Employment
Physical therapist assistants and aides hold
about 101,000 jobs. Physical therapist
assistants hold about 59,000 jobs, physical
therapist aides approximately 43,000.
Both work with
physical therapists in a variety of settings. About
60 percent of jobs were in hospitals or in offices
of physical therapists. Others worked primarily in
nursing care facilities, offices of physicians, home
health care services, and outpatient care centers.
Future Outlook
Employment of physical therapist assistants and
aides is expected to grow much faster than the
average for all occupations through the year 2014.
The impact of proposed Federal legislation imposing
limits on reimbursement for therapy services may
adversely affect the short-term job outlook for
physical therapist assistants and aides. However,
over the long run, demand for physical therapist
assistants and aides will continue to rise, in
accordance with the increasing number of individuals
with disabilities or limited function. The growing
elderly population is particularly vulnerable to
chronic and debilitating conditions that require
therapeutic services. These patients often need
additional assistance in their treatment, making the
roles of assistants and aides vital. The large
baby-boom generation is entering the prime age for
heart attacks and strokes, further increasing the
demand for cardiac and physical rehabilitation. In
addition, future medical developments should permit
an increased percentage of trauma victims to
survive, creating added demand for therapy services.
Physical therapists are expected to increasingly
utilize assistants to reduce the cost of physical
therapy services. Once a patient is evaluated and a
treatment plan is designed by the physical
therapist, the physical therapist assistant can
provide many aspects of treatment, as prescribed by
the therapist.
Physical therapist assistants and aides with
prior experience working in a physical therapy
office or other health care setting will have the
best job opportunities. Physical therapist aides may
face keen competition from the large pool of
qualified individuals with a high school diploma.
Earnings of Physical Therapist Aides and
Assistants
Median annual earnings of physical therapist
assistants are $37,890. The middle 50
percent earn between $31,060 and $44,050. The
lowest 10 percent earn less than $24,110, and the
highest 10 percent earn more than $52,110. Median
annual earnings in the industries employing the
largest numbers of physical therapists aides are:
- Nursing care facilities $40,360
- General medical and surgical hospitals $37,790
- Offices of other health practitioners $37,120
Median annual earnings of physical therapist
aides are $21,380. The middle 50
percent earn between $17,990 and $26,310. The
lowest 10 percent earn less than $15,380, and the
highest 10 percent earn more than $33,550. Median
annual earnings of physical therapist aides are $21,120 in general medical and surgical
hospitals and $20,360 in offices of physical
therapists.
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