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UW Health
Madison, Wisconsin

Physical Therapist - Acute Care, Float

Physical TherapistIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$40.16-$60.24/hr

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

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

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

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Work Schedule: 100% FTE, 40 hours/week. Shifts scheduled Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM with weekend rotation. Hours may vary based on the operational needs of the department.

Pay

  • Additional components of compensation may include:
  • Weekend differential
  • Float differential

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 American Family Children’s Hospital, East Madison Hospital, and 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.

At UW Health, You Will Have

  • An excellent benefits package, including health and dental insurance, paid time off, retirement plans, two-week paid parental leave and adoption assistance.
  • Options for a variety of schedules and shifts that offer flexibility and allow for work-life balance
  • Access to great resources through the UW Health Employee Wellbeing Department that supports your emotional, financial, and physical well-being
  • Tuition benefits eligibility - UW Health invests in your professional growth by helping pay for coursework associated with career advancement
  • The opportunity to earn a referral bonus for referring friends, former colleagues or others to apply for open, posted positions

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.

Job Description

UW Hospital and Clinics benefits

University Hospital

[uwhealth.org for

Social Media - DO NOT REMOVE/University Hospital Tour Video HR 1706631-24 v3. mp4] 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.

American Family Children’s Hospital

[uwhealth.org for

Social Media - DO NOT REMOVE/AFCH Tour Music Version 12-2-2020 v1 1080p UWHealth. mp4] in Madison, Wisconsin—also a Magnet®-designated facility—provides specialized care in a healing environment designed especially for pediatric patients and their families.

American Family Children’s Hospital is a comprehensive pediatric medical and surgical center, with nationally recognized pediatric specialists in a wide range of fields. It is also home to our Level One Pediatric Trauma Center and Level

IV NICU,

which cares for the tiniest patients throughout Wisconsin and beyond.

East Madison Hospital

[uwhealth.org for

Social Media - DO NOT REMOVE/East Madison Hospital tour video HR 1849800-24. mp4] – is UW Health’s newest hospital and one of the most advanced hospitals and wellness centers in the country. Here, health care is seen as a holistic endeavor where our mission is to not only diagnose and treat you when you’re sick, but also to partner with you in health and wellness.

Key Responsibilities

Provide consultative and rehabilitative physical therapy services to complex patients within acute care hospital settings. Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to develop evidence-based treatment plans that optimize functional outcomes and discharge planning.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Interdisciplinary collaborationEvidence-based practicePatient-centered careClinical documentation

Physical Therapist Career Context

Of the 50 active Physical Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 50% have no call, 66% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Wisconsin is 94.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$104k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $111k in an average-cost state. 60.7% of Wisconsin clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Physical Therapist - Acute Care, Float at UW Health a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Physical Therapy — ranked against 22,005 active Physical Therapy listings on WeekdayDoc.

Top Physical Therapist Jobs

29 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution29 jobs · 15 employers

8
<$95k
16
$95k-115k
1
$115k
3
$140k
1
$160k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks27 jobs · 15 employers

401k / retirement match
100% this job
CME allowance
70%
Sign-on bonus
67%
Loan repayment
26%
Relocation assistance
19%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Physical Therapist (PT) Home Health | $150,000 Annual Salary (Redding)

Home Care Providers Group · Yuba City, California

$150k-$160k
#2

Physical Therapist - Studio City

Myo · Los Angeles, California

$90k-$140k
#3

Physical Therapist - West Hollywood

$90k-$140k
#4

Physical Therapist Marlboro NJ

$140k
+ 27 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 6.4
Better work-life than 70% of Physical Therapy listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 22,005 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • 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.

UW Health logo

About UW Health

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

Benefits & Perks

Excellent benefits package
Health and dental insurance
Paid time off
Retirement plans
Two-week paid parental leave
Adoption assistance
Tuition benefits
Referral bonus