Take your career in Physical Therapy further with Nomad Health. We connect experienced allied health professionals with top-tier travel assignments throughout the country. Sign up now or explore our extensive selection of Physical Therapist jobs below to find your perfect fit.
At Nomad, every allied health travel assignment is supported by a fully loaded benefits suite, featuring medical, dental, vision, and malpractice insurance, alongside a 401(k). You'll also enjoy perks like reimbursements for scrubs, licenses, and certifications, $750 for travel expenses, and housing and meal stipends. Getting started as a travel PT is easy: simply build your Nomad profile and start applying instantly.
Working as a travel physical therapist offers the opportunity to advance your career through exceptional financial incentives and professional growth while enjoying the security of a high-demand specialty. It provides the freedom to work with diverse patient populations and expert interdisciplinary teams across the country, allowing you to take the next step in your allied health journey with confidence.
Competitive Pay – Travel physical therapist jobs frequently offer significantly higher pay than permanent staff positions. Your earning potential is maximized based on your experience and credentials, with an average total compensation of approximately $2,102 per week and highs up to $3,640 per week. This is notably higher than the average weekly pay for staff physical therapists, which sits around $1,579.*
Diverse Settings and Clinical Specialties – Traveling puts you on the fast track to mastering a wide range of clinical environments and patient care protocols. You will gain exposure to diverse categories, such as Orthopedics, Geriatrics, Neurology, and Pediatrics. You will also broaden your clinical perspective by working in various settings—from Hospitals and Outpatient Clinics to Home Health and Schools.
Location Freedom – One of the biggest perks is the ability to decide exactly where you want to work, from the specific city to the facility type. Accepting assignments in new locations—such as high-paying states like New York, Massachusetts, and Montana—allows you to experience different healthcare systems and patient populations you might not encounter in a regular staff position, giving you full control over your lifestyle and career trajectory.
*Based on the average compensation data of travel physical therapists with Nomad as of September 26, 2023.
To become a travel physical therapist, the journey typically begins with graduating from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)-approved program, earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, and passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) to obtain licensure. Following licensure, aspiring physical therapists must gain hands-on experience in a healthcare facility to master skills like manual therapy techniques, developing individualized plans of care, and diagnosing patients' functions and movements. Many professionals also choose to advance their careers and marketability by gaining experience in specialties like orthopedics, geriatrics, or neurology, or by earning board certification in various specialty areas. Once established with the necessary experience—typically at least 24 months in a chosen clinical specialty—and credentials, physical therapists can partner with a travel agency, like Nomad, to find assignments that fit their career goals and lifestyle.
Learn more about travel allied in Nomad's travel physical therapist career guide.