Okay, so a lot of physical therapists and physical therapy assistants coming out of school and hitting the rehab jobs market this summer are wondering one thing: How much should I ask for when negotiating my first job. In order to help you with this, I wanted to share some information with you that could be beneficial when getting down to the brass tacks on your permanent job search.

Disclaimer: These numbers are being brought to you by www.payscale.com, and are an average of therapists surveyed in full time positions throughout the country. These numbers are in no way relevant to the compensation packages offered for travel physical therapy jobs.

Less than one year experience: $52,885 per year on average.

One to four years experience: $55,213 per year on average

Five to nine years experience: $61,691 per year on average

10 to 19 years experience:   $67,137 per year on average

20 years or more:  $68,323 per year on average.

Remember, these are the average rates of pay for physical therapy jobs. These numbers could go up or down depending on the situation. Don't be surprised if you see offers that come in lower than these salary notes. Hopefully this will give you a great tool to help you negotiate the compensation that gets you all started in your physical therapy careers.

For travelers, expect to see compensation packages that are comparable to these rates, only with added perks such as per diems, housing, and other tax-free benefits that will make you glad you didn't stick around town your first year out of school. If you would like to find out more about travel therapy jobs, feel free to call or email me at any time.