salary

[soontobeDPT]

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I have looked at the APTA web site and all over the web it feels like about the possibility of PT salaries increasing with a change in the DPT. I have seen the APTA state that they hope to change the title of PTs to DPT instead of PT,DPT once there is a "significant" number of PTs with the DPT degree (the APTA is looking for about 50,000). According to what I have been able to find, then they feel like they will have leverage in congress to convince the health care insurance companies to reimburse physical therapists as though they had physician status.
I am concerned about PT salary because we make half as much as PharmDs, and ODs, even though they didnt go to med school either. I suppose I am just tired- physically and mentally from working so hard for my degree and I just get down when I think of how I am not going to reap any financial benifit for my hard work. I love PT and wouldnt want to be a pharmacist. However, I still cant help but feel insulted over the whole salary deal. I wish that with my "clinical doctorate" that I worked so hard for, was worth as much as a PharmD or an OD. I think about the responsibility level too- sure the PharmD could kill someone up more easily then a PT could, but an OD doesnt perfomr surgery, so the chances of hurting someone through prescibing glasses seems slight yet they get paid and average of 100,000.00 a year, without having to had to go to med school. PTs can obviously hurt their patient even worse then they might be when they come in at first through not prescibing approptiate exercise, or targeting the wrong tissue (muscle vs bone vs nerve). I dont know- I am just exhausted so I am rambling. But if anyone has an idea about what the APTA is doing in congress to pursuade the health care insurance companies to increase the reimbursement cap or anything else in the government regarding PT salaries, please let me know. It would be a wind in my sails during this period of finals I am plowing through. Augh.
Many thanks

 

[Grue1some]

I have looked at the APTA web site and all over the web it feels like about the possibility of PT salaries increasing with a change in the DPT. I have seen the APTA state that they hope to change the title of PTs to DPT instead of PT,DPT once there is a "significant" number of PTs with the DPT degree (the APTA is looking for about 50,000). According to what I have been able to find, then they feel like they will have leverage in congress to convince the health care insurance companies to reimburse physical therapists as though they had physician status.
I am concerned about PT salary because we make half as much as PharmDs, and ODs, even though they didnt go to med school either. I suppose I am just tired- physically and mentally from working so hard for my degree and I just get down when I think of how I am not going to reap any financial benifit for my hard work. I love PT and wouldnt want to be a pharmacist. However, I still cant help but feel insulted over the whole salary deal. I wish that with my "clinical doctorate" that I worked so hard for, was worth as much as a PharmD or an OD. I think about the responsibility level too- sure the PharmD could kill someone up more easily then a PT could, but an OD doesnt perfomr surgery, so the chances of hurting someone through prescibing glasses seems slight yet they get paid and average of 100,000.00 a year, without having to had to go to med school. PTs can obviously hurt their patient even worse then they might be when they come in at first through not prescibing approptiate exercise, or targeting the wrong tissue (muscle vs bone vs nerve). I dont know- I am just exhausted so I am rambling. But if anyone has an idea about what the APTA is doing in congress to pursuade the health care insurance companies to increase the reimbursement cap or anything else in the government regarding PT salaries, please let me know. It would be a wind in my sails during this period of finals I am plowing through. Augh.
Many thanks

Its kinda Fu**ing sad that a person must spend 4 years in Undergraduate then another 3 years in a DPT program only to come out with decent pay. Im not talking about having a medical Dr's salary, but shi* at least 65k-110k range. Not to mention if you taking out loans and the school costs 60-110K+ itself.

The only good pay is working at home health, nursing, hospice, or travel. Places where most do not want to work, but some like me love the environment. If you hit the jackpot, you can own a successful outpatient clinic and get good pay. Or you can be like the guy who started healthsouth and be a millionare~however, that is a shot in the dark.

Like I posted in one of my posts, a friend of mine has a dam nursing degree BSN (1 freakin year with undergraduate and pre-reqs) with 1 year experance is making close to 60+k in New Jersey. What type of shi* is this? .

Your exausted LOL. At least you have time to make a decision. Other people are already halfway into the program and are like dam wtf. But what got me out of choosing was that I will not spend 800-900 per credit hour for 3 years and be stuck with a huge loan up my ass for the next 20 years making decent money and not having good advancement.

I start a 17 month nursing program out of state and (30k) already had 2 hospitals willing to pay for it all for 2 years of work. Sometimes you just have to do something else if you want a better life in terms of advancement, opportunity and education. Would I rather have a large loan up my ass for 20yrs of repayment or just slave myself for 2 years at a hospital then do travel.

Thats why the most important thing is research and talk to people in the field before going into a program.

 

[Doctor M]

I have looked at the APTA web site and all over the web it feels like about the possibility of PT salaries increasing with a change in the DPT. I have seen the APTA state that they hope to change the title of PTs to DPT instead of PT,DPT once there is a "significant" number of PTs with the DPT degree (the APTA is looking for about 50,000). According to what I have been able to find, then they feel like they will have leverage in congress to convince the health care insurance companies to reimburse physical therapists as though they had physician status.
I am concerned about PT salary because we make half as much as PharmDs, and ODs, even though they didnt go to med school either. I suppose I am just tired- physically and mentally from working so hard for my degree and I just get down when I think of how I am not going to reap any financial benifit for my hard work. I love PT and wouldnt want to be a pharmacist. However, I still cant help but feel insulted over the whole salary deal. I wish that with my "clinical doctorate" that I worked so hard for, was worth as much as a PharmD or an OD. I think about the responsibility level too- sure the PharmD could kill someone up more easily then a PT could, but an OD doesnt perfomr surgery, so the chances of hurting someone through prescibing glasses seems slight yet they get paid and average of 100,000.00 a year, without having to had to go to med school. PTs can obviously hurt their patient even worse then they might be when they come in at first through not prescibing approptiate exercise, or targeting the wrong tissue (muscle vs bone vs nerve). I dont know- I am just exhausted so I am rambling. But if anyone has an idea about what the APTA is doing in congress to pursuade the health care insurance companies to increase the reimbursement cap or anything else in the government regarding PT salaries, please let me know. It would be a wind in my sails during this period of finals I am plowing through. Augh.
Many thanks

When I went to pharmacy school I worked damn hard, so your statement there is flawed. Did you not know what your were getting into when you started PT school? You potential salary, benefits etc? I sure as heck did.

The potential to kill someone because of what we do does not reflect on our salary. Our salay is dependent on the market demand for pharmacists. Obviously there was a great demand for pharmacists a few years back and there still is today. You really shouldn't be comparing our salaries or OD salaries with PT salaries. Be content with your job or go back to school. I sure as heck dont make as much as a doctor, but my job also didn't entail the training of an MD.

Also, how do you know you wouldn't want to be a pharmacist? Have you researched the profession. If money is your reason for being discontent then do something else. I have a friend who is a PT and he just built a 3500 sq ft home in arizona. He is doing great for himself and seems to enjoy his life. You perhaps need to rethink your future. PT has an important role in patients lives and hopefully INS companies will see this. You just cant compare PharmD's and OD's just because we didn't go to med school.

 

[ONstudentPT]

I have looked at the APTA web site and all over the web it feels like about the possibility of PT salaries increasing with a change in the DPT. I have seen the APTA state that they hope to change the title of PTs to DPT instead of PT,DPT once there is a "significant" number of PTs with the DPT degree (the APTA is looking for about 50,000). According to what I have been able to find, then they feel like they will have leverage in congress to convince the health care insurance companies to reimburse physical therapists as though they had physician status.
I am concerned about PT salary because we make half as much as PharmDs, and ODs, even though they didnt go to med school either. I suppose I am just tired- physically and mentally from working so hard for my degree and I just get down when I think of how I am not going to reap any financial benifit for my hard work. I love PT and wouldnt want to be a pharmacist. However, I still cant help but feel insulted over the whole salary deal. I wish that with my "clinical doctorate" that I worked so hard for, was worth as much as a PharmD or an OD. I think about the responsibility level too- sure the PharmD could kill someone up more easily then a PT could, but an OD doesnt perfomr surgery, so the chances of hurting someone through prescibing glasses seems slight yet they get paid and average of 100,000.00 a year, without having to had to go to med school. PTs can obviously hurt their patient even worse then they might be when they come in at first through not prescibing approptiate exercise, or targeting the wrong tissue (muscle vs bone vs nerve). I dont know- I am just exhausted so I am rambling. But if anyone has an idea about what the APTA is doing in congress to pursuade the health care insurance companies to increase the reimbursement cap or anything else in the government regarding PT salaries, please let me know. It would be a wind in my sails during this period of finals I am plowing through. Augh.
Many thanks

I know we have been down this road about salary numerous times but I do know what you are feeling it can be fraustrating to think that you put the same amount of time into your education yet professions like pharmacists and optometrist will in most cases make more money...but I think there is hope and the amount of money you make as a PT is influenced by what you are willing to do ... i think....what has given me some peace on this issue is that I have talked to other PTs in the field .. and many of them are doing pretty well.... I know 2 PTs who own 2 clinics and are both bringing over 130k net...
I know another PT who was not interested in the headaches of running his own clinic...so he works at a hospital about 37.5 hours a week at 38 dollars an hour and another 10 hours a week at private outpatient clinic at 40 dollars an hour..with his total income at about 88k a year.... also know another PT who is an independent contractor and does homecare and is bringing in around 90-100k a year...so although it may not be as much as a MD, pharmacist or optometrist makes...in my opinion its still not too shabby.

 

[blazenmadison]

I have looked at the APTA web site and all over the web it feels like about the possibility of PT salaries increasing with a change in the DPT. I have seen the APTA state that they hope to change the title of PTs to DPT instead of PT,DPT once there is a "significant" number of PTs with the DPT degree (the APTA is looking for about 50,000). According to what I have been able to find, then they feel like they will have leverage in congress to convince the health care insurance companies to reimburse physical therapists as though they had physician status.
I am concerned about PT salary because we make half as much as PharmDs, and ODs, even though they didnt go to med school either. I suppose I am just tired- physically and mentally from working so hard for my degree and I just get down when I think of how I am not going to reap any financial benifit for my hard work. I love PT and wouldnt want to be a pharmacist. However, I still cant help but feel insulted over the whole salary deal. I wish that with my "clinical doctorate" that I worked so hard for, was worth as much as a PharmD or an OD. I think about the responsibility level too- sure the PharmD could kill someone up more easily then a PT could, but an OD doesnt perfomr surgery, so the chances of hurting someone through prescibing glasses seems slight yet they get paid and average of 100,000.00 a year, without having to had to go to med school. PTs can obviously hurt their patient even worse then they might be when they come in at first through not prescibing approptiate exercise, or targeting the wrong tissue (muscle vs bone vs nerve). I dont know- I am just exhausted so I am rambling. But if anyone has an idea about what the APTA is doing in congress to pursuade the health care insurance companies to increase the reimbursement cap or anything else in the government regarding PT salaries, please let me know. It would be a wind in my sails during this period of finals I am plowing through. Augh.
Many thanks

I remember talking to a PT, and the reasoning for the low salaries is oversupply. PT salaries used to be pretty high and competitive.

Any truth to this?

 

[PT2MD]

Chill folks. My salary is over $75K per year and I spent 95% of my day in direct patient contact. I am a measly director of a corporate based PT clinic. Don't panic. You can live off this kind of salary in most parts of this country.

 

[Grue1some]

Chill folks. My salary is over $75K per year and I spent 95% of my day in direct patient contact. I am a measly director of a corporate based PT clinic. Don't panic. You can live off this kind of salary in most parts of this country.

What about California~lol. In the south, thats striking gold. Up north like Boston and New York its eh, but you can always not live in the dam city where everything is so dam FN expensive. In Vegas for example, its just too freaken expensive to buy and rent property. However, the town (Henderson) next to it which is a measly 10-15 min drive has very reasonable prices. Plus, if you are a health professional or a teacher they are willing to help pay for housing (buying a house).. There is a huge shortage there. It all matters on cost of living I guess =\.


You did any Home Health or Travel PT?

I thought the director deals with more paperwork? No?

 

[soontobeDPT]

These responses were not truly answering my question. I appologize if I was hard to follow and unclear- as I was very tired.
What I am asking if anyone knew anything more then I do regarding the possibility of the government increasing the "rehabilitation reimbursment cap" in the near or somewhat near future. The APTA has generated some talk about this happening with the DPT becoming the standard across the board. All I know is that the APTA has mentioned that it is a probability and something to consider. Does anyone know anything more about it actually happening?
I am NOT asking whether or not
Pharmacist work hard in school
I should become a nurse
There are some PTs that make a decent living
There are some jobs within PT that make more money then others
Opening my own practice will make me more money'
Moving to a place where there are few PTs will place me at an advantage for a larger income

 

[Doctor M]

These responses were not truly answering my question. I appologize if I was hard to follow and unclear- as I was very tired.
What I am asking if anyone knew anything more then I do regarding the possibility of the government increasing the "rehabilitation reimbursment cap" in the near or somewhat near future. The APTA has generated some talk about this happening with the DPT becoming the standard across the board. All I know is that the APTA has mentioned that it is a probability and something to consider. Does anyone know anything more about it actually happening?
I am NOT asking whether or not
Pharmacist work hard in school
I should become a nurse
There are some PTs that make a decent living
There are some jobs within PT that make more money then others
Opening my own practice will make me more money'
Moving to a place where there are few PTs will place me at an advantage for a larger income

Just study hard, get your degree and worry about yourself!! You will do fine and succeed. Dont worry about what Rph make, OD's, MD's etc. Good luck!

 

[PT2MD]

These responses were not truly answering my question. I appologize if I was hard to follow and unclear- as I was very tired.
What I am asking if anyone knew anything more then I do regarding the possibility of the government increasing the "rehabilitation reimbursment cap" in the near or somewhat near future. The APTA has generated some talk about this happening with the DPT becoming the standard across the board. All I know is that the APTA has mentioned that it is a probability and something to consider. Does anyone know anything more about it actually happening?
I am NOT asking whether or not
Pharmacist work hard in school
I should become a nurse
There are some PTs that make a decent living
There are some jobs within PT that make more money then others
Opening my own practice will make me more money'
Moving to a place where there are few PTs will place me at an advantage for a larger income

Sure the therapy cap could come back in some form. Heck any ridiculous piece of federal legislation could affect any health profession at any time. Sound scary? Worried about the uncertainty? Good. If you can pursue a health professions career knowing this, you will be happy regardless of your profession. Bottom line: There will always be a need for good therapists. No one else can do what we do, and that's why we will always have jobs good enough to pay our bills.

 

[Husker DPT]

"When I went to pharmacy school I worked damn hard, so your statement there is flawed."
That logic is flawed. If a) I went to pharmacy school, and b) I worked damn hard then this still does not equal c) pharmacists do not have a greater potential for harm.
"The potential to kill someone because of what we do does not reflect on our salary."
Have you thought hard on this? Increase risk, increase liability can equal increase education and hence increase compensation. That does apply in the medical field as well.
"Our salay is dependent on the market demand for pharmacists."
In it's inception, physical therapists were more of m.d. technicians with no autonomy. Hence the salary. The market demand for P.T.'s is huge. So far, your not scoring very high.
"You really shouldn't be comparing our salaries or OD salaries with PT salaries".
Why the hell not? It's a DPT now.
"Be content with your job or go back to school."
Be a gibbering ***** and don't question anything. Just obey.
"I have a friend who is a PT and he just built a 3500 sq ft home in arizona."
Must be nice for mom and dad to pay off your student loans. In the realm of medicine, this is known as anecdotal evidence. A testimonial does not mean physical therapists will be financially affluent and building mansions.

 

[Doctor M]

"When I went to pharmacy school I worked damn hard, so your statement there is flawed."
That logic is flawed. If a) I went to pharmacy school, and b) I worked damn hard then this still does not equal c) pharmacists do not have a greater potential for harm.
"The potential to kill someone because of what we do does not reflect on our salary."
Have you thought hard on this? Increase risk, increase liability can equal increase education and hence increase compensation. That does apply in the medical field as well.
"Our salay is dependent on the market demand for pharmacists."
In it's inception, physical therapists were more of m.d. technicians with no autonomy. Hence the salary. The market demand for P.T.'s is huge. So far, your not scoring very high.
"You really shouldn't be comparing our salaries or OD salaries with PT salaries".
Why the hell not? It's a DPT now.
"Be content with your job or go back to school."
Be a gibbering ***** and don't question anything. Just obey.
"I have a friend who is a PT and he just built a 3500 sq ft home in arizona."
Must be nice for mom and dad to pay off your student loans. In the realm of medicine, this is known as anecdotal evidence. A testimonial does not mean physical therapists will be financially affluent and building mansions.

Yes, I have thought about it.
Our salaries increased when the demand for pharmacists increased. A few years back (around 2000), the avg salary of a pharmacist was around $65,000. Today it is around 95-104k. The liability and potential to kill someone is the same today as it was then. It seems I have hit a nerve with you. My friend didn't have his ma and pa pay anything, hes a hard working PT. You and I do very different jobs, so I just thought I would "share" my experiences with DPT students. Take it however you want. I've experienced the schooling, and Ive experienced pharmacy, and I dont need to score points...😀 Have a nice career and hopefully you succeed.

 

[Husker DPT]

Thanks Doc M, I do have a nice career and really do enjoy my job. Did consider pharmacy (6 year route inc. undergrad was very appealing), but went the D.P.T. route. I do home health full time making almost 70K, and work 4-8 hours per week in a skilled rehab. facility making $43/hour. I have been reading about salaries, etc.. here on this website, including ''if you own'' an outpatient clinic. The key to making 6 figures is all about getting enough referrals such that you need to hire more therapists. I'll go find that thread and comment on it, as this is not the right place.

 

[Doctor M]

Thanks Doc M, I do have a nice career and really do enjoy my job. Did consider pharmacy (6 year route inc. undergrad was very appealing), but went the D.P.T. route. I do home health full time making almost 70K, and work 4-8 hours per week in a skilled rehab. facility making $43/hour. I have been reading about salaries, etc.. here on this website, including ''if you own'' an outpatient clinic. The key to making 6 figures is all about getting enough referrals such that you need to hire more therapists. I'll go find that thread and comment on it, as this is not the right place.

You seem like you are doing well and content and that was really my point to the op. As long as you are content and do the best you can for your patients more than likely you will get the crowd coming to you. Good luck!

 

[foraminal]

people can make over 100k and still b!tching.
the key is:
Its not how much you make. Its how much you save.

 

[Grue1some]

people can make over 100k and still b!tching.
the key is:
Its not how much you make. Its how much you save.

I like that quote

 

[Doctor M]

people can make over 100k and still b!tching.
the key is:
Its not how much you make. Its how much you save.

Visit cnnmoney.com and read about the "to be millionaires". There people dont make near what an Rph can make and they have assets!!

 

[bigdan]

Like I posted in one of my posts, a friend of mine has a dam nursing degree BSN (1 freakin year with undergraduate and pre-reqs) with 1 year experance is making close to 60+k in New Jersey. What type of shi* is this?

Even more frustrating must be the money that nuc med and ultrasonography techs make after two or three years of schooling. THAT is a great return on investment!

dc

 

[PTbecomingDDS]

to answer your question, the medicare cap can go away or come back...that is the nature of politics...but keep in mind that the gov't can start to regulate all aspects of healthcare not just PT...MD's have lost some of the reimbursement pie, not as bad as rehab services, but this just shows that the gov't can have an impact on ALL health professions...that is why i like dentistry, all procedure, use your hands, good lifestyle, and not overly affected by medicare

and about lifestyle, I know several PT's that run/ran their own practices...one did extremely well, opening five clinics in RI...of course his best friend went to med school and became an ortho surgeon and opened his clinic next to his friend's PT clinic...he saw patient's 20 hours a week before seeing none to selling his practice and teaching at BU...as for another PT owner, he works probably 50-70 hours as he sees patients and has administrative work as well and pulls in approx. $85000-100,000 (income will vary with a practice at times)...he works his ass off but enjoys it...if this is something that interests you then you can make some decent money with PT...