's degree plus work experience, or graduate degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. These may include master's, doctoral, or professional degrees.
Training:
Extensive training and work experience required
💼 Experience Requirement
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience needed
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Master's or doctoral degree
- • Extensive work experience in the field
- • State licensure or professional certification
5
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Most of these occupations require graduate school. These may include master's, doctoral, or professional degrees.
Master's or doctoral degreeExtensive work experience in the fieldState licensure or professional certification
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