Center for Career and Professional Development
Russell Abatiello, MEd
Phone: 617-726-1318
rabbatiello@mghihp.edu
PEBT
Physical Therapy Employment Statistics
For Physical Therapists
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): Data reported May 2015
Job Outlook
Employment of physical therapists is expected to increase 39 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Demand for physical therapy services will come, in large part, from the aging baby boomers, who are staying active later in life than previous generations did. Older persons are more likely to suffer heart attacks, strokes, and mobility-related injuries that require physical therapy for rehabilitation.
Advances in medical technology have increased the use of outpatient surgery to treat a variety of injuries and illnesses. Physical therapists will continue to play an important role in helping these patients recover more quickly from surgery.
Medical and technological developments also are expected to permit a greater percentage of trauma victims and newborns with birth defects to survive, creating additional demand for rehabilitative care. In addition, the incidence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, has increased in recent years, and more physical therapists will be needed to help patients manage the effects of these diseases.
Job Prospects
Job opportunities will likely be good for licensed physical therapists in all settings. Job opportunities should be particularly good in acute hospital, skilled nursing, and orthopedic settings, where the elderly are most often treated. Job prospects should be especially favorable in rural areas because many physical therapists live in highly populated urban and suburban areas.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Physical Therapists:
| Employment |
Mean hourly |
Mean annual |
|
|
209,690 |
$41.25 |
$85,790 |
Percentile wage estimates for Physical Therapists:
| Percentile |
10% |
25% |
50% |
75% |
90% |
|
Hourly Wage |
$27.47 |
$33.47 |
$40.40 |
$47.56 |
$57.59 |
|
Annual Wage |
$57,060 |
$69,620 |
$84,020 |
$98,930 |
$119,790 |
Industries with the highest levels of employment for Physical Therapists:
| Industry |
Employment |
Percent of industry employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage |
|
Offices of Other Health Practitioners |
75,360 |
9.36 |
$40.29 |
$83,800 |
|
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
51,280 |
0.97 |
$40.96 |
$85,190 |
|
Home Health Care Services |
27,500 |
1.98 |
$46.42 |
$96,560 |
|
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) |
13,220 |
0.80 |
$43.98 |
$91,480 |
|
Offices of Physicians |
12,540 |
0.50 |
$40.29 |
$83,810 |
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State |
Employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage |
|
California |
19,000 |
$45.82 |
$95,300 |
|
New York |
15,970 |
$40.93 |
$85,930 |
|
Texas |
13,060 |
$46.62 |
$96,970 |
|
Florida |
12,020 |
$40.92 |
$85,110 |
|
Pennsylvania |
10,760 |
$40.41 |
$84,060 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State |
Employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage |
|
Vermont |
740 |
$36.09 |
$75,060 |
|
Massachusetts |
8,010 |
$39.90 |
$83,000 |
|
Connecticut |
3,780 |
$41.32 |
$85,940 |
|
Montana |
1,010 |
$36.08 |
$75,040 |
|
New Hampshire |
1,430 |
$38.95 |
$81,020 |
Top paying states for this occupation:
| State |
Employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage |
|
Nevada |
1,530 |
$58.65 |
$121,980 |
|
Alaska |
510 |
$48.35 |
$100,560 |
|
Texas |
13,060 |
$46.62 |
$96,970 |
|
California |
19,000 |
$45.82 |
$95,300 |
|
New Jersey |
7,590 |
$45.74 |
$95,150 |
For more information, see the Licensing and Career page for the Entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program.