Where PT, OT, SLP, & RT Salaries Are Highest & Lowest

Therapy roles are generally known to come with decent pay, but where are PTs, OTs, SLPs, and RTs earning the most and the least? Find out here.

Therapy roles are generally known to come with a decent wage, often ranking on lists of “Best Paying Jobs” both within and outside of healthcare.

Considering physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapists are highly-skilled, in-demand healthcare workers, this should not be surprising. However, where they are paid the highest and the lowest salaries may surprise you.

Below are the 10 states where PTs, OTs, SLPs, and RTs make the most and the least, on average, according to 2020 salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Physical Therapists – Highest Paying States

  1. Nevada – $108,580
  2. California – $104,500
  3. Alaska – $101,190
  4. New Jersey – $100,740
  5. Connecticut – $100,580
  6. New Mexico – $98,580
  7. Delaware – $97,260
  8. Illinois – $97,060
  9. District of Columbia – $96,090
  10. Virginia – $94,370

Physical Therapists – Lowest Paying States

  1. South Dakota – $78,850
  2. Vermont – $81,580
  3. Idaho – $82,470
  4. Maine – $83,380
  5. Iowa – $83,640
  6. Arkansas – $84,410
  7. Montana – $84,600
  8. South Carolina – $84,640
  9. Missouri – $84,660
  10. North Dakota – $84,880

Occupational Therapists – Highest Paying States

  1. Nevada – $111,270
  2. California – $101,080
  3. Arizona – $99,950
  4. New Jersey – $98,750
  5. District of Columbia – $96,330
  6. Virginia – $95,170
  7. Alaska – $93,980
  8. Rhode Island – $93,330
  9. Connecticut – $92,000
  10. Colorado – $91,650

Occupational Therapists – Lowest Paying States

  1. Maine – $72,500
  2. North Dakota – $73,280
  3. South Dakota – $74,580
  4. Vermont – $75,330
  5. Montana – $76,200
  6. Wisconsin – $76,850
  7. Michigan – $77,600
  8. Minnesota – $77,790
  9. Missouri – $78,660
  10. South Carolina – $79,840

Speech-Language Pathologists – Highest Paying States

  1. District of Columbia – $101,920
  2. Connecticut – $100,590
  3. New Jersey – $100,330
  4. New York – $98,010
  5. California – $95,570
  6. Virginia – $92,520
  7. Colorado – $91,200
  8. Oregon – $87,850
  9. Rhode Island – $87,270
  10. Alaska – $87,250

Speech-Language Pathologists – Lowest Paying States

  1. South Dakota – $59,270
  2. Alabama – $66,400
  3. West Virginia – $67,010
  4. Mississippi – $67,250
  5. North Dakota – $67,790
  6. Maine – $69,250
  7. South Carolina – $71,340
  8. Nebraska – $71,940
  9. Montana – $72,220
  10. Idaho – $72,390

Respiratory Therapists – Highest Paying States

  1. California – $87,190
  2. District of Columbia – $82,940
  3. New York – $79,840
  4. Hawaii – $77,930
  5. Nevada – $77,380
  6. Massachusetts – $76,270
  7. Washington – $75,380
  8. New Jersey – $74,710
  9. Alaska – $74,390
  10. Oregon – $72,340

Respiratory Therapists – Lowest Paying States

  1. Mississippi – $51,480
  2. Kentucky – $51,800
  3. Alabama – $51,820
  4. West Virginia – $52,400
  5. South Dakota – $53,610
  6. Tennessee – $54,310
  7. Louisiana – $55,720
  8. Iowa – $56,260
  9. Arkansas – $56,400
  10. Georgia – $56,750

Ready to start your search for a higher paying therapy job? Click here.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Therapy’s Most In-Demand Roles

Despite being majorly impacted by the pandemic, healthcare employment is rebounding at a steady clip. What types of therapy professionals are needed the most right now, and where?

As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in April of 2020, despite being, arguably, the most needed and relevant industry, healthcare accounted for approximately 6.8% of the more than 20 million jobs lost in the U.S. during that time.

Fast forward to present day, and healthcare is rebounding at a steady clip. Despite the current overall unemployment rate being 5.8%, unemployment in healthcare has dropped to only 3.1%. Healthcare has consistently seen notable job gains over the last several months, including most recently when it added 23,000 jobs in May of 2021.

What types of therapy professionals are needed the most right now? And where are they needed? We break it down for you below, according to data from our jobs site.

1. Speech-Language Pathologist

Percentage of Available Therapy Jobs on Our Site: 30%
Most Needed In: California, Texas, Illinois, New York, and Florida
View All SLP Jobs →

2. Physical Therapist

Percentage of Available Therapy Jobs on Our Site: 22.2%
Most Needed In: California, Florida, Texas, Georgia, and New York
View All PT Jobs →

3. Occupational Therapist

Percentage of Available Therapy Jobs on Our Site: 18.4%
Most Needed In: California, Texas, Illinois, Florida, and New York
View All OT Jobs →

4. Respiratory Therapist

Percentage of Available Therapy Jobs on Our Site: 16.1%
Most Needed In: Ohio, Texas, Florida, Michigan, and Georgia
View All RT Jobs →

5. Physical Therapist Assistant

Percentage of Available Therapy Jobs on Our Site: 7.3%
Most Needed In: California, New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Connecticut
View All PTA Jobs →

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

3 States with the Most Demand for Therapy Professionals

Given the pandemic, therapy professionals are essential in a way that most other professions are not at the moment. Where is demand the greatest?

The healthcare workforce, like nearly every other industry, was greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, seeing staggering job losses as the virus, and the economic fallout associated with it, swept across the nation. However, therapy professionals are essential in a way that most other professions are not at the moment, and hiring remains steady, with the healthcare industry adding back more than 250,000 jobs during July, August, and September.

Where is the demand for physical, occupational, and respiratory therapists the greatest, though? We analyzed data from our jobs website to determine what states currently have the highest inventory of openings. Here are the top three states where PTs, OTs, and RTs are needed most.

States with the Most Demand for Physical Therapists

1. California

Average Annual Physical Therapist Salary in California: $99,920

Noteworthy Openings in California:

Click Here to Search Physical Therapist Jobs in California →

2. Texas

Average Annual Physical Therapist Salary in Texas: $89,630

Noteworthy Openings in Texas:

Click Here to Search Physical Therapist Jobs in Texas →

3. Virginia

Average Annual Physical Therapist Salary in Virginia: $91,930

Noteworthy Openings in Virginia:

Click Here to Search Physical Therapist Jobs in Virginia →

States with the Most Demand for Occupational Therapists

1. California

Average Annual Occupational Therapist Salary in California: $98,450

Noteworthy Openings in California:

Click Here to Search Occupational Therapist Jobs in California →

2. Texas

Average Annual Occupational Therapist Salary in Texas: $85,090

Noteworthy Openings in Texas:

Click Here to Search Occupational Therapist Jobs in Texas →

3. Illinois

Average Annual Occupational Therapist Salary in Illinois: $84,700

Noteworthy Openings in Illinois:

Click Here to Search Occupational Therapist Jobs in Illinois →

States with the Most Demand for Respiratory Therapists

1. California

Average Annual Respiratory Therapist Salary in California: $83,920

Noteworthy Openings in California:

Click Here to Search Respiratory Therapist Jobs in California →

2. Colorado

Average Annual Respiratory Therapist Salary in Colorado: $64,450

Noteworthy Openings in Colorado:

Click Here to Search Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Colorado →

3. Texas

Average Annual Respiratory Therapist Salary in Texas: $60,560

Noteworthy Openings in Texas:

Click Here to Search Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Texas →

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

The Top 10 Pandemic-Proof Healthcare Jobs

Healthcare is often touted as a recession-proof industry. But is it pandemic-proof? Given the number of available jobs, it seems so. See the most in-demand position types here.

Healthcare is often touted as a recession-proof industry. This is typically believed, because, even in the worst economic times, people still require medical care. However, it is proving not to be entirely pandemic-proof, with more than 40,000 healthcare professionals being laid off in March, when COVID-19 began to significantly impact nearly every industry in the United States.

Healthcare is still hiring for a surprisingly large number of positions, though, despite the pandemic continuing on, and not all of them are related to COVID-19, either.

Here are the top ten most in-demand positions right now, according to data from our job board.

1. Registered Nurse

Number of Available Jobs: 7,761
States with the Most Available Jobs: California, New York, Massachusetts
View All Registered Nurse Jobs →

2. Physician

Number of Available Jobs: 4,141
States with the Most Available Jobs: California, New York, Pennsylvania
View All Physician Jobs →

3. Speech Language Pathologist

Number of Available Jobs: 3,462
States with the Most Available Jobs: California, Texas, Illinois
View All Speech Language Pathologist Jobs →

4. Physical Therapist

Number of Available Jobs: 2,840
States with the Most Available Jobs: California, Texas, Illinois
View All Physical Therapist Jobs →

5. Nurse Practitioner

Number of Available Jobs: 2,222
States with the Most Available Jobs: New York, California, Connecticut
View All Nurse Practitioner Jobs →

5. Occupational Therapist

Number of Available Jobs: 2,222
States with the Most Available Jobs: California, Texas, Illinois
View All Occupational Therapist Jobs →

7. Physical Therapist Assistant

Number of Available Jobs: 1,833
States with the Most Available Jobs: California, Texas, Illinois
View All Physical Therapist Assistant Jobs →

8. Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

Number of Available Jobs: 1,725
States with the Most Available Jobs: California, Texas, Illinois
View All Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Jobs →

9. Respiratory Therapist

Number of Available Jobs: 1,703
States with the Most Available Jobs: Pennsylvania, Alaska, Florida
View All Respiratory Therapist Jobs →

10. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

Number of Available Jobs: 1,346
States with the Most Available Jobs: Texas, California, Virginia
View All Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Jobs →

Don’t see your position listed? That doesn’t mean it isn’t hiring. Search for it on our job board by clicking here.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

The 3 States with the Most Therapy Jobs

Healthcare hiring is off to a strong start in 2020, but where are the therapy jobs? Find out which states have the most openings for PTs, OTs, and SLPs right now.

Healthcare hiring is off to a strong start in 2020, adding more than 35,000 jobs in January alone, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. So, where are the jobs? We analyzed data on our site and came up with the top three states with the most available openings for PTs, OTs, and SLPs right now, as well as a selection of noteworthy positions in each state.

States with the Most Physical Therapy Jobs

1. California

Average Annual PT Salary in California: $97,110

Noteworthy Openings in California:

Click Here to Search PT Jobs in California →

2. Texas

Average Annual PT Salary in Texas: $92,940

Noteworthy Openings in Texas:

Click Here to Search PT Jobs in Texas →

3. Virginia

Average Annual PT Salary in Virginia: $91,700

Noteworthy Openings in Virginia:

Click Here to Search PT Jobs in Virginia →

States with the Most Occupational Therapy Jobs

1. California

Average Annual OT Salary in California: $95,160

Noteworthy Openings in California:

Click Here to Search OT Jobs in California →

2. Texas

Average Annual OT Salary in Texas: $89,360

Noteworthy Openings in Texas:

Click Here to Search OT Jobs in Texas →

3. Ohio

Average Annual OT Salary in Ohio: $85,720

Noteworthy Openings in Ohio:

Click Here to Search OT Jobs in Ohio →

States with the Most Speech Therapy Jobs

1. California

Average Annual SLP Salary in California: $93,510

Noteworthy Openings in California:

Click Here to Search SLP Jobs in California →

2. Texas

Average Annual SLP Salary in Texas: $75,800

Noteworthy Openings in Texas:

Click Here to Search SLP Jobs in Texas →

3. Illinois

Average Annual SLP Salary in Illinois: $77,120

Noteworthy Openings in Illinois:

Click Here to Search SLP Jobs in Illinois →

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

7 Reasons to Love Working in Therapy

Love is in the air this Valentine’s Day. Not just romantic love, though. Here are seven reasons to love working in therapy.

Love is in the air this Valentine’s Day. Not just romantic love, though. Here are seven reasons therapy professionals shared with us about why they love working in therapy, today and all days.

1. “I make a difference in the lives of others through my work as a PT, and I love that I get to see the direct results of a job well done pay off in such a positive way for people.” – Louis P.

2. “I’ve lived and worked in seven different states in the last few years. Not a lot of jobs let you travel the way you can by working in therapy. I love that I get to see the world, or at least a bunch of the United States, and get paid for it.” – Amanda R.

3. “You get to make some really great connections with people in this line of work while positively impacting their lives. I love that.” – Sarah W.

4. “You’ve heard of the opioid crisis, right? Yeah. I get to be on the front line of saving lives by offering an alternative to that mess. Don’t do drugs. Do PT.” – Jason D.

5. “There is no better feeling than empowering other people to build confidence in themselves and their voice. Watching a patient achieve a goal, no matter how big or how small, makes being an SLP a monumentally rewarding profession.” – Alison D.

6. “I get to work with such a diverse group of people in my line of work. The stories I’ve been told, the things I have seen. I don’t think I could’ve experienced that in another job and I love that I have been able to interact with so many different and fascinating humans over the course of my career.” – Sandra C.

7. “I love that being an OT is an active job and that I’m never bored during my workday.” – Lance T.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Experiencing Burnout? Making These Changes Could Help.

Long hours, heavy caseloads, tedious documentation—PTs, OTs, and SLPs have all reported feeling those burdens. Here are steps you can take to beat burnout.

Burnout is a problem across most facets of healthcare, and therapy professionals are not exempt from this uniquely troublesome phenomenon. Long hours, heavy caseloads, tedious documentation, the rising costs of education—and in turn, mounting debt—and more are all contributing factors, and PTs, OTs, and SLPs have all reported feeling those burdens. If you find yourself fatigued, exhausted, and detached in regard to your career and your patients, it is likely you’re burnt out.

Here are three options to consider, which may help you get back to a life and a career you love.

Change Settings or Employers
If you’ve been plugging away in the same setting or with the same population over many years, the key to enjoying your career again could be as simple as making a shift in one of those areas. If you’ve been working in geriatrics, maybe it’s time to give pediatrics a try. Tired of the SNF you report to daily? Try an outpatient clinic. Or perhaps you’ll find joy with a different employer in the same setting and population. As the adage goes, “If you don’t like where you are, move. You are not a tree.” So, go forth and grow.

Consider A Non-Clinical Role
Another way to grow, and alleviate your burnout, is to explore non-clinical career avenues. If you’re not connecting with patients, take patients out of the equation. Some non-clinical career options include education, including becoming a CME instructor, utilization review, medical device training or sales, consulting, informatics, marketing, or healthcare copy writing or content writing.

Practice Mindfulness
If you’re not ready to make a complete shift in your career, which is understandable, as the risk of change may be even more frightening than “the devil you know,” practicing mindfulness may be all you need to get you through. Begin to practice meditation or yoga, keep a gratitude journal, take time to just breathe, partake in hobbies you enjoy outside of work, never take your work home with you, and make sure you are getting enough sleep each night.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Therapy Jobs Rank High on List of “Best Jobs”

Eight therapy jobs made it onto this year’s list of 100 Best Jobs. See what they are and where they ranked here.

U.S. News & World Report has released their oft-anticipated annual list of 100 Best Jobs for 2020 and, without a doubt, the healthcare industry is the clear winner, including those in therapy practice.

The list, which ranked jobs from 12 different industries based on multiple components—median salary, unemployment rate, 10-year growth volume, 10-year growth percentage, future job prospects, stress level, and work-life balance—was consumed by healthcare professions, accounting for 46 of the 100 jobs. Additionally, nearly all traditional therapy roles landed on the list, with one even ranking in the top ten.

See how they did below.

8. Speech-Language Pathologist
15. Physical Therapist
26. Physical Therapist Assistant
28. Occupational Therapist
40. Respiratory Therapist
64. Massage Therapist
69. Physical Therapist Aide
70. Occupational Therapy Assistant

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

The Highest Paying U.S. Metro Areas for PTs, OTs, & SLPs

Want to make top pay as a PT, OT, or SLP? You might want to consider looking for a job in one of these high-paying metro areas.

While the average annual salaries of PTs, OTs, and SLPS—$87,930, $84,270, and $77,510 respectively—are typically considered high-paying, salaries can vary based on location, due to cost of living and other factors.

If your 2020 job search has you considering a change in location, be it across the state or across the country, knowing which areas offer the highest pay can help you decide your next move.

Take a look at the top metro areas offering the highest average annual salaries for PTs, OTs, and SLPs as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

Highest Paying Metro Areas – Physical Therapists

  1. Ames, IA – $118,870
  2. Great Falls, MT – $116,580
  3. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV – $115,240
  4. Yuma, AZ – $114,850
  5. Bakersfield, CA – $114,170
  6. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX – $112,500
  7. Prescott, AZ – $110,960
  8. Ithaca, NY – $110,620
  9. Morristown, TN – $108,340
  10. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA – $107,960

Highest Paying Metro Areas – Occupational Therapists

  1. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV – $108,190
  2. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA – $106,270
  3. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA – $104,580
  4. Hattiesburg, MS – $104,250
  5. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA – $103,120
  6. Visalia-Porterville, CA – $102,540
  7. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA – $102,480
  8. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX – $101,800
  9. Salinas, CA – $101,680
  10. Tyler, TX – $101,410

Highest Paying Metro Areas – Speech-Language Pathologists

  1. Napa, CA – $106,620
  2. Jackson, MI – $105,130
  3. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA – $103,890
  4. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA – $103,030
  5. Tulsa, OK – $102,680
  6. Wichita Falls, TX – $102,540
  7. Chico, CA – $101,990
  8. Battle Creek, MI – $101,810
  9. Gainesville, FL – $101,750
  10. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA – $101,380

Ready to start your search for a higher paying job? Click here.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Debt and the DPT

While it is a topic that has plenty of anecdotal evidence, a study has now been conducted on the oftentimes crippling debt burden of physical therapists.

While it is a topic that has plenty of anecdotal evidence, a study has now been conducted on the oftentimes crippling debt burden of physical therapists.

The small-scale study, which was authored by Steven Ambler, PT, DPT, MPH, PhD, surveyed members of the Florida Physical Therapy Association’s Early Professional Special Interest Group, all of whom were entry-level PTs practicing in Florida. The respondents, of which there were 86, answered questions relating to income, amount of debt held, and clinical practice choices. The study found that PTs who held a DPT most frequently reported debt ranging from $100,000 to $124,999, while the average salary of respondents was $69,328—a 197% debt to income ratio—and that PTs spend, on average, 22% of their monthly income on loan repayment.

The debt-to-income ratio identified by the study was more than double the estimated average ratio for family medicine physicians, who average a debt-to-income ratio of 80-90%, and also surpassed the average debt-to-income ratio for veterinarians, which is often estimated at 160-180%.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.