Perfusionist vs Physical Therapist
Measured from each occupation's own live postings: related jobs with a real gap between them. Posted pay favors the perfusionist by about $50k at the midpoint.
The short answer
On pay, perfusionists come out ahead by about $50k a year at the midpoint of posted bands: $99k–$215k against $93k–$120k for physical therapists. These are advertised figures from postings that state a salary, not estimates.
On skills, they are related jobs with a real gap between them. There is a shared core, and then each side asks for things the other rarely does. The readiness numbers further down say how far a typical profile on each side already reaches into the other, and which direction is the easier move.
Perfusionist
perfusionist jobs · perfusionist salary · perfusionist career guide · careers for perfusionists
Physical Therapist
physical therapist jobs · physical therapist salary · physical therapist career guide · careers for physical therapists
The overlap, measured
Switching, both directions
Perfusionist → Physical Therapist
DPT degree + state PT license (NPTE) required
Transition estimate: 3+ yr incl. license.
What physical therapist postings ask for that perfusionist profiles usually lack: Rehabilitation, Treatment Planning, Brewing, Case Management.
Physical Therapist → Perfusionist
Transition estimate: 12–24 mo.
What perfusionist postings ask for that physical therapist profiles usually lack: Perfusion, Teaching.
Open perfusionist roles
- Staff Perfusionist - Full-time (with on-call rotation) - Jeff. Hwy. - New Orleans at Direct employerNew Orleans - New Orleans Region - Louisiana6d agoUnlock
- Senior Cardiopulmonary Perfusionist (Multiple Openings) at Direct employerNashville, TNAug 24Unlock
- Clinical Perfusionist at Veterans Health AdministrationRichmond, Virginia$142k–$185kJul 23Apply
- Perfusionist at Direct employerGRANT MEDICAL CENTERJul 22Unlock
Open physical therapist roles
PhysiotherapeutIn (50-100%) | Physioswiss at Physio SwissPfäffikon, Zürich, Switzerland1d agoApply- Pediatric Physical therapist PRN at Direct employerNashville, TN1d agoUnlock
- Une Physiothérapeute Femme at JobupGenève, Geneva, Switzerland2d agoApply
- Dipl. Physiotherapeut:in 60 - 100% in Esslingen, Zürich | Physioswiss at Physio SwissEsslingen, Zürich, Switzerland2d agoApply
See the whole board for both
366 open roles across the two.
Related comparisons
- Occupational Therapist vs Physical Therapist74% peak overlap
- Physical Therapist vs Registered Nurse60% peak overlap
- Nurse Practitioner vs Physical Therapist58% peak overlap
- Physical Therapist vs Therapist / Counselor50% peak overlap
- Dentist vs Physical Therapist49% peak overlap
- Paramedic vs Physical Therapist40% peak overlap
Which one do your skills favor?
Run the instrument with your own skills and both numbers recompute for you. Free.
Quick answers
Which pays more, perfusionist or physical therapist?
On pay, perfusionists come out ahead by about $50k a year at the midpoint of posted bands: $99k–$215k against $93k–$120k for physical therapists. These are advertised figures from postings that state a salary, not estimates. By seniority and country: perfusionist salary and physical therapist salary.
Are perfusionist and physical therapist the same job?
On skills, they are related jobs with a real gap between them. There is a shared core, and then each side asks for things the other rarely does. The skills both sets of postings want most are Patient Care, Clinical Skills, CPR / BLS, Scheduling.
Can a perfusionist become a physical therapist?
Yes, and the numbers say how far along you already are: a typical perfusionist profile covers 33% of what physical therapist postings ask for. One thing to settle first: dpt degree + state pt license (npte) required. Skill overlap does not shorten a credential. Our estimate for the move is 3+ yr incl. license. The instrument lists the exact skills that make up the rest.
Can a physical therapist become a perfusionist?
Going the other way, a typical physical therapist profile covers 40% of what perfusionist postings ask for. Our estimate for the move is 12–24 mo.
How many perfusionist and physical therapist jobs are open right now?
Right now our board has 4 perfusionist openings and 362 physical therapist openings, each linking to the original posting. The board refreshes every night, so the counts move with the market. Hiring the most perfusionists at the moment: Direct employer (3), Veterans Health Administration (1). For physical therapists: Physio Swiss (125), Direct employer (88), Veterans Health Administration (12).
Pay is the posted middle half; readiness is how much of the other role’s skill demand a typical profile covers. Refreshed nightly.