Travel PT Salary: How Much Money Do Travel Physical Therapists Make?
Snorkeling with manta rays in SouthEast Asia on our honeymoon. Within our 1st year of Travel PT, I was able to pay off over $40k in student loans, all while we were also saving for our wedding and 9-week honeymoon to S.E. Asia. None of this would’ve been possible without a travel PT salary! I made anywhere from $1,750/week to $2,100/week my first year of travel PT.
Travel physical therapy is an exciting and rewarding career option for physical therapists who want to:
Experience different places, cultures, and ways of life
Meet new people
Explore the U.S. (and beyond!)
Avoid burnout
Work with diverse patient populations
Try out different therapy settings
BUT, one of the biggest appeals of travel PT is to increase your earning potential. Imagine if you were making double to triple what you’re currently making in your staff PT job!
With a travel physical therapy salary, you could:
Pay off that mountain of student loan debt
Take more time off work to vacation and explore all this beautiful Earth has to offer
Purchase your first home sooner (or purchase several investment properties and “house hack”)
Start investing to set yourself up for more freedom in the future
Or even exit the physical therapy profession and build your own business
Does any of this sound appealing? I want you to sit with this feeling for a second. Close your eyes, take a couple deep breaths, and imagine what life COULD BE LIKE.
If only you weren’t making just enough to get by after paying for your student loans, car payment, living expenses, and groceries… Not to mention budgeting for “play” and adventure (the most important finance category – duh!)
Travel physical therapy can be the catalyst you need to level up and meet your financial goals!
I get it. It’s scary diving into so many unknowns. Moving to a new city, leaving all your friends, family, and coworkers, and switching jobs sounds like A LOT. And I’m here to tell you – it IS a lot! But DAMN, it’s so worth it.
I’m originally from a tiny town in Kansas (population 2,000). At age 18, I never envisioned the life I am living now. Hell – I thought I’d happily live out the rest of my years in that same small town in Kansas!
But after 5+ years of taking 15+ travel physical therapy contracts, I’ve achieved more than that small-town version of me ever thought was possible.
As I sit writing this blog at age 31, my wife and I have enjoyed multiple trips abroad (including a 9-week honeymoon), built 2 DIY campervans with our own two hands, and bought our first property. We’ve had more life experiences than most couples do in a lifetime, and it’s been largely made possible (and sponsored by) my travel physical salary.
The interior of our 1st DIY campervan build, Beverly Ann the Van. We built her during the pandemic for around $30,000 all-in. We now live in our 2nd campervan, Fran the Van. You can watch the van build process from start to finish on our Instagram (@skipandjazz) — 1st build in our highlights and 2nd build in our reels. Another purchase made possible largely by a travel physical therapy salary.
I can easily say that becoming a traveling physical therapist was the best decision I’ve ever made.
“Becoming a travel physical therapist was the best decision I’ve ever made” – Skip Johnson
So, you ready to take the leap yet? GOOD!
If you're anything like new-grad me, you’re probably wondering how the pay structure works in this exciting-but-sometimes-perplexing career path that is travel physical therapy.
Well, don’t you worry – because I'm here to demystify the world of pay for travel physical therapists.
How does travel physical therapy pay work?
First things first, let's get down to the basics. As a travel physical therapist, your pay is quite different from that of permanent (or as we travelers call them, “perm”) PTs.
Instead of a fixed salary, you'll receive a combination of taxable and non-taxable compensation.
A big reason travel therapy is so lucrative is because we receive tax-free stipends for housing and meals/incidentals on top of our hourly pay. This is where the big bucks come in!
A travel therapist pay package is typically made up of these parts:
Hourly pay (taxable). This will typically be >/= $20/hour.
Housing stipend (non-taxable). This will usually be presented in a per-day or per-week amount on your physical travel PT contract document. There are GSA maximums that your recruiter must abide by, so the amount will vary based on the location of your assignment.
Meals/incidentals stipend (non-taxable). This will usually be presented in a per-day or per-week amount on your physical travel PT contract document. There are GSA maximums that your recruiter must abide by, so the amount will vary based on the location of your assignment.
Reimbursements, travel/relocation costs, licensure costs, bonuses, etc. These are typically non-taxable (except for bonuses).
The first three components combine to make up your weekly take-home pay. Depending on your recruiter, they’ll present your estimated weekly take-home pay during your job search as a GROSS (before taxes) or NET (after taxes) amount.
PRO TIP: I’d recommend asking your recruiter to present the NET pay (after taxes) to avoid any confusion/miscommunication with your recruiter in the future. Just keep in mind that the numbers may change slightly because they’ll be estimating the taxes taken out and it won’t be exact numbers. I just don’t want you to be super surprised when you get your first paycheck and it has hundreds of dollars less than you expected because your recruiter was quoting you in GROSS amounts (before taxes) instead of NET amounts (after taxes)
It’s also important to note – in order to qualify for tax-free stipends, you have to follow certain rules, one being maintaining a tax-home. Refer to the experts at TravelTax.com to fully understand these rules as WE ARE NOT TAX EXPERTS.
Be aware, in the unlikely event that you were to get audited by the IRS, you need to have proof that you’ve been following these rules, or else you’re going to owe a lot of back-taxes!
Yuck - we’d recommend following the rules from the start so you don’t have to worry about it.
So, how much does a travel physical therapist make?
Personally, I’ve made anywhere from $1,750 to $3,300 NET (after taxes) weekly take-home pay (between 2018-2023) as a travel physical therapist. WILD, right?!
Level with me here – in my five years as a travel PT, my weekly pay has been double to triple what I made weekly at my first staff PT job.
Are you mindblown yet?! Good!
Right now (2023) is an amazing time to travel because rates are much higher than they were when I started traveling back in 2018!
That being said, don’t expect to consistently make $2,000+ weekly unless you’re intentionally scouting those high-paying contracts. If you want these high-paying contracts, you’ll have to be more flexible with job setting & location. More on that below.
We’re currently living in our 2nd DIY campervan which helps us keep our expenses extremely low while I’m working (by staying at RV parks and renting a spot) AND when I’m not working (by boondocking, or staying at free spots). Because our expenses are so low when I’m not on contract, we have no problem waiting around for those higher-paying contracts.
But realize that if you’re a long ways from home, you’ll still incur short-term housing costs if you’re waiting around for a high-paying contract.
Now that you understand HOW we are paid as travel therapists and HOW MUCH you can potentially make, let’s close out with some tips to maximize your travel physical therapy salary.
Tips for Maximizing Travel Physical Therapy Pay
Be flexible with setting and location
My highest paying travel physical therapy jobs have been in rural, remote locations where they’re more desperate for help, so they offer higher wages to attract travel PTs to the area.
These areas may not be as entertaining as cities, but there are some perks like a lower cost of living, lower entertainment costs, lower commuting costs, and a slower pace of life.
And several rural areas I’ve worked on the Oregon and California coast are surrounded by beautiful nature, which is not only grounding, but also provides entertainment for FREE.99.
Negotiate your travel PT pay
Our favorite motto goes: “You never know unless you ask”. After all, the worst you’re going to be told is no.
In an ideal world, your travel PT recruiters will offer you the most money they can upfront without being asked. But, trustworthy recruiters can be hard to come by.
Hit us up to connect with trustworthy recruiters we know & trust and have been working with for years.
It’s important to know that your recruiter isn’t always going to be able to offer you more money.
There are caps on your housing stipends and meals/incidentals stipends based on the region you’ll be working in, so your recruiter can’t legally offer you more than that amount of money.
Remember, it’s okay to ask, but you also don’t want to become known as an entitled traveler, so be kind in your interactions! The travel therapy world is a small one and being entitled can and will come back to bite you eventually.
Work with 2-3 staffing agencies
Different staffing agencies have access to different jobs. Some agencies have exclusive contracts, meaning you will only have access to a job if you’re working with that specific agency.
I highly recommend working with 2-3 travel physical therapy agencies / recruiters to have access to more jobs and maximize pay transparency.
Seeing the pay rates from several agencies will also keep you from pigeon-holing yourself when it comes to pay.
Some larger agencies (think AMN) have more overhead so they’re able to offer you lesser take-home pay compared to smaller staffing agencies. BUT, these agencies also have access to most of the jobs throughout the US, so it’s helpful to have them in your back pocket if you’re only trying to work in a specific setting or location.
It’s worked out well for me to work with one larger agency and 2 other small-medium sized staffing agencies so I have the best of both worlds – I have access to higher-paying contracts but also have my pick of the litter with access to most of the jobs throughout the US.
Build a strong professional network
In my five years as a travel PT, I’ve made TONS of connections with travel therapists throughout the U.S.
The travel therapy world is smaller than you think and we’re all out here to support one another.
There have been several times that I finish a contract and I’ll usually try to hand off an awesome job to a friend because many of these clinics I work at are still in need when I leave.
On the flipside, if I know one of my travel PT friends is really enjoying a job/location, I’ll ask them to see when their contract ends and ask if their clinic/hospital still needs a travel PT when they’re done.
Why not share the love?!
Hanging with some of our favorite travel therapy friends at a meetup in Durango, CO! You might recognize some of them. :) They’re all living their best lives as well, largely due to having travel therapy salaries.
Conclusion: Maximizing Your Travel Physical Therapist Salary
Let's recap the key takeaways from the article above:
Why Choose Travel PT: We explored the many reasons why travel physical therapy is such an exciting and fulfilling career choice. It's a chance to gain new experiences, meet incredible people, explore not only the U.S. but the world, and enjoy a diverse range of patient populations and therapy settings. However, the real game-changer is the potential to significantly boost your income.
Why Travel PT Jobs Pay More: We delved into the financial benefits of travel therapy, revealing how the pay breakdown differs from a traditional PT salary. Instead of a fixed salary, you'll receive a blend of taxable hourly pay and non-taxable stipends. The magic lies in the non-taxable housing and meals/incidentals stipends, which will make up the bulk of your pay. Remember, you must adhere to certain tax rules to be eligible to receive tax-free stipends.
Understanding the Pay Package: We broke down the components of a travel therapist's pay package:
Hourly Pay (Taxable): Typically around $20/hour or more.
Housing Stipend (Non-Taxable): Varies based on location.
Meals/Incidentals Stipend (Non-Taxable): Also location-dependent.
Additional Reimbursements: Covering travel costs, licensure, and potential bonuses.
Your Earning Potential: You learned that earnings can range significantly. I recapped that I’ve made between $1,750 to $3,300 NET (after taxes) weekly as a travel PT, and I’ve often made double to triple the income I made at my first job as a permanent PT. Know that $2,000+ per week NET pay is a great pay range to shoot for, but you’ll have to be flexible on location & setting to land these higher-paying travel PT jobs.
Tips for Maximizing Earnings: I shared strategies to make the most of your travel therapy career, including:
Flexibility: Being open to various settings and locations, including rural areas where demand (and pay rates) can be higher.
Negotiation: Don't hesitate to negotiate your compensation, but be aware of caps on stipends based on location (see GSA.gov). Sometimes your recruiter’s hands will be tied and they can’t offer more money.
Multiple Staffing Agencies: Working with 2-3 agencies can give you access to a to maximize job access & pay transparency.
Networking: Building a strong professional network within the travel therapy community can lead to more opportunities and job referrals. It’s all about who you know, after all.
Closing Thoughts
Travel physical therapy presents an exciting opportunity to combine your passion for helping others with the chance to explore the country and boost your income.
As you weigh the pros and cons, remember that a three-month assignment is a small commitment for the potential to discover a rewarding career and an enriched life. Worst case scenario — you try it and don’t like it and make bank for a bit. Plus, perm jobs will always be available!
So, are you ready to embark on this incredible journey?
The road ahead may be filled with unknowns, but from my own experience, I can wholeheartedly say that becoming a traveling physical therapist was the best decision I’ve ever made.
Take that leap, and you might just find yourself living a life beyond your wildest dreams on the other side. I know this from experience. 😉
As always, if you ever have questions or need guidance, please reach out! We love helping travelers get started on the right foot so they can avoid all the mistakes we’ve made over the last 5 years of travel.
Safe travels and may your career as a travel physical therapist be as fulfilling and financially rewarding as you've ever imagined!
💛 Skip & Jazz
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