Physical Therapist (PT) - Per Diem

Physical TherapistNo weekendsPer Diem

Listed compensation

$50 per hour

The week · per this posting

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

Posted 44m ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Position: Physical Therapist (PT)
  • Location: Des Moines, IA
  • Schedule: Per Diem/PRN (No weekend or holiday requirements)
  • Pay Rate: $50.00 per hour
  • Sign on bonus: $2,500

Select Specialty Hospital is a critical illness recovery hospital committed to providing world-class inpatient post-ICU services to chronic, critically ill patients who require extended healing and recovery. We help patients during some of the most vulnerable, painful moments of their lives – and Physical Therapists (PT) play a central role in providing compassionate, excellent treatment every step of the way.

Why Join Us

Start Strong: Extensive Physical Therapist (PT) orientation program to ensure a smooth transition into our setting.

Opportunity for Advancement: Demonstrate your skills and dedication which could lead to potential full-time opportunities.

Your Impact Matters: Join a team of over 44,000 committed to providing exceptional patient care.

Responsibilities

  • Performing initial and ongoing systematic patient assessment.
  • Promoting continuous quality improvement.
  • Teaching and counseling patients/families.
  • Setting goals and developing treatment plans.
  • Working cooperatively to identify and solve patient-specific and facility-wide needs.
  • Participating in discharge planning for each patient, including placement, patient/family education and adaptive equipment.
  • Supervising Physical Therapy Assistants, as well as supervising PT and PTA students.
  • Conducting individual patient therapy regimens.
  • Monitoring patient's response to treatment and modifying treatment during sessions, as needed.
  • Completing appropriate documentation according to department policies and procedures.
  • Participating in departmental, hospital, and community continuing education seminars and in-services.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Current state licensure as a Physical Therapist required.
  • Certified BLS or completion in first 90 days of employment required.
  • Additional Data
  • Equal Opportunity Employer/including Disabled/Veterans

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Treatment planningPatient educationSupervisionBLS certificationRehabilitation

Physical Therapist Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Iowa is 87.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.8% of Iowa clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 40 active Physical Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 3% are remote, 48% have no call, 45% require no weekends.

What does the Physical Therapy market look like in Iowa?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.0 / 10 · above average in physical therapyranked against 21,256 Physical Therapy listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed paynot listedPhysical Therapy median $135k (middle half $125k–$151k)125 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost of livingIowa index 87.8US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Physical Therapy listings in Iowa215 active21,553 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 3% remote · 48% no call · 45% no weekends40 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repayment$3k sign-onIowa Physical Therapist listings: 20% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 26% offer loan repayment222 active listings, Nov 2026
New Physical Therapy listings7,754 in the last 30 days4,473 the 30 days before (+73%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Physical Therapy pay trend+1.6% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (21,256 Physical Therapy listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Physical Therapist (PT) - Per Diem at Select Specialty Hospital - Des Moines a 6.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Physical Therapy — ranked against 21,256 active Physical Therapy listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.

Top contract/1099 Physical Therapist Jobs

39 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

27 jobs · 26 employers
5
<$115k
7
$115k-130k
2
$130k-145k
13
$145k-160k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

30 jobs · 26 employers
401k / retirement match
90%
CME allowance
40%
Sign-on bonus
13% this job
Loan repayment
10%
Relocation assistance
3%

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
+ 37 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 6.0
Better work-life than 70% of Physical Therapy listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 21,256 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
  • On-site
Select Specialty Hospital - Des Moines logo

About Select Specialty Hospital - Des Moines

Medical Practices
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

Benefits & Perks

Sign-on bonus ($2,500)
Extensive orientation program
Potential for full-time opportunities

Living in Des Moines

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$225k
Typical market rent
$1,129/mo
Residents’ average commute
20 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
91.7
State income tax
Up to 6%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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