Salaries

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I've always been curious as to how much PT's are making these days. A lot of my friends are having trouble paying back their loans due to poor salaries. The class president never went into PT. He works with computers.

Where do you live?
Where do you work?
How much do you make?
What kind of work are you doing?
How long have you been out?
What is your degree?

I'm in Richmond, VA
I work for the Department of Veteran's Affairs
I make around 54K/year
I work primarily in SCI rehab
I've been out 3 years
MSPT

 

[DOctorJay]

here's a quick reply from a new grad

Where do you live? I'm from CT but took a job in Lake Charles, LA (a place I did a student affiliation at)
Where do you work? Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Inpatient Rehab and a local nursing home
How much do you make? $45/hour at the hospital - $50/hour at the nursing home
What kind of work are you doing? inpatient neuro rehab and extended care at the nursing home
How long have you been out? graduated January '04 (6 months to date)
What is your degree? MSPT from the University of Hartford (first class to graduate with master's)

My hourly rate is atypical because I am a contract therapist (basically a traveler). My housing is also paid for and I was able to negotiate health/dental benefits so I am extremely lucky. Traveling PT is a great way to make some quick cash but realize you will be going to a program that is short on therapists and are desperate, therefore willing to pay the higher rates. I was lucky in that I knew exactly what I was stepping into since I was a student in the setting first.

From my own experience it appears that the south and west have the highest salaries and lowest cost of living. Picking up some PRN nursing home or home health contract type work is definitely the way to go if you have some extra time either on the weekends or a couple days after work. Home health is usually extremely flexible and I've heard of therapists working before work, during lunch hour, and after work. If you're willing to continue working as hard as you did in school out of school in the real world, then you can do very well.

-J

 

[delicatefade]

That's amazing. Good for you.

I think the traveling/contract thing has really picked up since I graduated in 2001. It didn't seem to be a very viable option when I was looking for jobs. Luckily I landed one that gave a *very* significant raise after the first year. Many of my classmates are making about 10K less than me and a LOT less than you 😉

Good luck in medical school!!! I'm becoming surprised at the number of PT's I'm meeting that are going back. Two of my classmates are considering it.
What made you decide to go straight into medicine after PT school?

 

[DOctorJay]

My PT program allowed us to enter as freshmen in undergrad and as long as we maintained a 3.0 we were moved along into the MSPT program. During my time there I decided I wanted to persue medicine but felt it would be a waste to turn my back completely on PT especially if I didn't get into medical school (risky at the time to spend the money for the extra education but I'm making it up now and hopefully will continue to work PRN during med school).

I almost went to VCU for PT school by the way and know some residents in CT who went to CCOM. Good luck to you as well!!!

-J

 

[uhapt]

Hey Docjay, I'm currently in the pt program at hartford. Just wanted to say hello, also my anatomy lab instructor thinks he knows who you are. His name is mr. loney he works for ems who are affiliated with hartford hospital.

 

[bigdan]

OP-

In Upstate NY, you can make 40-47K starting. In our area, the hospitals do pay a bit better. One local nursing home (county run, with unions) starts OTs and PTs at 50,800 with 3% raise each year. The maximum non-admin PT jobs I know of area at 68K (like 20+ yrs exp), although with CHT you'd get 72 or so. Admin jobs - esp. Director of Rehab - can be 85K+.

dc

 

[DOctorJay]

uhapt, I'm not familiar with a Mr. Loney but it's possible if he's ever around the hospital. is this his first time teaching anatomy, and does he teach anywhere else? anyway check your PMs I sent you a couple messages.

-J

 

[DocLandry]

hey uhapt.....next time you see Dr. Certo, tell her Brad said hi. I haven't talked to her in forever. Thanks