Why Travel Physical Therapy?
Travel physical therapy means short-term contracts at facilities that need a PT for a set period. ProTherapy's current PT postings are advertised at $2,130-$3,800 per week (gross, before tax).
Beyond the pay, travel PT offers a lot of career flexibility. You choose your setting, your location, and your schedule. Want to work in an acute care hospital in Denver for the winter? A beachside outpatient clinic in Florida for the spring? The choice is yours, and every 13 weeks brings a new opportunity.
Top Settings for Travel PTs
Acute Care: The highest-acuity setting, working with post-surgical, ICU, and medically complex patients. Competitive pay and excellent clinical growth. Many acute care travel positions ask for recent experience in the setting, so check each posting's requirement.
Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs): The setting with the most travel PT postings in ProTherapy's feed. SNF experience is valuable currency in the travel market.
Outpatient: Popular for PTs who prefer predictable schedules and diverse caseloads. Orthopedic, sports, and neuro outpatient settings are all available. Schedules are usually more predictable.
Home Health: Offers a high degree of autonomy. You manage your own schedule and caseload. Ideal for experienced PTs who are comfortable with independent clinical decision-making.
Inpatient Rehab: A middle ground between acute care and SNF, working with patients recovering from strokes, brain injuries, and major surgeries. Rewarding clinical work with strong interdisciplinary teams.
PT Compact License: A Game-Changer
The Physical Therapy Licensure Compact lets PTs buy a compact privilege in any of the 38 states that issue them, one state at a time, instead of a separate license in each (full PT Compact guide). This dramatically reduces the time and cost of starting new assignments. If you don't already have a compact privilege, it should be your first investment as a travel PT. Read our complete PT Compact guide →
What PTs Should Look for in a Contract
When evaluating travel PT contracts, focus on the total compensation package — not just the hourly rate. Compare the tax-free stipend amounts, guaranteed hours (push for 36-40), overtime policy, and any completion bonuses. Use our Pay Package Calculator to estimate whether the facility is offering a fair split of the bill rate.
Also consider the clinical environment: what EMR system does the facility use? What's the expected caseload? Is there support staff? These factors significantly impact your daily experience and shouldn't be overlooked in favor of pay alone. If you'd like those answers for a specific contract, tell a recruiter the setting and states you want: Find my next contract.