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Sutter Health
Palo Alto, California

Orthopedics Physical Therapist, Palo Alto

Physical TherapistIncludes weekendsNo nightsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$133k-$186k

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Weekend work is also flagged as required; confirm which days and how often.

Ask the employer about call expectations and time off.

Posted 18m ago · Verified live

Job Description

We are so glad you are interested in joining Sutter Health!

Organization

PAMF-Palo Alto Medical Foundation PAD

Position Overview

Take your orthopedic physical therapy career to the next level in a role where your clinical expertise can make a meaningful difference for patients recovering from orthopedic injuries and musculoskeletal conditions.

We are looking for a skilled Physical Therapist with a passion for orthopedic rehabilitation and delivering individualized, evidence-based care. OCS certification is highly preferred, although we are also excited to consider candidates who have completed an orthopedic residency program. Ideally, you will bring 3–5 years of orthopedic PT experience and a strong foundation in musculoskeletal assessment, treatment planning, patient education, and functional recovery.

In this role, you will evaluate patients, develop individualized plans of care, monitor progress, and use your clinical expertise to help patients reduce pain, regain strength and mobility, and return to the activities they value. You will work collaboratively with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals while also providing supervision and mentorship to assistants, aides, and students as appropriate.

Job Description

These Principal Accountabilities, Requirements and Qualifications are not exhaustive, but are merely the most descriptive of the current job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, staff changes, workload, or technical development).

Education

Graduate of an Accredited Physical Therapy Program

OR graduate of an accredited physical therapy program that can be demonstrated with a valid PT license

Certification & Licensure

PT-Physical Therapist

  • OR Will also consider approved license applicant or resident training program employee.
  • BLS-Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider

Department-Specific Certification & Licensure

  • Department: Home Health, DL-Valid Drivers License
  • Department: Home Health, AUTO-Automobile Insurance

Typical Experience

2 years of recent relevant experience

Skills and Knowledge

  • Critical thinking, complex problems solving, decisive judgement and ability to work independently.
  • Knowledge and application of professional practice and regulatory requirements.
  • Must be able to work in demanding work environment, organize multiple priorities completing work duties within expected timelines and requirements.
  • Computer and required technology proficiency/competencies.
  • Demonstrates effective and efficient professional communication (verbal & written) skills as well as interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, teamwork/collaboration, customer service and community relations abilities.
  • Able to retain and apply new knowledge & skills.
  • Keeps abreast of professional practice development and advancement.

Job Shift

Days

Schedule: Full Time

Days of the Week

Monday - Friday, Variable

Weekend Requirements

Saturday

Benefits

Yes

Unions

No

Position Status: Exempt

Weekly Hours

40

Employee Status

Regular

  • Sutter Health is an equal opportunity employer EOE/M/F/Disability/Veterans.
  • Pay Range is $132,662.40 to $185,702.40 / annual salary

The posted pay range is based on the position's primary work location. Candidates who reside and work outside of that location may be subject to a different pay range based on their work location.

Candidate starting salaries consider multiple factors, including, but not limited to a candidate’s experience, education, skills, licensure, certifications, departmental equity, training, and organizational needs. Base pay is only one component of Sutter Health’s comprehensive total rewards program. Eligible positions also include a comprehensive benefits package.

Key Responsibilities

Evaluate patients and develop individualized plans of care to help them reduce pain and regain mobility. Provide supervision and mentorship to assistants, aides, and students while collaborating with other healthcare professionals.

Requirements

Requires a graduate degree from an accredited physical therapy program and a valid PT license. Candidates should have 3-5 years of orthopedic experience and possess strong musculoskeletal assessment skills.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Complex problem solving

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Orthopedics Physical Therapist, Palo Alto at Sutter Health a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Orthopedic Surgery (Physical Therapy) — ranked against 419 active Orthopedic Surgery (Physical Therapy) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no night shifts.

Orthopedic Surgery — Physical Therapist Career Context

Sutter Health ranks #2 of 11 employers hiring Physical Therapist on WeekdayDoc by average advertised pay.

Of the 50 active Orthopedic Surgery listings this role was benchmarked against, 8% are remote, 56% have no call, 48% require no weekends.

Orthopedic Surgery by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.4 / 10 · above average in orthopedic surgery (physical therapy)ranked against 419 Orthopedic Surgery (Physical Therapy) listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$133k–$186kOrthopedic Surgery median $118k (middle half $95k–$134k)976 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$144k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Orthopedic Surgery listings in California25 active419 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 8% remote · 56% no call · 48% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedCalifornia Physical Therapist listings: 21% state a sign-on bonus (median $10k) · 9% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Orthopedic Surgery listings349 in the last 30 days218 the 30 days before (+60%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Orthopedic Surgery pay trend+1.7% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sutter Health#2 of 11 for payTop Employers work-life index
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (419 Orthopedic Surgery (Physical Therapy) listings), Top Employers work-life index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Physical Therapist Jobs

38 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

38 jobs · 18 employers
20
<$115k
6
$115k-135k
7
$135k-155k
3
$155k-175k
2
$186k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

34 jobs · 18 employers
401k / retirement match
97%
Sign-on bonus
56%
CME allowance
53%
Loan repayment
21%
Relocation assistance
9%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Physical Therapist II, Santa Cruz, Limited Term

Sutter Health · Santa Cruz, California

$133k-$186k
#2

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist II, Sunnyvale

Sutter Health · Sunnyvale, California

$133k-$186k
#3

Physical Therapist

$165,000
#4

Physical Therapist Case Manager, Level 2: Home Health

$125k-$160k
+ 36 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 6.4
Better work-life than 70% of Orthopedic Surgery (Physical Therapy) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 419 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No nights
  • On-site
  • Includes weekends

Living in Palo Alto

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$3.28M≈ 24.7× annual pay
Typical market rent
$4,558/mo≈ 41% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
21 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
110.4
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.