Physical Therapy Assistant Salary
The physical therapy assistant salary has increased in recent years as a result of heightened demand for skilled practitioners, a development that has spurred greater interest in this profession. A satisfying work atmosphere, job stability, and flexibility, not to mention rising salary rates, lie in store for those who elect to join the field. Physical therapy assistants play a vital role, assisting the therapist in administering treatment and putting the patient at ease before and after the session. Post-treatment, they are on hand to help accident victims recover through proper exercises and the use of prescribed orthopedic equipment.
An average hourly wage of $16 to $30 applies to physical therapy assistant salary, but a higher range of $23 to $45 is in place for those who render overtime work. Most of them also receive bonuses from their employers.
The total annual physical therapy assistant salary is $32,000 to $64,000.
What determines the physical therapy assistant salary
Among the 50 states, Virginia is noted for observing the highest physical therapy assistant salary rates of $40,000 to $60,000, with Texas and Florida close by with averages of $40,000 to $59,000 and $38,000 to $55,000, respectively.
Income levels for physical therapy assistants may also vary according to the amount of accumulated experience. Newcomers with under a year of experience can expect a salary range of $30,000 to $40,000, whereas more seasoned ones with experience exceeding four years can command $33,000 to $45,000. A salary of $38,000 to $51,000 rewards at least ten years’ worth of experience while pay totaling $42,000 to $65,000 compensates 19-year expertise. The physical therapy assistant salary may also differ according to type of employer.Hospitals pay in the range of $34,000 to $48,000 while schools offer $25,000 to $40,000. A salary bracket of $42,000 to $70,000 is set for contractual workers while a $42,000-$58,000 scale is intended for their counterparts in government.
There is also a slight variation in the pay package of male and female physical therapy assistant salaries. While men make $19.79 to $27.24 per hour, women draw a lower salary of $18.62 to $25.86 per hour.
Institutions and facilities that commonly pay practitioners a physical therapy assistant salary in line with industry standards include outpatient clinics, hospitals, rehab centers, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, schools for developmentally challenged children, mental health inpatient clinics, sports teams, and fitness centers.
Favorable job situation
Experts paint a rosy employment picture for a physical therapy assistant salary, with job opportunities projected to grow 35 percent in the 2008-2018 period. A great majority, over 72 percent, of physical therapists are connected with physical therapists, doctors and other health practitioners, according to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics. While many are employed by surgical facilities and general medical hospitals, only a few opt to serve nursing homes despite better pay rates in these institutions.
Claiming the largest employment pools are the states of California, Ohio, Texas, Massachusetts, and Florida, while offering the highest median physical therapy assistant salary are Texas, California, Connecticut, and Nevada.
Tasks, schedule and benefits.
Patients pay a hefty sum to see a physical therapist, particularly to regain their mobility after a serious illness or an accident, hence, they always demand the best possible service. To ensure complete patient satisfaction, physical therapy assistants dutifully administer traction, prepare the treatment area, do clerical work, assist patients with severe mobility issues, and administer therapeutic massage as well as active and passive exercises, all of which will enable them to achieve their targeted physical therapy assistant salary. Most physical therapy assistants observe 40-hour work weeks, working from eight o’clock in the morning to five o’clock in the afternoon. Those who are licensed can serve in areas or sectors that interest them and choose work schedules that suit them best. The physical therapy assistant salary is often supplemented by a package of benefits determined by employers, which commonly includes annual paid vacations and medical and dental coverage for staff and their families.
Necessary education and certification.
The completion of a program accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) is the chief pre-requisite to becoming a physical therapist assistant. A total of 276 CAPTE-approved physical therapy assisting programs were held in July 2011, where all successful participants were awarded associate’s degrees.
With a curriculum emphasizing rehabilitation methods, this two-year associate’s degree will no doubt prepare aspirants for the demands and challenges of the profession.
While states have varying licensing regulations, almost all of them oblige students to finish a CAPTE-approved program and later pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. With the exception of Hawaii and Colorado, they all require applicants to obtain certification to be eligible for employment and a physical therapy assistant salary.
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