Why is salary high in Las Vegas?

[Aoshivam]

I don't get it. The cost of living in Vegas is low, yet PT salaries seem to be high. Any thoughts from current PTs practicing in Vegas or someone studying in Vegas?

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[jblil]

When you say the COL in Vegas is low, what are you comparing it to? Against NYC, Vegas would be a bargain. Against Wallace, NC, Vegas would be way overpriced. This link shows that Vegas is more expensive than a "national" average:
http://www.areavibes.com/las+vegas-nv/cost-of-living/

Salary.com has a calculator to see how far your pay will go in Vegas, compared to another location:
http://swz.salary.com/CostOfLivingWizard/LayoutScripts/Coll_Start.aspx

I am not sure how those websites get their underlying data, so always doublecheck against multiple sources before making a decision.

 

[NewTestament]

I was surprised too when I looked on BLS's web-site that Las Vegas had high wages. The top 10% are making $124k a year! But I also know that the truth is more nuanced than that. I know one PT who is working in a SNF, which pays pretty well (where doesn't it?). But outpatient ortho pays crap.

I imagine the COL in Las Vegas is better than most large urban areas, only because most jobs there are not professional and pay between $10-15 an hour.

 

[Aoshivam]

yeah I just wanted to know that whether it's the location that is actually affecting the higher salary (meaning jobs in Las Vegas generally pays better than other cities) or.. maybe it's simply due to other unseen reasons like there are maybe just more SNF/inpatient work settings in the area that usually pay higher, therefore increasing the average salary.

 

[DesertPT]

What gives? What's the catch? Nevada has by far the highest mean and median wages of all states in the country. I though maybe it was that the therapist who didn't live in the Vegas area (less desirable parts of the state) were the ones making the big bucks...but nope...data show that the 5oth percentile salary of the ~900 therapists in the Las Vegas area is a whopping $105k. That means that there are close to 500 PTs in Las Vegas making 6 figures. The 260 PTs in the Reno area are at a median of $85k, and 90% of Nevada that is total desolation is at $90k (although that's only 40 therapists and the data is very lopsided there, $90k median, $115k mean due to a couple of really high earning people out of the 40 - nevertheless I wouldn't have thought this would have influenced the state numbers much when there is 1300 PTs included).

If you make a big assumption and say a new grad's salary would be around the 25th percentile range, you'd be making $81k in LV. Roughly 25% higher salary in LV than most states/the national average.

 

[DesertPT]

I was surprised too when I looked on BLS's web-site that Las Vegas had high wages. The top 10% are making $124k a year!

The 90th percentile number isn't even listed for NV or LV-metro on BLS, but the 75th percentile for LV-metro says $162k...so presumably the top 10% (~90 therapists) would be making >$180k. That's probably representative of the clinic owners in town, but still...the data shows that there are 228 PTs in the Las Vegas area making >$162k/yr.

 

[NewTestament]

I'm having a hard time making sense of this. Perhaps we shouldn't use BLS as a guide, because there is so much nuance between settings, cities, and even individual clinics.

I know a PT who moved to LV and he says PT's make crap in outpatient orthopedics (like everywhere, except hospital OP), but SNF's are paying $50/hour. Combine that with a cheap COL and it sounds like you can have a pretty decent SOL there.

What is the market for PT's in Arizona, knj? I thought Phoenix was relatively inexpensive, but I might be wrong.

 

[DesertPT]

I'm having a hard time making sense of this. Perhaps we shouldn't use BLS as a guide, because there is so much nuance between settings, cities, and even individual clinics.

I know a PT who moved to LV and he says PT's make crap in outpatient orthopedics (like everywhere, except hospital OP), but SNF's are paying $50/hour. Combine that with a cheap COL and it sounds like you can have a pretty decent SOL there.

What is the market for PT's in Arizona, knj? I thought Phoenix was relatively inexpensive, but I might be wrong.

I know...the more I have looked into this today the more confused I become lol...

The job market it AZ for PT seems to be very strong as far as I can tell...several recent grads that I've talked to had job offers upon graduation and a couple of them that I know have been able to easily transition to either a different clinic or a different setting that suited their interests better after a year or so out of school. Not sure what kind of salary offers they have gotten, but I have to assume they are probably pretty typical.

I suppose the COL in PHX is probably around the "national average", whatever that is. As far as big metro areas, it is definitely not the worst (much cheaper than SF bay area, LA area, the big New England cities, etc) but Las Vegas does appear to be slightly cheaper from what I can tell. At worst it's about the same.

 

[DesertPT]

I'm having a hard time making sense of this. Perhaps we shouldn't use BLS as a guide, because there is so much nuance between settings, cities, and even individual clinics.

I agree, I just can't figure out what factor or nuance could be skewing the number to such an extreme extent. I mean the data show that ~80% of PTs in Vegas are making above the national average. More than half are making 6 figures (~450 PTs, not exactly a tiny sample size). What kind of bad statistics could swing the numbers so greatly? If people in OP Ortho (where a huge percentage of PTs work) were making crap money, the PTs in other settings would have to be making doctor or at least dentist level money to bring the averages and median up that high.

 

[vm26]

I agree, I just can't figure out what factor or nuance could be skewing the number to such an extreme extent. I mean the data show that ~80% of PTs in Vegas are making above the national average. More than half are making 6 figures (~450 PTs, not exactly a tiny sample size). What kind of bad statistics could swing the numbers so greatly? If people in OP Ortho (where a huge percentage of PTs work) were making crap money, the PTs in other settings would have to be making doctor or at least dentist level money to bring the averages and median up that high.

Have you been to Vegas? Granted I did not venture far from the strip but seemed like a soulless, dumpy place to live and raise a family. Would be a fun for a year or two if you are single and into partying...in general with healthcare, undesirable location is inversely proportional to reimbursement/income

 

[ktachiba]

Have you been to Vegas? Granted I did not venture far from the strip but seemed like a soulless, dumpy place to live and raise a family. Would be a fun for a year or two if you are single and into partying...in general with healthcare, undesirable location is inversely proportional to reimbursement/income

I've read that California and Texas are some of the highest paying states and a lot of people enjoy living there

 

[NewTestament]

CA and TX pay well. TX is probably a better place for a new grad with loans. The COL is much more reasonable and the state isn't deducting several hundred dollars from every paycheck.

The best-paying jobs seem to be in rural areas. Clinics have to offer more to entice physical therapists.

 

[DesertPT]

Have you been to Vegas? Granted I did not venture far from the strip but seemed like a soulless, dumpy place to live and raise a family. Would be a fun for a year or two if you are single and into partying...in general with healthcare, undesirable location is inversely proportional to reimbursement/income

It could seem like that...but as far as I can tell if you live out in the suburbs, in Henderson, etc. it isn't a lot different that living in any other town...I don't think people who live their hang out around the strip...

I haven't lived there though...I have only anecdotal evidence.

 

[DesertPT]

The best-paying jobs seem to be in rural areas. Clinics have to offer more to entice physical therapists.

Generally almost always true...yet in Nevada BLS number show that pay is significantly higher in metro-LV than throughout rural Nevada. I'm still puzzled as to how these numbers could be so vastly different from the rest of the country. Maybe the data that are available don't really represent the reality...but it seems like in general BLS salary figures are fairly accurate.

Salary.com claims that the salaries in Las Vegas and most of Nevada are pretty much at or slightly below the "national average". I have no idea where they get their numbers...maybe they are wrong, or maybe BLS just got screwed up somehow on this one...

 

[jjjDPT]

Hey knj, I have been curious about LV/Henderson wages as well. I have a buddy at Touro in Henderson and he said the hospitals there start new grads at 90k. And I think you're right - Henderson is just another suburb. I'm sure it's fine.

 

[DesertPT]

I have a buddy at Touro in Henderson and he said the hospitals there start new grads at 90k...

You should ask him what outpatient salaries are like there, if he knows

 

[jjjDPT]

Sure, I'll ask if he's heard anything.

 

[vm26]

I've read that California and Texas are some of the highest paying states and a lot of people enjoy living there

Can't speak for PTs but for physician's overall TX is great (tort reform) but tougher to land a job around areas such as austin, DFW etc...certain parts of cali are extremely tough (southern cal, Bay area), rural cali is much better but overall looking at lower compensation then say the midwest

 

[NewTestament]

Can't speak for PTs but for physician's overall TX is great (tort reform) but tougher to land a job around areas such as austin, DFW etc...certain parts of cali are extremely tough (southern cal, Bay area), rural cali is much better but overall looking at lower compensation then say the midwest

But I've seen some great job offers in less desirable parts of Texas, like McAllen, Laredo, Adilene, Wichita Falls, etc. They offer a higher salary and usually a signing bonus. Combine that with a cheap COL and you could generate a lot of income.

Rural CA has good opportunities too, but keep in mind the state income tax is high, so you might not make as much there as TX, AZ, or the Southeast.

 

[Carson Ranger]

There is so much more to Vegas than the Strip. Clark County has over 2 million people.
And Nevada has neither income nor corporate taxes.

 

[DesertPT]

And Nevada has neither income nor corporate taxes.

I've been wondering how they make up for this...are taxes high elsewhere (eg. property, fuel, etc)? Or do they tax the heck out of the tourists somehow?

I know from what I've looked at sales tax is about the same as AZ, maybe a little lower in some areas if anything. So I've been curious if you really do come out better in NV as far as the total taxes you pay.

 

[PTpro]

The state gets a lot of money from the casinos. I've heard some people complain about how expensive registering their car is and of course utilities get a little high for most of the year.

 

[jjjDPT]

You should ask him what outpatient salaries are like there, if he knows

He said that he has heard 75k outpt ortho new grad, and *80-90k* acute care.

 

[ktachiba]

I'm definitely thinking bout moving to Vegas when I graduate now. I also love to play poker haha... I wanted to pursue it as a career at one point. I won $600 in 4 hours last time I went . I decided not to go to my UNLV interview cuz I was worried I would play poker too much while I was there, and not focus on school lol.

 

[DesertPT]

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[darrylerich]

He said that he has heard 75k outpt ortho new grad, and *80-90k* acute care.

Any way you could provide me in a PM your friend's email address. I graduate next may and I am strongly considering working there I have friends that live there already.