Each year, more and more physical therapists show interest in becoming traveling physical therapists. While this career path may not be for everyone, it can be a perfect fit for some. Allowing PTs to travel the country while gaining experience in different locations, travel therapy offers both professional and personal benefits that are hard to beat. Not only that, but with student loan debt continuing to rise, the opportunity to earn extra income to pay off those student loans while exploring different parts of the country sounds like a dream come true for many.
Whitney and I began our travel therapy journey as new grad PTs in 2015. Since then, we’ve remained involved in the field for over a decade, mentoring thousands of other travel therapists along the way. During this time, we’ve learned a lot about finding success as travel therapists. Below are some of the key benefits of this career path to help you decide if travel therapy is the right fit for you.
1. Greater Earning Potential
It’s no secret that PTs earn more when traveling than they would working a permanent PT position. After all, that’s the reason that many therapists consider Travel PT in the first place.
As a travel therapist, you can expect your net pay to be 1.5 to 2 times higher than in a comparable local role. It’s not uncommon for new grad Travel PTs to earn the equivalent of well over $100,000 per year. This additional income can have a significant impact, helping you pay down student loans, tackle other debts, and build savings for future investments.
2. Experience in New Practice Settings
If you’re a PT or PTA finishing up your degree, it’s natural to feel unsure about which physical therapy practice setting best suits you. With a limited number of clinical internships available and so many settings to explore, it can be difficult to get a clear sense of what’s right for you and your long-term career goals. Travel therapy contracts offer you the chance to try out different practice settings for a few months at a time, helping you decide which setting you’d like to eventually settle into permanently.
While it’s possible to take travel therapy contracts in the same setting each time, many therapists appreciate the opportunity to gain experience across multiple settings during their different Travel PT contracts. This provides valuable insight into various work environments. This can be beneficial for both new grads trying to explore different settings, as well as experienced clinicians looking to switch up settings, try something new, and prevent burnout.
3. Learning from a Variety of Clinicians
One of the biggest opportunities in travel therapy is the chance to work with new clinicians at every facility where you go as a traveler. This allows travel therapists to continuously learn and grow by collaborating with a variety of healthcare professionals, broadening their skill set and accelerating their career development.
In each new facility, you’ll encounter different approaches to patient care, enhancing your ability to adapt and thrive in diverse clinical environments. You’ll naturally pick up new techniques, evaluation skills, and strategies to effectively communicate with patients by working closely with clinicians from all over the country. This opportunity for clinical growth is an invaluable benefit of working as a traveling physical therapist.
4. Personal and Professional Growth
In addition to refining your clinical skills and growing professionally, being a travel therapist also helps you grow personally. Traveling and working in different areas of the country exposes you to diverse cultures and patient populations, both in and out of the workplace.
This exposure broadens your perspective, enhancing your cultural competence. The experience also encourages self-sufficiency, as you’ll be navigating new environments and building connections in each new assignment location, often away from the safety net of family and friends.
5. Greater Flexibility and Work-Life Balance
One of the lesser-talked-about benefits of travel therapy is the flexibility it offers. As a travel therapist, you have the option to take breaks between contracts, allowing you to recharge, travel for leisure, or pursue other personal goals. Unlike permanent local positions where time off can be limited, travel therapy gives you more control over your schedule. This increased flexibility can lead to a better work-life balance, helping you avoid burnout and maintain long-term career satisfaction.
Whitney and I have taken full advantage of this added lifestyle flexibility through our Travel PT careers. We initially worked back to back contracts to build up our savings during the first couple years. Then, we started working six months on and six months off. Gradually we started working only about one contract per year, while spending the rest of the year traveling for leisure, going home to visit friends and family, and growing our side hustles. We know many other therapists also taking advantage of this career flexibility through travel therapy.
Is Travel Therapy Right for You?
While these are some of the key benefits of travel therapy, there are plenty of other reasons why PTs and other clinicians choose to pursue travel healthcare. Traveling the country, learning new skills, and growing both professionally and personally—while earning extra money along the way—can be a rewarding choice and can be a good fit for the right individual. Although there can be challenges, I believe the advantages of being a travel therapist significantly outweigh the downsides for many, as long as you can make it work in your personal situation. Ultimately, you’ll need to evaluate your situation to see if this exciting career path aligns with your goals.
Have more questions about travel therapy? Check out the resources below, get our recommendations for travel therapy recruiters here, and feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or need advice on starting your journey as a travel therapist!
Additional Resources:
- How to Become a Travel Therapist
- Travel Physical Therapy (Travel PT)- The Ultimate Guide
- Debunking Travel Therapy Myths
Written by Jared Casazza, PT, DPT – Jared has been a traveling physical therapist since 2015. He has become an expert in the field of travel healthcare through his experience, research, and networking over nearly a decade. He and his wife and fellow Travel PT, Whitney, are the Travel Therapy Mentors.
