Physical Therapist vs Therapist / Counselor
Measured from each occupation's own live postings: related jobs with a real gap between them. Posted pay favors the physical therapist by about $18k at the midpoint.
The short answer
On pay, physical therapists come out ahead by about $18k a year at the midpoint of posted bands: $93k–$120k against $75k–$103k for therapist / counselors. 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.
Physical Therapist
physical therapist jobs · physical therapist salary · physical therapist career guide · careers for physical therapists
Therapist / Counselor
therapist / counselor jobs · therapist / counselor salary · therapist / counselor career guide · careers for therapist / counselors
Switching, both directions
The direction matters: therapist / counselor → physical therapist reads 50% ready, the reverse only 16%. Skill overlap is not symmetric.
Physical Therapist → Therapist / Counselor
What therapist / counselor postings ask for that physical therapist profiles usually lack: Mental Health, Telehealth, EHR / EMR, Clinical Documentation.
Therapist / Counselor → Physical Therapist
What physical therapist postings ask for that therapist / counselor profiles usually lack: Rehabilitation, CPR / BLS, Brewing, Recruiting.
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
Open therapist / counselor roles
Mental Health Therapist - New Jersey (Part-Time) at Two ChairsUnited States · Remote2d agoApply
Mental Health Therapist - New York at NOCDUnited States · Remote$70k–$105k2d agoApply
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) - Raynham, MA at OptiMindHealthUnited States · Remote$70k–$85k2d agoApply- LMSW/LCSW Licensed Mental Health Professional-PRN-Day Shift Available at Direct employerNashville, TN2d agoUnlock
See the whole board for both
501 open roles across the two.
Related comparisons
- Social Worker vs Therapist / Counselor94% peak overlap
- Genetic Counselor vs Therapist / Counselor85% peak overlap
- Psychologist vs Therapist / Counselor79% peak overlap
- Occupational Therapist vs Physical Therapist74% peak overlap
- Dietitian vs Therapist / Counselor72% peak overlap
- Occupational Therapist vs Therapist / Counselor65% 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, physical therapist or therapist / counselor?
On pay, physical therapists come out ahead by about $18k a year at the midpoint of posted bands: $93k–$120k against $75k–$103k for therapist / counselors. These are advertised figures from postings that state a salary, not estimates. By seniority and country: physical therapist salary and therapist / counselor salary.
Are physical therapist and therapist / counselor 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.
Can a physical therapist become a therapist / counselor?
Yes, and the numbers say how far along you already are: a typical physical therapist profile covers 16% of what therapist / counselor postings ask for. The instrument lists the exact skills that make up the rest.
Can a therapist / counselor become a physical therapist?
Going the other way, a typical therapist / counselor profile covers 50% of what physical therapist postings ask for. The two directions are not symmetric: therapist / counselor to physical therapist is the easier move, 50% against 16%.
How many physical therapist and therapist / counselor jobs are open right now?
Right now our board has 362 physical therapist openings and 139 therapist / counselor openings, each linking to the original posting. The board refreshes every night, so the counts move with the market. Hiring the most physical therapists at the moment: Physio Swiss (125), Direct employer (88), Veterans Health Administration (12). For therapist / counselors: Direct employer (60), Veterans Health Administration (32), OptiMindHealth (6).
Pay is the posted middle half; readiness is how much of the other role’s skill demand a typical profile covers. Refreshed nightly.