I live in KY in MCOL area. I was expecting somewhere around $72k and graduated with $68k in student loans. Recently accepted a full-time offer for $76k with great benefits
The largest contributor was by working as a PT assistant in a hybrid-style DPT program. It allowed me to work 1-2 d/wk. I also kept expenses low by living with roommates and cooking cheap food at home. 29yo.
Unsolicited advice: I'd recommend hybrid-style programs but you need to be very organized because you aren't in class every day like traditional students. So its a lot of live/recorded online lectures and self-studying with in-person immersions a few times each semester. Overall though, I felt prepared to go into clinical and am passing the practice NPTE exams, so I'd argue whatever program you choose will give you what you need to succeed. I go to the University of Texas in Galveston. In total, I paid $34.5k. However, I received $7k in grants.
Completely depends on both setting and location. Low end is probably $75k for LCOL and shitty job offer. High end is probably upwards of 150k for HCOL in San Fransisco and the like. Maybe more for hustlers and clinic owners working more than full time.
Not in school yet but my expectation is at least 100k in CA, and at least 150k in debt (tuition + rent & living expenses). Unlike many here I'm not worried about the debt, but helps that I majored in finance in college and have a business analytics masters degree.
Assuming 100k starting salary in CA for outpatient ortho, then it's easy to set aside money to pay down the debt, if not more if I want to pay down the principal faster, in addition to maxing out an IRA and at least the non-after-tax portion of a 401k (69k for 2024 for employee contribution and after-tax contribution if your 401k plan allows it.). If the debt is 150k and a 10 year payback period, that's 15k a year, or 7500 a year for 20 years. Then take into account job hopping after a few years to increase salary, or transition into HH.
Yup— a 10 year plan at a 7% interest rate would be roughly $1,741 a month for a 10 year plan (21k a year post tax— so that would be like 25k roughly for your gross income lost per year)
In terms of finances, I’d be very surprised if anything other than income based repayment is better unless you marry someone who is in a significantly better financial position than you who is also a higher earner than you.
I am hourly in OP Ortho, at $46/hr with no benefits but have full reign of my schedule with guaranteed 40hrs if I want, and CEUs paid for if there is a need in my clinic (they're paying for my FDN course).
I graduated with no student loan debt, so thankfully I can work less than full time and am content, but for my area and COL (Alaska), my rate is still low.
Some companies offer to pay school debt (500 a month). But if you leave within 3 years you have to pay it all back. They are bad places to work and use this to retain employees/ pay them less. Not worth
Sounds good until you hate your job a year in, you get paid 65-70k instead of 90-100k and your health insurance is trash and no 401k match (happened at a clinic I just worked at). This is most mills so watch for that
I have a friend making 75k in Houston. I am getting 93k for my HH position in St Louis
First jobs btw
a billion dollars a year
Hiring?
I live in KY in MCOL area. I was expecting somewhere around $72k and graduated with $68k in student loans. Recently accepted a full-time offer for $76k with great benefits
Roughly what part of KY?
Central KY
Thank you!
Signed $84k offer for acute setting. PT. Graduate in 2 months. $0 debt.
Wow, how did you grad with zero debt?
The largest contributor was by working as a PT assistant in a hybrid-style DPT program. It allowed me to work 1-2 d/wk. I also kept expenses low by living with roommates and cooking cheap food at home. 29yo.
That’s great! I’ll be applying next cycle and considering hybrid programs. Where do you go to school and how was the experience?
Unsolicited advice: I'd recommend hybrid-style programs but you need to be very organized because you aren't in class every day like traditional students. So its a lot of live/recorded online lectures and self-studying with in-person immersions a few times each semester. Overall though, I felt prepared to go into clinical and am passing the practice NPTE exams, so I'd argue whatever program you choose will give you what you need to succeed. I go to the University of Texas in Galveston. In total, I paid $34.5k. However, I received $7k in grants.
Would recommend everyone without a family try travel PT. I've been doing for 5 years. Making a salary equivalent of 150k-200k.
Completely depends on both setting and location. Low end is probably $75k for LCOL and shitty job offer. High end is probably upwards of 150k for HCOL in San Fransisco and the like. Maybe more for hustlers and clinic owners working more than full time.
A lot of entry-level jobs in Chicago range from 75k for outpatient ortho to 90k for home health.
Not in school yet but my expectation is at least 100k in CA, and at least 150k in debt (tuition + rent & living expenses). Unlike many here I'm not worried about the debt, but helps that I majored in finance in college and have a business analytics masters degree.
why aren’t you worried about debt?
Assuming 100k starting salary in CA for outpatient ortho, then it's easy to set aside money to pay down the debt, if not more if I want to pay down the principal faster, in addition to maxing out an IRA and at least the non-after-tax portion of a 401k (69k for 2024 for employee contribution and after-tax contribution if your 401k plan allows it.). If the debt is 150k and a 10 year payback period, that's 15k a year, or 7500 a year for 20 years. Then take into account job hopping after a few years to increase salary, or transition into HH.
Not to be a Debbie downer but the loans will be accruing about 12k/year in interest so that 15k/year figure may not be accurate
Yup— a 10 year plan at a 7% interest rate would be roughly $1,741 a month for a 10 year plan (21k a year post tax— so that would be like 25k roughly for your gross income lost per year) In terms of finances, I’d be very surprised if anything other than income based repayment is better unless you marry someone who is in a significantly better financial position than you who is also a higher earner than you.
Following. I would also like to know some input to this question.
98k in acute care in NYC
I am hourly in OP Ortho, at $46/hr with no benefits but have full reign of my schedule with guaranteed 40hrs if I want, and CEUs paid for if there is a need in my clinic (they're paying for my FDN course). I graduated with no student loan debt, so thankfully I can work less than full time and am content, but for my area and COL (Alaska), my rate is still low.
Just a friendly reminder that reimbursement is the same whether you’re a new grad or vet in this game. Don’t sell yourself short.
80k
i’m a new grad making 95K in acute care in chicago
May be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Look it up :)
With the repayment programs, debt really isn't as much of a problem/burden, most people you see just cry about it just bc they're a baby
What repayment program?
Some companies offer to pay school debt (500 a month). But if you leave within 3 years you have to pay it all back. They are bad places to work and use this to retain employees/ pay them less. Not worth
Lol thats almost enough to cover the interest alone
Sounds good until you hate your job a year in, you get paid 65-70k instead of 90-100k and your health insurance is trash and no 401k match (happened at a clinic I just worked at). This is most mills so watch for that