Future of DPT salaries?

[PapaDeath]

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Hey all,

I'm running between going into physical therapy or osteopathic medicine (D.O.) and wanted your input on the future salaries of DPTs. Everything regarding physical therapy falls into place for me -- the lifestyle, the hours of work, the low stress, the subject material -- all of it but the daunting post-graduation salary to debt ratio. I only have one state school that offers a DPT program, so I can't exactly count on getting in there and paying only state tuition.

I understand that salary should not be a great motivator for choosing a profession, but I guess I am kind of bitter about the lower salaries of PTs as compared with other health professions. Do you think physical therapy salaries will rise in the next few years or continue to stay the same (with adjustment for inflation)?

I have considered becoming a traveling PT following graduation in order to earn a little extra cash and offset the debt from school. Are these positions readily available, and whats the average salary for these types of positions?

Thanks a bunch for your input.

 

[facetguy]

Hey all,

I'm running between going into physical therapy or osteopathic medicine (D.O.) and wanted your input on the future salaries of DPTs. Everything regarding physical therapy falls into place for me -- the lifestyle, the hours of work, the low stress, the subject material -- all of it but the daunting post-graduation salary to debt ratio. I only have one state school that offers a DPT program, so I can't exactly count on getting in there and paying only state tuition.

I understand that salary should not be a great motivator for choosing a profession, but I guess I am kind of bitter about the lower salaries of PTs as compared with other health professions. Do you think physical therapy salaries will rise in the next few years or continue to stay the same (with adjustment for inflation)?

I have considered becoming a traveling PT following graduation in order to earn a little extra cash and offset the debt from school. Are these positions readily available, and whats the average salary for these types of positions?

Thanks a bunch for your input.

As to the bolded portion, I don't see any particular reason why DPT/PT salaries will rise disproportionately above anyone else's.

For those in the field now, are DPTs paid on a different scale than PTs?

 

[MinnDasota]

Nope, no difference in pay with PT vs DPT. However, as a traveling PT you can make quite a bit and I believe you can sometimes get tuition reimbursed (pending where you travel). I don't think it's unheard of to make 20-30K more as a traveling PT. If you don't do the travelling route, but have time for a little work on the side, it's possible to make an extra 20K doing home care.

 

[lee9786]

It all depends on a number of things. Right now the DPT has little to no clinical benefit. Pretty much anyone that wants to pursue this career now is required to get the DPT. So the current benefit is being able to work in the career of physical therapy.

I think that what the APTA is trying to do with the mandated, entry-level clinical doctorate is get a different type of PT. When BsPT was the norm, the PT career was more attractive from a financial perspective. So more people were pursuing the career with finances being a primary motivator. I've already talked to a number of BsPTs that stated that if PT was a mandated doctorate when they applied they would have gone to Med school. The APTA is trying to get more people that are concerned with moving this career forward as opposed to settling on it for a backup plan for not getting into Med school.

Nothing is for certain. I think what it looks like right now is there will be reimbursement cuts. I say this assuming legislation will go through with the proposed medicare cuts like legislators have been saying. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I think anybody pursing this career for financial reward will end up being disappointed down the road. DOs and PTs have different roles in healthcare and considering the time and debt incurred for both, I'd recommend basing the decision more on what role you want to embrace as opposed to salary. Good luck in your decision.