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The Growing PT Opportunity

The Growing PT Opportunity

The fastest-growing jobs in healthcare nationwide are in physical therapy

LinkedIn recently published its annual Jobs on the Rise list, which features the 25 fastest-growing jobs in America. While professions such as engineers and some C-suite roles made the list, there was a noticeable absence of healthcare positions. The only two roles included were advanced practice providers (No. 22) and physical therapists (No. 3).

LinkedIn’s data-driven ranking placed physical therapists at number three, only behind artificial intelligence engineers and consultants. The world of physical therapy is growing expeditiously. With physical therapy ranking as one of the most in-demand careers, now is the perfect time to jump into this rewarding field that offers job security, the opportunity to make a meaningful impact with patients and enjoy a competitive salary.

Building long-lasting job security

One significant reason physical therapy jobs are on the rise is the unique benefits these positions provide. At the forefront of these benefits is job security. According to industry analysts, the field is projected to grow by nearly 20% from 2021 to 2031. This growth is driven by an aging population and a clearly increasing need for physical therapy. Choosing physical therapy as a career and securing a position likely means you will have long-term job security.

The need for physical therapists is on the rise as patients everywhere are turning to physical therapy to deal with their pain rather than undergoing surgery. Studies have recently shown that physical therapy can actually prevent unnecessary procedures. Vijay Yanamadala, MD, MBA, FAANS, FCNS, a spine surgeon, is prescribing physical therapy to steer patients away from unnecessary surgeries.

Yanamadala uses companies such as Sword Health to provide digital therapy to his patients. Sword Health combines AI and telehealth to provide pain relief to patients from the comfort of their own homes. Among his patients who want to undergo spine surgery, 60% have opted out of these surgeries since undergoing regular physical therapy sessions. Physical therapy has become a non-invasive approach to handling pain and patients are embracing that. This provides additional job security for the profession, especially as surgery costs rise.

Banking on flexibility

On the surface, physical therapy would seem to be a strictly in-person role. However, in 2025, that’s no longer the case. Upwards of 2% of physical therapists say they’re in hybrid roles. Another 0.3% say they have remote physical therapy jobs. While those numbers without context aren’t impressive, they do show that the industry is shifting toward more flexibility with therapy positions.

Remote physical therapy jobs are increasingly becoming a viable option for professionals looking to expand their reach and enhance their work-life balance. Through telehealth platforms, physical therapists can now conduct evaluations, guide exercises, and provide patient education—all from the comfort of their homes. This not only allows therapists to connect with patients who may have limited access to in-person care but also creates opportunities for clinicians to diversify their career paths. As technology continues to advance, remote physical therapy jobs are likely to play a larger role in shaping the future of the profession.

Earning potential in physical therapy

According to industry experts, the average annual salary for physical therapists is $100,440, translating to an hourly rate of just over $48. Even those in the lowest 10% of this field earn well over $70,000 each year. In comparison, the average salary for a healthcare professional is around $75,000. This indicates that even the lower end of physical therapists likely earns more annually than the average healthcare worker.

In many states, including Alaska, California, Nevada, New Jersey, and Texas, the average hourly rate for physical therapists exceeds $50. Using the StaffDNA® digital marketplace, we see numerous jobs offering hourly rates well over $70 and even $80 in certain parts of the country. Regardless of how you look at it, if you pursue a career in physical therapy, you’re sure to enjoy significant financial benefits.

A multitude of specialties and settings

After obtaining a DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy), countless career opportunities open up—especially with the wide range of positions available on the StaffDNA® job marketplace. For those willing to pursue additional training post-degree, there are many unique specializations in physical therapy. Cardiovascular, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, orthopedics, pediatrics, and sports therapy are just a few of the specialties that physical therapy offers.

Additionally, there is a broad range of work environments to choose from depending on the specialty you pursue, including clinics, fitness centers, hospitals, nursing homes, patients’ homes, private practices, sports facilities, and more. No matter where you reside, you’ll have plenty of options.

Life as a physical therapist

Physical therapy is a profession that transforms lives, empowering patients to overcome challenges and regain their independence. From restoring mobility to building strength, physical therapists play a crucial role in helping individuals achieve their goals. At StaffDNA®, we connect professionals with various physical therapy jobs—from staff to travel to per diem roles—ensuring that therapists nationwide have opportunities to make a meaningful impact while advancing their careers.

“As a physical therapist, I have the opportunity to help patients return to their prior level of function (PLOF) or even improve beyond that, restore their lives, enhance their quality of life and empower them to prevent similar incidents in the future,” said a StaffDNA® physical therapist.

For therapists, the ability to restore patients’ confidence and quality of life is what makes this career so fulfilling. With access to flexible therapy jobs through StaffDNA®, physical therapists can expand their reach, explore new environments and continue improving lives across the country. Whether you’re seeking permanent, per diem, or travel opportunities, StaffDNA® makes it easy to find physical therapy jobs that fit your goals and lifestyle.

The future of physical therapy

Physical therapy jobs provide therapists with a dynamic and rewarding opportunity that continues to grow and evolve, presenting exceptional prospects for healthcare professionals seeking job security, flexibility, and financial stability. With its broad range of specialties and work environments, the profession accommodates diverse interests and career goals, making it an ideal choice for those passionate about helping others enhance their quality of life. As the demand for non-invasive, patient-centered care increases, physical therapists are uniquely positioned to make a significant impact while enjoying a fulfilling and prosperous career.

With StaffDNA®, finding therapy jobs you love has never been easier. Simply download the app for free and fill in your profession and specialty. Without even registering, you’ll immediately have access to thousands of the highest-paying physical therapy jobs, along with full job details such as complete pay transparency, across all 50 states.

Headshot of Heidi Braucksieker

Heidi Braucksieker

Allied Operations

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Healthcare organizations face some of the toughest workforce challenges: tight budgets, lean IT teams and limited tools for sourcing, hiring and onboarding staff. Add in manual scheduling, rising labor costs and high burnout, and the pressure grows. Rolling out complex systems can feel out of reach without dedicated tech support. Even simply evaluating new technology can overwhelm already stretched-thin teams.

These challenges make it clear that technology isn’t just helpful; it’s essential for healthcare organizations. Especially when they’re striving to do more with less. Not only are healthcare organizations falling short on implementing new technology, but they’re struggling to update outdated systems. A 2023 CHIME survey found that nearly 60% of hospitals use core IT systems, such as EHRs and workforce platforms, that are over a decade old. Outdated tools can’t integrate or scale, creating barriers to smarter staffing strategies. But the opportunity to modernize is real and urgent.

Tech in Patient Care Falls Short

In healthcare, technology has historically focused on clinical and patient care. Workforce management tools have taken a back seat to updating patient care systems. Yet many big tech companies have failed when it comes to customizing healthcare infrastructure and connecting patients with providers. Google Health shuttered after only three years, and Amazon’s Haven Health was intended to disrupt healthcare and health insurance but disbanded three years later.

Why the failures? It’s estimated that nearly 80% of patient data technology systems must use to create alignment is unstructured and trapped in data silos. Integration issues naturally form when there’s a lack of cohesive data that systems can share and use. Privacy considerations surrounding patient data are a challenge, as well. Across the healthcare continuum, federal and state healthcare data laws hinder how seamlessly technology can integrate with existing systems.

Why Smarter Staffing Is Now Essential

These data and integration challenges also hinder a healthcare organization’s ability to hire and deploy staff, an urgent healthcare priority. The U.S. will face a shortfall of over 3.2 million healthcare workers by 2026. At the same time, aging populations and rising chronic conditions are straining teams already stretched thin.

Smart workforce technology is becoming not just helpful, but essential. It allows organizations to move from reactive staffing to proactive workforce planning that can adapt to real-world care demands.

Global Inspiration: Japan’s AI-Driven Workforce Model

Healthcare staffing shortages aren’t just a U.S. problem. So, how are other countries addressing this issue? Countries like Japan are demonstrating what’s possible when technology is utilized not just to supplement staff, but to transform the entire workforce model. With one of the world’s oldest populations and a significant clinician shortage, Japan has adopted a proactive approach through its Healthcare AI and Robotics Center, where several institutions like Waseda University and Tokyo’s Cancer Institute Hospital are focusing on developing AI-powered hospitals.

Japan’s focus on integrating predictive analytics, robotics and data-driven scheduling across elder care and hospital systems is a response to its aging population and workforce shortages. From robotic assistants to AI-supported shift planning, Japan’s futuristic model proves that holistic tech integration, not piecemeal upgrades, creates sustainable staffing frameworks.

Rather than treating workforce tech as an IT patch for broken systems, Japan’s approach embeds these tools throughout care operations, supporting scheduling, monitoring, compliance and even direct caregiving tasks. U.S. health systems can draw critical lessons here: strategic investment in integrated platforms builds resilience, especially in a labor-constrained future.

The Power of Smart Workforce Technology

In the U.S., workforce management is becoming increasingly seen as more than a back-office function; it’s a strategic business operation directly impacting clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. Smart technology tools are designed to improve care quality, staff satisfaction, scheduling, pay rates, compliance and much more.

For example, by using historical data, patient acuity, seasonal trends and other data points, organizations can predict their staff needs more accurately. The result is fewer gaps in scheduling, fewer overtime payouts and a flexible schedule for staff. AI-powered analytics can help healthcare leadership teams spot patterns in absenteeism, see productivity and forecast needs in multiple clinical areas in real-time. Workforce management tools can help plan scheduling proactively, rather than reactively. It’s a proven technology tool that can help drive efficiency and reduce costs.

Why So Many Are Still Behind

Despite the clear benefits, many healthcare organizations are slow to adopt smart tools that empower their workforce. Several things are holding them back from going all-in on technology:

Financial Pressures

Over half of U.S. hospitals are operating at or below break-even margins. For them, investing in new technology solutions is financially unfeasible. Scalable, subscription-based and even free workforce management tools are available, but most organizations are unaware of or lack the resources to source these products. Workforce management tools can deliver long-term return on investment for most organizations. Taking the time to understand where the value lies and which tools to invest in needs to happen.

Outdated Core Systems

Many facilities still depend on legacy technology infrastructure that lacks real-time capabilities. Many large players in the healthcare workforce management industry dominate hospital systems. Other smaller, real-time tools that offer innovative solutions to scheduling, workforce hiring, rate calculators and more are available at a fraction of the cost.

Competing Priorities and Strategic Blind Spots

Healthcare organizations and hospitals have many high-priority business objectives and regulatory demands. Digital transformation naturally falls down on the priority list, which causes them to miss improvements that can lead to long-term stability. With patient care and provider satisfaction at the top of the priority mountain, technology changes can be easily missed or shoved to the side when other business objectives are perceived to “move the needle” more.

Poor Change Management

Even the best technology efforts can fail without the right strategy for adoption and support from senior leadership. Resistance from staff, lack of training, or poor rollout communication can undermine success. Effective change management—clear leadership, role-based training and feedback loops—is essential.

Faster than the speed of technology

Change needs to come quickly to healthcare organizations in terms of managing their workforce efficiently. Smart technologies like predictive analytics, AI-assisted scheduling and mobile platforms will define this next era. These tools don’t just optimize operations but empower workers and elevate care quality.

Slow technology adoption continues to hold back the full potential of the healthcare ecosystem. Japan again offers a clear example: they had one of the slowest adoption rates of remote workers (19% of companies offered remote work) in 2019. Within just three weeks of the crisis, their remote work population doubled (49%), proving that technological transformation can happen fast when urgency strikes. The lesson is clear: healthcare organizations need to modernize faster for the sake of their workforce and the patients who rely on providers to deliver care.

 

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