Traveling vs Permanent Therapist

Graduating from a physical therapy program is the first step towards a wonderful career.The energy of physical therapy makes it a great choice among people who don’t want to be stuck with a desk job. A therapist’s daily routine is never the same each day. This makes going to work challenging, interesting and very exciting!

To have a fulfilling physical therapy career, you need to find your area of specialization. There is a number of work settings, job positions, locations and specialties that make it stimulating but at the same time, daunting. It’s hard to choose something that you aren’t sure about. But the beauty of it all is that several choices are within your reach.

With growing diseases, ailments, and aging population, the demand for the healthcare providers is also increasing. Among all the medical professions, occupational therapy plays a major role. They are the ones who provide the treatment needed to overcome the physical or mental disorder resulting from an injury or from any health issue. These therapists are required by the country’s top medical facilities and hospitals. Traveling occupational therapist is a new addition to this field.

There are numerous job opportunities in that field, and there are lots of benefits as well. It is a rewarding career which helps you gain new experiences, expands your network, provides knowledge about all the aspects of occupational therapy with the chance to explore different countries, and get paid for it. But, how to get the job as a travel occupational therapist, what is the salary, etc., are the questions that come to the mind of a job seeker. 

As a new graduate, you might be completely unsure what specialty or work setting you want. But with traveling physical therapy, you get exposed to various experienced therapists who can mentor you in your desired specialization. At the same time, a traveling therapist always has the option to stay a longer or shorter period of time in a particular work setting.

First of all, you need to have a certain level of wanderlust to get by as a traveling physical therapist. Meeting new friends and discovering different places are just the perks. Physical therapy salaries range widely depending on if you’re traveling outside of the country or remaining in America. To get the most out of traveling and having a successful career in physical therapy, consider the state you want to work in.The states of Alaska and California generally have higher salary ranges among other areas. And working as a traveling therapist in Arkansas will get you $107,000 annually, but working as a traveler in Vermont will earn you around $120,000 annually.

You also need to account for lifestyle costs, physical/environmental conditions, housing expenses and moving costs which can all vary in amount greatly. Luckily, there are ways to save when having a travel position.

Most of all, salary is the great determining factor for a fulfilling traveling physical therapy career. Clearly, travelers are in high demand, and this brings a higher salary range compared to permanently placed counterparts. Traveling physical therapists usually get to the higher tier in the salary pyramid because of staffing shortages and temporary staffing needs. It is contract-based but a win-win situation for both the therapist and the work facility.