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UW Health
Madison, Wisconsin

Per Diem Physical Therapist - Adult Acute Care

Physical TherapistIncludes callIncludes weekendsPer Diem

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 5mo ago

Job Description

Work Schedule: Per diem. 8-hour day shifts. Minimum requirement of two weekend shifts per month. Minimum requirement of one annual Holiday and Holiday weekend shift, per Acute Care Therapy Department Policy. Hours may vary based on the operational needs of department.

Be part of something remarkable.

Bring your passion for helping people to the #1 hospital in Wisconsin!

We are seeking a Physical Therapist (PT) with acute care experience to:

  • Provide consultative and rehabilitative treatment services to complex patients admitted to University Hospital in acute care settings.
  • Work collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to create comprehensive evidence-based treatment plans to maximize functional outcomes and discharge plans.
  • Work within the context of patient- and family- centered care in a primary and specialty care academic medical center.
  • Seek continual learning opportunities to advance one’s own practice and educate others.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Physical Therapy Required

Work Experience

  • 2 years of prior relevant experience Preferred

Licenses & Certifications

  • Licensure as a Physical Therapist in the State of Wisconsin Upon Hire Required
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) certification within 3 months Required

Our Commitment to Social Impact and Belonging

UW Health is committed to fostering a workplace that creates belonging for everyone and is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.

Our respect for people shines through patient care interactions and our daily work practices as we work to embrace the knowledge, unique perspectives and qualities each employee and faculty member brings to work each day.

It is the policy of UW Health to provide equal opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

University Hospital In

Madison is a Magnet®-designated facility that’s ranked Wisconsin’s #1 hospital and considered one of the nation's leading hospitals, teaching institutions and referral centers.

View Full Job Description

UW Hospital and Clinics benefits

Key Responsibilities

Provide consultative and rehabilitative treatment services to complex patients in an acute care setting. Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to develop evidence-based treatment plans that maximize functional outcomes.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Evidence-based treatment planningInterdisciplinary collaborationPatient-centered careFunctional outcomes assessmentDischarge planning

Physical Therapist Career Context

Of the 50 active Physical Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 44% have no call, 80% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Wisconsin is 94.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 60.7% of Wisconsin clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top contract/1099 Physical Therapist Jobs

47 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution46 jobs · 37 employers

13
<$100k
19
$100k-120k
5
$120k-140k
9
$140k-160k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks40 jobs · 37 employers

CME allowance
83%
401k / retirement match
80% this job
Sign-on bonus
57%
Loan repayment
35%
Relocation assistance
15%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Acute Care Physical Therapist

Sentara Health · Hampton, Virginia

$103k-$149k
#2

Travel Physical Therapist General JobContract

Healthforce · Kodiak, Alaska

$137k-$148k
#3

Physical Therapist (PT) – Travel Contract + Lodging

$70+/visit
#4

Physical Therapist (PT) – Flexible Schedule

$70+/visit
+ 45 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 5.1
Better work-life than 50% of Physical Therapy listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 22,081 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes call
  • Includes weekends

Living in Madison

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$433k
Typical market rent
$1,616/mo
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.3
State income tax
Up to 7.7%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Madison, WI metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

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About UW Health

Hospitals and Health Care
Madison, WI
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
Retirement Plans
Paid Time Off
Tuition Benefits