Travel Physical Therapist Jobs

A travel physical therapist salary can vary significantly depending on the experience of the PT as well as the area, facility, and assignment. The median salary for a physical therapist was $91,680 in 2020 with most earning between $75,360 and $106,060 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Entry-level PTs or those with the lowest 10% salary earned around $63,530, while the highest 10% earned more than $126,780.

Typically, a traveling physical therapist salary will consist of higher pay than permanent positions in the same location, though this varies widely by traveling physical therapist jobs.

Nevada pays the highest average salary to physical therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics with an average pay of $108,580 and an hourly wage of $52.20. Nevada is followed by California ($104,500 per year, $50.24 per hour), Alaska ($100,330 per year, $48.23 per hour), New Jersey ($100,740 per year, $47.12 per hour), and Connecticut ($100,580 per year, $48.36 per hour).

Seeking the highest-paying traveling physical therapy contract doesn't always mean that you should take assignments with the highest salaries. Factoring in the cost of living of each state can often give a better indication of what you can expect to earn from a position. When comparing adjusted traveling physical therapist salaries, Mississippi, New Mexico, Kansas, Alabama, and Oklahoma make up the top five highest paying states.

Physical Therapists (PTs) are responsible for developing and implementing a plan to address the needs of patients with injuries or physical disabilities. This will include developing a physical therapy treatment program with fitness and stretching exercises, performing tests, providing post-surgery care and instruction, and providing pain relief.

Physical therapists play an important role in the rehabilitation, preventative care, and treatment for patients with injuries, illnesses, and chronic conditions that affect functional movement. Physical therapy work can vary depending on the setting, as the needs of individuals with sports injuries are different than orthopedic or geriatric patients.

To become a traveling physical therapist, you will need to complete a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program from an accredited institution. In order to be admitted to a physical therapy (PT) program, you will typically need to have a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as exercise science or biology, and have completed specific prerequisite courses.

After completing a DPT program, physical therapists need to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) in order to be licensed to practice. Some states also require additional exams or certifications. In addition to formal education and licensure, physical therapists also need to have strong interpersonal and communication skills, as well as a passion for helping others and willingness to learn.

Creating a profile with Fusion Marketplace is one easy way to store and share employment history, education & certification, licenses, references, and any other professional documents, as well as search for travel positions. Fusion Marketplace also offers multiple agencies specializing in allied health travel, and the recruiters are available to provide support at every stage of your travel career.

Traveling physical therapist assignments are available all across the country in a variety of healthcare settings. Traveling provides the opportunity for a therapist to explore different parts of the country, gain valuable physical therapy career experience, and work with a wide variety of patients and facilities.

Travel Physical Therapy positions are available in:

• Hospitals

• Private Practice

• Acute Care

• Outpatient Clinic

• Skilled Nursing and Long Term Care Facilities

• Home Health Services

• Hospices

• Surgical Centers

• School and Education Centers

Traveling physical therapists enjoy a number of personal and career benefits. Travel physical therapist positions provide competitive pay packages, as they are needed all across the country. With the physical therapist jobs expected to grow by 20.5% by 2030 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapy travel jobs will be in demand for years to come in nearly any setting.

This demand allows a physical therapist to explore the country and experience any health setting from home health to acute care. Agencies also may also provide insurance benefits, travel reimbursement, housing stipends, reimbursement for licenses, and other perks depending on the contract.

While compensation offers can vary depending on the contract or agency offering, pay packages for traveling physical therapist jobs typically have four major components: hourly taxable wages, meals and incidentals, housing, and travel.

Hourly Pay

Full-time therapists working at healthcare facilities receive a salary, but most travel allied health employers offer hourly wages. Every pay package must include a taxable hourly wage, and the amount can vary depending on the shift, area, and specialty required.

Housing

Housing payments can be included in a payment from a staffing agency. This is typically offered in two ways when you take on an allied travel job. Either the company is providing housing, or you can take the housing stipend.

It is more beneficial for the traveler to take the housing stipend for two primary reasons. First, they will have a choice of where they will stay. Everyone’s definitions of comfort and acceptable are different. The second reason the housing stipend is more beneficial for them is that it can be given as a nontaxable amount.

Meals and Incidentals

Also known as per diems, meal and incidental stipends provide a daily budget for daily living expenses. These standards vary depending on the cost of living in cities and states across the country.

Travel Expenses

Travel is the last portion of the pay package. Many recruiters may not even offer travel and instead put that money into the per diems or housing for their traveler, so they are receiving the benefits over the entire contract, not just at the very beginning or end of the contract. While a travel stipend can be used to cover the cost of a flight, it is often used to subsidize the traveler's expenses to and from a job. Travel expenses can be offered as a reimbursement rate per mile, though many agencies will opt to offer a flat rate to and from an assignment.

Many traveling physical therapists find work through recruitment agencies, staffing companies and marketplaces, which means you have better access to job boards to choose your schedule, and salary. When you begin browsing for jobs, be sure to consider the pay, housing options, benefits, guaranteed hours' policy, and the recruiting company’s overall reputation.

The good news is that Fusion Marketplace has everything you need when it comes to finding the perfect traveling physical therapy jobs. Here, you have the freedom to compare benefits, packages, and staffing agencies—all in one place. So find your next job today.