Physical Therapist (PT) - Per Diem
Listed compensation
$50 per hour
The week · per this posting
Ask the employer about call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.
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
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.
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 6.0 / 10 · above average in physical therapy | ranked against 21,256 Physical Therapy listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | not listed | Physical Therapy median $135k (middle half $125k–$151k)125 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost of living | Iowa index 87.8 | US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Physical Therapy listings in Iowa | 215 active | 21,553 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 3% remote · 48% no call · 45% no weekends40 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | $3k sign-on | Iowa Physical Therapist listings: 20% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 26% offer loan repayment222 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Physical Therapy listings | 7,754 in the last 30 days | 4,473 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 |
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.
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