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Healthcare Career Salaries - State of the Therapy Professions

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Welcome to the State of the Therapy Professions and Salary Guide. For the last several months, our team has been hard at work collecting data and professional insights from rehabilitation professionals around the nation. Our goal: To better understand healthcare career salaries, needs, challenges, and opportunities facing our fellow rehabilitation professionals.

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Salary Guide and Career Insights for PTs, PTAs, OTs, COTAs, MTs/LMTs, SLPs and Athletic Trainers

Throughout the survey, rehab and therapy professionals weighed in with their recommendations on how to meet the needs they see in their various professions. In this downloadable e-book, you’ll find participants’ answers to questions regarding salaries, areas of employment, as well as their perspectives on the current state of healthcare in the United States.

Inside the guide, you’ll find:
  • A snapshot of average salaries and benefits.
  • Employment profile and work satisfaction.
  • Current challenges and opportunities. 

Athletic Trainers 

Athletic trainers specialize in the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, improving strength and flexibility, and creating training programs that keep people healthy and safe. 

Athletic trainers are becoming more in demand as healthcare organizations and the general population begin to recognize the benefits of athletic training. In addition, as high school, college, and professional sports programs grow and become increasingly competitive, the need for athletic trainers increases. People who are passionate about wellness, athletics, and helping others are often drawn to the profession.
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Key Findings 

In our survey of athletic trainers, we received 215 total responses. Of the respondents, 70.5% were currently employed as athletic trainers, and 43.3% had been in the profession for over 20 years. This wealth of experience helped us get a good picture of what is happening within the athletic training profession.

Demographics of Athletic Trainers 


The ATs included in our survey come from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, specialties, and years of experience. 
Most respondents in the survey are White/Caucasian (67.4%). Only 3.7% of respondents are Hispanic, and even fewer (2.8%) are African American. The distribution of different genders was more evenly distributed, with close to half of them being men (39.1%) and half being women (41.4%). 18.1% did not disclose their gender information. 

Survey responses were evenly distributed among different age groups. The youngest respondent was 25 years old and the oldest was 64.  

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Methodology 

This report includes sub-group analysis by license type, specialty, work setting, gender, ethnicity, level of education, and age. Subgroup differences are listed when there is a statistically significant difference. Results in this report are based on data collected from 215 responses to the survey.

Athletic Trainer Job Satisfaction Survey

The BLS reports that the job outlook for athletic trainers is expected to increase by 14% between 2022 and 2032, making it one of the fastest-growing fields in the United States. According to a 2020 report by the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC), there are currently 56,906 certified athletic trainers in the United States. 

As with many other healthcare careers, staffing issues are common among athletic trainers. Our survey results indicated that 45.93% of athletic trainers do not feel that their workplace is efficiently staffed, meaning they cannot give each of their patients the time or attention required to effectively treat their conditions.

Although staffing is an issue for many athletic trainers, most of them report feeling valued in their workplace. 66.67% of ATs in our survey either strongly agree or somewhat agree that they feel valued in their workplace, and their job satisfaction rates are generally positive. 

Both experience and work setting make a big difference in job satisfaction experienced by athletic trainers. ATs working in schools report having the highest job satisfaction, with 73% reporting feeling “somewhat satisfied” or “extremely satisfied” with their jobs. Private practice workers have the lowest rates of satisfaction, but over 50% still report feeling at least somewhat satisfied in their careers. 

Athletic Trainers Salary Guide 

According to the BLS, the average salaries for athletic trainers in the United States is $61,540. Those with 1-9 years of experience report earning around $55,000 per year, and those with more than 40 years of experience report earning $75,000 per year. Approximately 60% of ATs in our survey reported receiving a salary raise in the year prior to the survey.

Massage Therapy 

Massage therapists use their skills to help their clients recover from injury, deal with stress, and improve athletic performance. They can work in hospitals, medical spas, chiropractic or physical therapy offices, with sports teams, or as independent workers. They must have excellent communication skills to give their clients a safe and comfortable experience.

Key Findings

176 Licensed Massage Therapists responded to our survey. Of these, 73.4% were currently employed as LMTs and 90.6% had an active license. Most of the working survey respondents (63.7%) worked in private practice, while 8.9% worked for a massage therapy or spa franchise, 3.2% worked in outpatient therapy, and 20.8% worked in another unspecified setting.

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The experience of respondents varied, with 14.5% in the profession for 1-9 years, 37.9% in the profession for 10-19 years, 37.9% in the profession for 20-29 years, and 8.9% in the profession for 30-39 years.

Massage Therapy Demographics in the United States 

The LMTs included in our survey come from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, education, specialties, and years of experience. 48% of respondents were women. Only 10% said they were men, although 37% preferred not to disclose their gender. 
Slightly more men seem to have responded than the national average , where 76.4% of all massage therapists are women, and 23.6% are men.

Respondents varied in age, 14.7% are 35-44 years old, 24.4% are 45-54 years old, 11.4% (20) are 55-64 years old, and 7.4% are 65-74 years old. 

Most therapists who responded to the survey are White/Caucasian (44.3%), followed by Hispanic (40.3%). Of the remaining, 5.1% were Black or African American and the last 2.8 were other ethnicities.

Methodology 

This report includes sub-group analysis by license type, specialty, work setting, gender, ethnicity, level of education, and age. Subgroup differences are listed when there is a statistically significant difference. Results in this report are based on data collected from 176 responses to the survey.

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Massage Therapist Job Satisfaction Survey

The field of massage therapy is expected to grow by 18% between 2023 and 2033, making it one of the fastest-growing fields in the United States. This amounts to about 22,000 job openings per year over the next decade. Massage therapy is quickly gaining popularity among patients suffering from chronic pain conditions. It is often used in conjunction with other therapies. 

Most licensed massage therapists in our survey expressed satisfaction with their current role and employer. The newest massage therapists, those with between 1 and 9 years of experience, were the least satisfied with both their jobs and employers. 

These relatively high satisfaction rates are likely related to such a high percentage (77.9%), reporting feeling valued in their workplace. In addition to feeling valued, most massage therapists report that their workplace is adequately staffed.  

Massage Therapist Salary Guide

According to the BLS, the average salary of a massage therapist in the United States is $55,310 per year, which is just below the national average salary in the United States. The highest-paying states for massage therapists are Vermont, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and New Hampshire.

About half of the licensed massage therapists across all experience levels stated that they were either extremely satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their salary. Salary satisfaction was lowest among those with 10-19 years of experience, with 43% reporting feeling either somewhat dissatisfied or extremely dissatisfied with their pay.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists help patients gain independence by practicing self-care skills. They often work with patients who need to regain their strength after surgery or major illness. Occupational therapists often work closely with physical therapists. 

Together, they ensure patients can care for themselves and move around their homes safely. They may recommend and teach patients how to use assistive devices  such as walkers or gross motor tools.
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Key Findings

519 occupational therapists responded to our survey. 89.4% were currently employed as occupational therapists and 93.8% had an active license. Of the survey respondents, 34% work in an in-patient setting, 24% work in another setting, 13% work in an out-patient setting, 10% work in home health, 10% work in schools, and 4% work in private practice.

Demographics of Occupational Therapists 

The OTs included in our survey come from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, specialties, and years of experience. Most survey respondents (70.5%) are women. Only 8.9% are men, and 19.5% preferred not to disclose information about their gender. 

Occupational therapists were between the ages of 25 and 74 years old, 12.5% (65) are 25-34 years old, 17.9% (93) are 35-44 years old, 26.4% (137) are 45-54 years old, 15.6% (81) are 55-64 years old, 7.1% (37) are 65-74 years old.

Most occupational therapists in the survey (64.7%) are White/Caucasian, while 5.4% are Black or African American, 3.8% are Hispanic, and 2.3% are Asian/Pacific Islander.

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Methodology 

This report includes sub-group analysis by license type, specialty, work setting, gender, ethnicity, level of education, and age. Subgroup differences are listed when there is a statistically significant difference. Results in this report are based on data collected from 519 responses to the survey.

Occupational Therapist Job Satisfaction Survey

Overall, most occupational therapists report feeling at least somewhat satisfied with their role across all levels of experience and work settings. 75% of therapists with 30-39 years of experience report feeling satisfied with their role.

Occupational therapists with more than 40 years of experience reported the highest levels of dissatisfaction. Of this group, 12% reported feeling extremely dissatisfied, and 18% reported feeling somewhat dissatisfied. 

Satisfaction with the occupational therapy role may be related to feeling valued in the workplace. 57.71% of our survey respondents reported feeling valued in their workplace. Dissatisfaction seems to be related to poor staffing, with 50% of occupational therapists reporting feeling understaffed at work. 

Burnout among occupational therapists is alarmingly high, especially among those working in home health. While 66% of occupational therapists in our survey reported feeling burnt out in the last 12-18 months, the percentage climbed to 77% for those working in home health. Even among those working less than forty hours per week, more than half report feeling burnt out. 

Burnout may be among the reasons that 31% of respondents would not recommend new graduates join the occupational therapy profession.

Occupational Therapist Salary Guide 

Our occupational therapy survey respondents reported earning between $60,000 and $84,000 per year. About half of our respondents across all experience levels reported receiving a pay raise in the last 12 months. 

The BLS reports   that the average salary of an occupational therapist in the United States is $96,370 per year. The BLS also reports that occupational therapists working in home health are typically paid the most, while those working in schools are paid the least. 

Salary satisfaction rates vary among occupational therapists. Of those with less than 1 year of experience, 67% report feeling somewhat satisfied with their salary. For those with more than 40 years of experience, 17% report feeling somewhat satisfied with their salary and 33% report feeling extremely satisfied with their salary.

Physical Therapy 

Physical therapists are a growing profession, with job opportunities expected to increase 15% between 2023 and 2033. As of 2023, there were 246,800 physical therapists working in the United States. Physical therapists may work in various settings, from hospitals to athletic departments.

Key Findings

Our survey had a total of 746 respondents, with 89.5% currently employed as physical therapists. 23% of respondents work in an outpatient setting, 22% work in an inpatient setting, 16% work in home health, 7.9% work in private practice, 4.2% work in schools, and 24.3% report working in some other setting. 

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While 10.5% of respondents are not currently employed as physical therapists, 14.1% (91) have been in the profession for 1-9 years, 24.7% (160) have been in the profession for 10-19 years, 34% (220) have been in the profession for 20-29 years, 20.7% (134) have been in the profession for 30-39 years, 6.5% (42) have been in the profession for more than 40 years.

Demographics of Physical Therapists 

The PTs included in our survey come from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, specialties, and years of experience.
Of all survey respondents, 54.4% report being women and 22.9% report being men. 21.2% prefer not to disclose their gender. Most respondents are White/Caucasian, while a small percentage (5.1%) are Asian/Pacific Islander and (3.1%) Hispanic. 

Respondents were between 35 and 74 years old at the time of the survey.

Methodology 

This report includes sub-group analysis by license type, specialty, work setting, gender, ethnicity, level of education, and age. Subgroup differences are listed when there is a statistically significant difference. Results in this report are based on data collected from 746 responses to the survey.

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Physical Therapist Job Satisfaction Survey

According to the Journal of Physical Therapy Education, physical therapy ranks in the top 20% of jobs in the United States for work satisfaction. This was reflected in our survey results, where at least 63% of respondents reported feeling at least somewhat satisfied in their current role. 

Physical therapists working in home health reported feeling the most job satisfaction, with 51% feeling somewhat satisfied in their role, and 26% feeling extremely satisfied. 

When measured by experience, those with more than 40 years in the field reported the most job satisfaction, with 17% reporting feeling somewhat satisfied with their role, and an impressive 49% reporting feeling extremely satisfied.  

While still high, the lowest satisfaction rates were reported by physical therapists working in the inpatient setting. 22% of these physical therapists reported feeling extremely satisfied in their role, and 41% reported feeling somewhat satisfied. 

Despite high job satisfaction rates, most physical therapists report feeling concerned about the state of the profession. Of our respondents, 79% reported feeling either somewhat or extremely concerned about the current state of the profession.

Physical Therapist Salary Guide

Our survey respondents reported earning between $60,000 and $87,000 at the time of the survey. At that time, just under 50% reported receiving a pay raise within the last year. 

According to the BLS, the average physical therapist salary is $99,710 per year, or $47.94 per hour. Those working in home health typically earn the most, while those working in outpatient offices earn the least.

Speech Pathology 

Speech-language pathologists work with patients of all ages to improve their communication skills and chewing and swallowing techniques. They may work with infants who have a weak swallow, children struggling with a stutter, adults with apraxia, or people rehabilitating from head and facial injuries.

Key Findings

Our survey of speech-language pathologists is made up of 154 total responses, of which, 91.5% are currently employed as SLPs. Most speech-language pathologists (23.7%) work in an inpatient setting. Others work in schools (15.1%), outpatient settings (10.1%), home health (9.4%), and private practice (9.4). 

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Survey results come from SLPs with varied levels of experience. 17.1% (24) have been in the profession for 1-9 years, 22.1% (31) have been in the profession for 10-19 years, 29.3% (41) have been in the profession for 20-29 years, 22.9% (32) have been in the profession for 30-39 years, and 8.6% (12) have been in the profession for more than 40 years.

Demographics of Speech-Language Pathologist 

The SLPs included in our survey come from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, specialties, and years of experience.  
Of the respondents, 72.7% were women and only 6.5% reported being men. 18.2% did not specify their gender. Respondents were between 25 and 74 years old at the time of the survey. 

Most respondents (64.3%) are White/Caucasian. 4.6% are Hispanic and 3.9% are Asian/Pacific.

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Methodology 

This report includes sub-group analysis by license type, specialty, work setting, gender, ethnicity, level of education, and age. Subgroup differences are listed when there is a statistically significant difference. Results in this report are based on data collected from 154 responses to the survey.

Speech-Language Pathologist Job Satisfaction Survey

75% of speech-language pathologists in our survey are either somewhat concerned or extremely concerned about the state of their profession. The most common concerns include artificial intelligence taking over the jobs of SLPs, and a lack of support from the speech-language pathology credentialing agency, the American Speech Language Hearing Association.

While SLPs express concern about artificial intelligence, with one stating that “we love the human side to our profession and begin relying on technology too much to conduct therapy for us,” others argue that AI could help solve staffing problems within the profession and help overwhelmed SLPs complete their documentation.

As one therapist put it “paperwork involved made the job overwhelming. Less paperwork would allow more time spent with students.” 
57% of our survey respondents state that they do not feel that their workplace has adequate staffing. AI may help alleviate some of these problems.