Hackensack Meridian Health logo
Hackensack Meridian Health
Edison, New Jersey

Physical Therapist - Per Diem

Physical TherapistIncludes weekendsPer Diem

Listed compensation

$55.99 Hourly

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 9m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning.

It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community. Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

The Physical Therapist is responsible for the physical therapy examination, evaluation, intervention planning and implementation, patient/client family instruction, and outcomes analysis within the scope of practice as defined by the State Department of New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

The physical therapist is engaged in the processes of coordination, communication and documentation to ensure that the patient/client receives comprehensive, individualized and evidence based services.

Throughout the episode of care the physical therapist is responsible for ensuring optimal functional independence, prevention of recurrence of problems and promotion of wellness oriented lifestyle.

In addition, the physical therapist performs other professional duties and participates in department/facility/network initiatives based on needs and opportunities. Settings may include but not limited to inpatient (acute and rehab) and/or outpatient.

Responsibilities

A day in the life of a Physical Therapist at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

Prepares for the evaluation in accordance with department policies/procedures and standards of practice including obtaining patient history, performing systems review exhibiting knowledge of patient diagnoses and researching unfamiliar diagnoses.

Selects and administers tests and measures and performs systems review. Additionally, synthesizes evaluation results to formulate the diagnosis, goals, prognosis and plan of care.

Establishes a plan of care based on examination and evaluation results which includes person centered goals and best practice. Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, patient/clients and patient's/client's support system.

  • Assesses and re-assesses need for modifications to plan of care and goals.
  • Identifies need for consultations and/or refers the patient/client to another health care professional or health care services.
  • Initiates and completes discharge plan.

Provides patient/client instruction to inform, educate and/or train patients/clients and their support systems.

Provides and selects interventions based on the PT's assessment of the client's current condition which can include but is not limited to: patient and client instruction; airway clearance techniques; prescription, application, and, as appropriate, fabrication or modification of assistive technologies; implementation of biophysical agents; therapeutic exercise; motor/functional training; integumentary repair and protection; manual therapy techniques; functional training in self-care, domestic life, community and work integration and reintegration.

Collects and records patient care data that follows format and guidelines of the patient care service, regulatory agencies and third-party payers which reflects an understanding of reimbursement systems and their impact on patient care. This includes, but is not limited to, initial evaluation, daily notes, reassessments/progress reports, discharge plans and communication with interdisciplinary members of the team.

Records daily billing and follows department guidelines for productivity, as well as adheres to insurance and state regulations on the billing of services rendered.

Provides appropriate direction and supervision to other personnel as assigned.

Lifts a minimum of 50 lbs., pushes and pulls a minimum of 50 lbs. and stands a minimum of 1 hour a day.

  • Other duties and/or projects as assigned.
  • Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

  • Graduate of a CAPTE accredited Physical Therapy Program or equivalent.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Proficient computer skills that may include but are not limited to Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite platforms.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred

Minimum of 1 year of experience.

Licenses and Certifications Required

  • Physical Therapist License.
  • BLS AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP Certification.

Licenses and Certifications Preferred

  • Specialty certifications.
  • If you feel the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!
  • Starting Minimum Rate
  • Flat Rate of $55.99 Hourly

Job Posting Disclosure

HMH is committed to pay equity and transparency for our team members.

The posted rate of pay in this job posting is a reasonable good faith estimate of the minimum base pay for this role at the time of posting in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency Act and does not reflect the full value of our market-competitive total rewards package.

The starting rate of pay is provided for informational purposes only and is not a guarantee of a specific offer.

Posted hourly rates may be stated as an annual salary in the offer and posted annual salaries may be stated as an hourly rate in the offer, depending on the level and nature of the job duties and credentials of the candidate.

The base compensation determined at the time of the offer may be different than the posted rate of pay based on a number of non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to: Labor Market Data: Compensation is benchmarked against market data to ensure competitiveness.

Experience: Years of relevant work experience. Education and Certifications: Level of education attained, including specialized certifications, credentials, completed apprenticeship programs or advanced training. Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in relevant skills and competencies.

Geographic Location: Cost of living and market rates for the specific location. Internal Equity: Compensation is determined in a manner consistent with compensation ranges for similar roles within the organization.

Budget and Grant Funding: Departmental budgets and any grant funding associated with the job position may impact the pay that can be offered. Some jobs may also be eligible for performance-based incentives, bonuses, or commissions not reflected in the starting rate.

Certain positions may also be eligible for shift differentials for work performed on evening, night, or weekend shifts.

In addition to our compensation for full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) job positions, HMH offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Patient evaluationPatient educationDischarge planningInterdisciplinary collaborationBLS certificationRehabilitationOutcome analysis

Physical Therapist Career Context

In New Jersey, the Physical Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$99k (497 salary observations; 1,715 listings), vs ~$94k nationally (12,162 salary observations; 66,743 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

The cost-of-living index for New Jersey is 108.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 63.8% of New Jersey clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Physical Therapy market look like in New Jersey?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedPhysical Therapy median $81k (middle half $72k–$110k)16 comparable listings, Nov 2026
New Jersey vs national$99k median in New Jersey$94k nationally (+6%)497 state / 12,162 national salary observations
Cost of livingNew Jersey index 108.8US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Physical Therapy listings in New Jersey711 active22,078 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 3% remote · 43% no call · 45% no weekends40 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedNew Jersey physical therapist listings (all specialties): 29% state a sign-on bonus (median $10k) · 16% offer loan repayment752 active listings, Nov 2026
New Physical Therapy listings7,996 in the last 30 days4,462 the 30 days before (+79%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Physical Therapy pay trend+1.5% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top contract/1099 Physical Therapist Jobs

38 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

25 jobs
3
<$110k
3
$110k-125k
2
$125k-140k
14
$140k-155k
3
$156k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

25 jobs
401k / retirement match
80% this job
CME allowance
44%
Sign-on bonus
24%
Loan repayment
8%
Relocation assistance
8%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Home Health Physical Therapist-NEW GRADS WELCOMEPer Diem

Transition Care Telemetry · San Diego, California

$80-$120/hr
#2

Home Health Physical Therapist - Per DiemPer Diem

Transition Care Telemetry · San Diego, California

$80-$110/hr
#3

Home Health Physical Therapist

$75-$80/hr
#4

Home Health Physical Therapist

$75-$80/hr
+ 36 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

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

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 22,012 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes weekends
Hackensack Meridian Health logo

About Hackensack Meridian Health

Hospitals and Health Care
Edison, New Jersey
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

Comprehensive benefits package for full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week)
Health, dental, vision
Paid leave
Tuition reimbursement
Retirement benefits

Living in Edison

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$619k
Typical market rent
$2,787/mo
State income tax
Up to 10.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026).

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