Physical Therapists vs Prosthetists & Orthotists
Median pay is about $22k higher for Physical Therapists. The usual entry education is doctoral (DPT) for Physical Therapists and master's plus cert for Prosthetists & Orthotists.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Physical Therapists | Prosthetists & Orthotists |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $102,760, higher | $81,110 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $86,160, higher | $61,290 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $121,160, higher | $99,990 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +12% Growing fast | +13% Growing fast, higher |
| Openings a year | 13,400 | 700 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Doctoral (DPT) | Master's plus cert |
| Difficulty modeled | 4.2 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 39th pct | 34th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Physical Therapists
- Monitoring
Only Prosthetists & Orthotists
- Active Learning
Both lean on reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, critical thinking, writing.
More comparisons
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Compare Prosthetists & Orthotists with
Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.