Physical Therapist

Physical Therapist

Job Summary: A Physical Therapist evaluates, diagnoses, and treats patients with physical impairments, injuries, or disabilities. The role focuses on restoring mobility, reducing pain, and improving overall functional ability through evidence-based therapeutic interventions.

Work Environment: Hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, home health settings.

Salary: Average salary: ~$117,000/year. Typical range: $105,000 – $128,000. Entry-level roles may start around ~$100,000/year. Salary varies based on experience, specialization, and workplace setting.

Key Skills: Patient assessment & clinical reasoning, manual therapy techniques, rehabilitation planning, communication & patient education, time management & documentation.

Career Growth Opportunities: Senior Physical Therapist / Specialist, Clinical Supervisor or Manager, Rehabilitation Director, Specializations (sports therapy, Neuro rehab, pediatrics, etc.)

Key Responsibilities: Conduct comprehensive patient assessments and develop individualized treatment plans, administer therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, and modalities (e.g., heat, electrical stimulation), monitor patient progress and modify treatment plans as needed, educate patients and families on injury prevention, home exercises, and lifestyle modifications, collaborate with physicians and interdisciplinary healthcare teams, maintain accurate clinical documentation and patient records, ensure compliance with healthcare regulations and clinic standards, supervise physical therapy assistants or students (if applicable).

Physical therapists commonly treat conditions such as neurological impairments, injuries, and post-surgical recovery cases.

Required Qualifications: Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from an accredited program, active Washington State Physical Therapist license, strong knowledge of anatomy, bio mechanics, and therapeutic techniques, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, ability to work independently and as part of a healthcare team.

Preferred Qualifications: 1–3+ years of clinical experience (varies by employer), specialty certifications (e.g., Orthopedics, Sports, Neurology), experience with electronic medical records (EMR) systems.