Physical Therapists vs Nurses salary

As stated by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly pay for Physical Therapists is $92,920, compared to the average annual salary of $82,750 for Nurses. This shows that the pay for Physical Therapists is higher than for Nurses.

However, it's important to keep in mind that the salary of an employee can be influenced by factors such as location and experience. In particular, Physical Therapists working in Nevada (with a salary of $104,210 on average) may earn more than those in North Dakota ($81,480). To provide another instance, Nurses in California have an average salary that is 105% higher than those in South Dakota.

Physical Therapists vs Nurses overview

Physical Therapists and Nurses are two important roles in the Health Care Services industry. There is a common interest in understanding the differences between these job titles, as well as the average salaries for each.

Physical Therapist job description

Physical Therapists assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.

Physical Therapist education and experience

About a half of Physical Therapists have completed a Doctoral Degree, 38% have a Master's Degree, and 8% hold a Bachelor's Degree. Regarding experience, about a third of Physical Therapist jobs require no previous experience. A smaller percentage of jobs (23%) require a previous experience of 1 to 2 years.

Physical Therapist average salary

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 225,350 Physical Therapists employed in the United States in 2021, and they earned a mean annual income of $92,920. The bottom 10 percent earned $61,930 or less, and the top 10 percent earned $127,110 or more. Compared to the previous year, the average salary has increased by 1.4%.

Do Physical Therapists make good money?

Physical Therapists usually receive good salaries, as their average salary is 59% higher than the average wage in the United States ($58,260). Additionally, they earn about a third more than the average wage of the Health Care Services industry ($70,360).

Physical Therapists usually receive good salaries, as their average salary is 59% higher than the average wage in the United States ($58,260).

Physical Therapists job growth

In 2021, there have been 4,480 more Physical Therapist positions than the previous year nationwide, which marks a rise of 2%. Job growth has averaged -0.4% for the last 3 years.

Nurse job description

Alternative names: Registered Nurses, RN

Nurses assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required. Includes Clinical Nurse Specialists.

Nurse education and experience

Most Nurses (56%) have completed a Bachelor's Degree. But additionally, among employees with this job title, there are also some with a Post-Secondary Certificate (23%) and an Associate's Degree (19%). In terms of experience, about a third of Nurse occupations require a 1 to 2 years of previous experience working in the field. A smaller number of roles (19%) require no previous experience.

Nurse average salary

As reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, the number of Nurses employed in the United States was 3.05M, and they earned an average of $82,750 per year. The bottom 10 percent had a salary of $59,450 or less, and the top 10 percent had a salary of $120,250 or more. The average salary has grown by 3.4% in comparison to the previous year.

Do Nurses make good money?

Nurses are typically paid well, since their mean salary is 42% above the average salary in the United States ($58,260). Moreover, they make 15% more than the mean earnings of the Hospitals industry ($72,260).

Nurses are typically paid well, since their mean salary is 42% above the average salary in the United States ($58,260).

Nurses job growth

The employment rate for Nurses has grown in the last two years. In 2021, there have been 61,030 more roles than the previous year across the nation, and that marks a growth of 2%. The average job growth rate for the past 3 years has been 1.1%.

FAQ

Do Physical Therapists or Nurses make more?

Physical Therapists earn 12% more than Nurses. Nurses average around $82,750 per year, while Physical Therapists make $92,920 per year.

How long does it take to become a Physical Therapist vs Nurse?

Physical Therapists generally need a Doctoral Degree. It most often takes between 4 years and 6 years to obtain a Doctoral Degree. But, considering that a Master's Degree must be obtained first, it may take around 13 years to complete the full educational program. While on the other hand, Nurses generally need a Bachelor's Degree. It most often takes around 4 years to obtain a Bachelor's Degree.

Is it harder to become a Physical Therapist vs Nurse?

It is more difficult to become a Physical Therapist than a Nurse, as it takes 9 more years of education.