Physical Therapists - Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and decrease or prevent deformity of patients suffering from disease or injury.
The national average annual salary for this occupation is $77,990 per year. Nationally, the average hourly wage for this occupation is $37.50. The average wage in New Mexico is well below the national average. In New Mexico, the average hourly wage is $33.77 and most workers in this occupation earn between $22.70 and $39.30 per hour.
In the table click on the "+" sign to expand/collapse areas.
| Area | Entry Wage | Average Wage | Experienced Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Annual | $77,990 | ||
| National Hourly | $37.50 | ||
| Statewide Annual | $47,224 | $70,239 | $81,746 |
| Statewide Hourly | $22.70 | $33.77 | $39.30 |
| Metro Areas | |||
| Albuquerque Annual | $44,381 | $66,334 | $77,310 |
| Hourly | $21.34 | $31.89 | $37.17 |
| Farmington Annual | $64,525 | $79,575 | $87,100 |
| Hourly | $31.02 | $38.26 | $41.87 |
| Las Cruces Annual | - | - | - |
| Hourly | - | - | - |
| Santa Fe Annual | $51,377 | $75,948 | $88,233 |
| Hourly | $24.70 | $36.51 | $42.42 |
| Regions | |||
| Central Annual | $44,381 | $66,334 | $77,310 |
| Hourly | $21.34 | $31.89 | $37.17 |
| Eastern Annual | $48,627 | $76,741 | $90,798 |
| Hourly | $23.38 | $36.89 | $43.65 |
| Northern Annual | $51,185 | $73,812 | $85,125 |
| Hourly | $24.61 | $35.49 | $40.93 |
| Southwestern Annual | $54,436 | $73,099 | $82,431 |
| Hourly | $26.17 | $35.14 | $39.63 |
A dash '-' indicates that information is not available for this occupation or area.
Metro Areas refer to Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
Regions refer to Workforce Investment Areas.
For more detailed information about New Mexico wages visit the Occupational Employment Statistics program website.
Information displayed represents annual 2010 wages.
Click on the career cluster icon to see a plan of study that will help you complete your Next Step Plan. The Career Plan of Study is a Microsoft Excel document. Many occupations will fit into several career clusters.
New Mexico
2008 to 2018
In 2008 there were about 990 workers in this occupation in New Mexico. The Department of Workforce Solutions estimates that by 2018 this number will decrease by about 29 percent and an estmated 1,280 will be employed in this occupation. Compared to other occupations, employment growth in this occupation is growing about average. Job opportunities indicate few and keen competition, as there should be about 29 openings each year for workers in this occupation.
In the Table click on the "+" sign to expand/collapse areas
| Area | Estimated Employment 2008 | Projected Employment 2018 | Annual Percent Change | Total Annual Average Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | 990 | 1,280 | 2.60% | 29 |
| + Metro Areas | ||||
| Albuquerque | 420 | 550 | 2.56% | 12 |
| Farmington | 80 | 100 | 2.36% | 2 |
| Las Cruces | 150 | 220 | 3.77% | 7 |
| Santa Fe | 70 | 90 | 2.92% | 2 |
| + Regions | ||||
| Central | 420 | 550 | 2.56% | 12 |
| Eastern | 140 | 180 | 2.50% | 4 |
| Northern | 230 | 300 | 2.88% | 8 |
| Southwestern | 180 | 240 | 3.19% | 7 |
Metro Areas refer to Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
Regions refer to Workforce Investment Areas.
Physical Therapists usually need Master's Degree.
| Education Level | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | 43% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 21% |
| First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession | 16% |
| Doctoral Degree | 11% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree, but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 9% |
Information based on O*NET data and is the result of a national survey.
Use this list to find educational opportunities for this occupation. Contact the specific schools directly to find out application requirements and program availability.
In the table click on the "+" sign to expand/collapse areas.
| + University of New Mexico Main Campus-UNM | ||
|---|---|---|
| Website:http://www.unm.edu | ||
| Type | Standardized Program Title | |
| First-professional Degrees | Physical Therapy/Therapist | |
| Master's Degree | Physical Therapy/Therapist | |
This list is updated once a year and is compiled from the NM Department of Higher Education and other sources.
| License Title | Contact | Year | Number issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist | New Mexico Physical Therapy Board 2550 Cerrillos Rd., 2nd Floor, Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505) 547-4880 www.rld.state.nm.us/PhysicalTherapy/index.html | 2010 | 1,597 |
| Doctors of Oriental Medicine | NM Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine 2550 Cerrillos Road , Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505) 547-4630 www.rld.state.nm.us/acupuncture/index.html | 2010 | 625 |
| Instructional Support Providers | NM Public Education Department - Professional Licensure Bureau 300 Don Gaspar, Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 582-5821 www.ped.state.nm.us/Licensure/ | 2010 |
Other available certificates or credentials may also be desirable. Additional local licenses or permits may be required, and individual businesses may have specific employment requirements. Licensing information is collected through a variety of New Mexico-based resources and does NOT include federal licensing requirements.
No WorkKeys scores are available for this particular occupation.
For further information on WorkKeys please visit the ACT-WorkKeys website. Skill levels are provided for individuals who know thier scores.
| Industry | Percent of Employed |
|---|---|
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | 59.2% |
| Educational Services | 3.2% |
| Hospitals | 23.0% |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | 6.3% |
| Self-Employed Workers, Primary Job | 6.6% |
* Data is confidential.
Source: NMDWS, Economic Research and Analysis Bureau
- Kinesiotherapist
- Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant (LPTA)
- Pediatric Physical Therapist
- Physical Therapist (PT)
- Physiotherapist
- Pulmonary Physical Therapist
- Sports Physical Therapist
- Treatment Coordinator