Ask a Nurse

Type your question here:

Physical therapists are on the Bureau of Labor Statistic's list of the 30 fastest-growing occupations from 2008 to 2018, with an expected 30 percent job growth during that period. However, becoming a physical therapist is no easy feat, requiring a master's or doctoral degree.

Physical Therapist Education Requirements

To become a physical therapist, you need to earn a graduate degree in physical therapy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2009 there were over 200 physical therapist education programs around the country. The vast majority of these programs offered doctoral degrees, although some programs offer a master's degree in physical therapy. A master's degree program in physical therapy takes about two years to complete while a doctoral degree program generally lasts three years.

All states require physical therapists to be licensed. Licensure generally requires completing a graduate degree in physical therapy and passing the National Physical Therapy Examination, in addition to any state-specific requirements.

Physical Therapist Salary: Breaking down the Numbers

The BLS reports that the median annual physical therapist salary was $74,480 in 2009, which works out to an hourly wage of $35.81. The middle 50 percent of physical therapists earned between $62,270 and $87,940, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $52,170 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $105,900.

About 60 percent of physical therapists worked in hospitals in 2008, the BLS reports, and the mean physical therapist salary in a hospital was $75,030 in 2009. Consider the mean physical therapist salary in these top-paying industries:

• Home health care services: $83,500
• Individual and family services: $80,390
• Office administrative services: $79,170
• Nursing care facilities: $78,990

Much of the job growth for physical therapists over the next few years is expected to be driven by the growing elderly population, according to the BLS, so job prospects in nursing care and home health care may be especially good. If you want to earn a top physical therapist salary and help others improve their mobility, a career in physical therapy may be for you.