The staffing crisis is bearing down on the physical therapy industry, and employers are paying the price. According to a new report by the Hospital and Healthcare Compensation Service, home health agencies and hospitals are paying higher wages to offset declines in the number of physical therapists and physical therapists aides.
Home health agencies paid PTs an average $46.99 an hour, 2.67% more in 2021, according to the report.
That increase was well below the 9.29% increase hospitals paid those workers. Physical therapist pay at long-term care facilities actually declined 0.73%. Wisconsin paid the lowest hourly rate at $39.50, while California paid the highest rate at $51.22.
More than 3,100 facilities, including nearly 1,000 home health agencies, took part in the wage survey.
