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Leyla
Student
Newton Falls, Ohio
3
Questions
Asked
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Would physical therapy be a good career?
Physical therapy is for sure something I've wanted to do. Do you have any advice or have anything that would be considered difficult throughout college that I should be prepared for to succeed. Also if there is anything that would be exciting to get into that career.
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Ashley Stroup
4
Answers
Round Rock, Texas
Updated
Ashley’s Answer
Hi Leyla,
Physical therapy is a great career if you're passionate about health, movement, and helping people recover from injuries or improve their quality of life. The field has strong job growth and good earning potential, but it requires significant education, including a doctoral degree after college. If you enjoy science, working closely with people, and making a direct impact on others' lives, physical therapy is definitely worth exploring.
The students who are happiest as PTs are usually those who choose it because they genuinely enjoy helping people recover and improve physically, not because they're chasing the highest salary.
Strong Job Growth
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects physical therapist employment to grow 11% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than the average occupation. About 13,200 openings per year are expected.
Good Income
The median pay for physical therapists was about $101,000 per year in 2024.
Meaningful Work
PTs help people recover from injuries, surgeries, strokes, chronic pain, and mobility issues. Many therapists cite the ability to directly improve patients' lives as the most rewarding part of the profession.
Low AI replacement risk
Physical therapy involves hands-on treatment, observation, patient coaching, and relationship-building. These are areas where technology can assist but is unlikely to fully replace practitioners
How to Prep for College:
One of the biggest challenges when transitioning from high school to college is managing your time independently. In college, no one is checking that you attend class, complete assignments, or study regularly, so staying organized is essential. Other common challenges include balancing academics with social life, adjusting to a more difficult workload, living away from family, managing finances, and building new friendships. Students who have the smoothest transition are usually those who learn good study habits, ask for help when needed, and take advantage of campus resources early. Expect the adjustment to take time. Feeling overwhelmed at first is normal and learning how to adapt is part of the college experience.
Physical therapy is a great career if you're passionate about health, movement, and helping people recover from injuries or improve their quality of life. The field has strong job growth and good earning potential, but it requires significant education, including a doctoral degree after college. If you enjoy science, working closely with people, and making a direct impact on others' lives, physical therapy is definitely worth exploring.
The students who are happiest as PTs are usually those who choose it because they genuinely enjoy helping people recover and improve physically, not because they're chasing the highest salary.
Strong Job Growth
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects physical therapist employment to grow 11% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than the average occupation. About 13,200 openings per year are expected.
Good Income
The median pay for physical therapists was about $101,000 per year in 2024.
Meaningful Work
PTs help people recover from injuries, surgeries, strokes, chronic pain, and mobility issues. Many therapists cite the ability to directly improve patients' lives as the most rewarding part of the profession.
Low AI replacement risk
Physical therapy involves hands-on treatment, observation, patient coaching, and relationship-building. These are areas where technology can assist but is unlikely to fully replace practitioners
How to Prep for College:
One of the biggest challenges when transitioning from high school to college is managing your time independently. In college, no one is checking that you attend class, complete assignments, or study regularly, so staying organized is essential. Other common challenges include balancing academics with social life, adjusting to a more difficult workload, living away from family, managing finances, and building new friendships. Students who have the smoothest transition are usually those who learn good study habits, ask for help when needed, and take advantage of campus resources early. Expect the adjustment to take time. Feeling overwhelmed at first is normal and learning how to adapt is part of the college experience.