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Links Healthcare
El Cajon, California

Physical Therapist

Physical TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$50-$55/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 7mo ago

Job Description

Join Stillwater Post-Acute as a Physical Therapist and create a positive impact in a nurturing environment!

Additional Benefits

  • Paid Vacation Leaves
  • Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision)
  • 401(k)
  • Accident and Life Insurance
  • Continuing Education

Why Choose Stillwater POST-Acute?

Stillwater Post-Acute, located in El Cajon, is a premier post-acute care facility with 256 beds, dedicated to delivering exceptional, patient-centered care that promotes recovery and enhances residents' quality of life. Our mission is to empower individuals on their journey to independence while helping them achieve their health goals.

We offer a wide range of tailored services, including short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, and comprehensive therapy options such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

At Stillwater Post-Acute, we prioritize teamwork and leadership, ensuring that all department heads are accessible and supportive. We offer a variety of educational and hands-on training opportunities to promote your career growth in a collaborative environment that values your contributions. You’ll work alongside dedicated professionals committed to enhancing patient care, with plenty of chances for advancement and a great boss who truly cares about your success.

About the Role

As a Physical Therapist, you will play a critical role in helping patients recover from injuries, manage chronic conditions, and improve their overall physical function and mobility.

You will assess patients' physical abilities, develop personalized treatment plans, and implement therapeutic interventions to promote healing and prevent further injury.

Your work will involve collaborating with healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive care and support for patients across various age groups and conditions. You will also educate patients and their families on exercises, injury prevention, and lifestyle modifications to enhance long-term health outcomes.

Ultimately, your efforts will contribute to improving patients' quality of life by restoring movement and reducing pain through evidence-based physical therapy techniques.

Minimum Qualifications

  • A degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited institution.
  • Valid state licensure or certification to practice as a Physical Therapist.
  • Demonstrated experience in orthopedic rehabilitation and manual therapy techniques.
  • Strong knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology relevant to physical therapy.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with patients and healthcare teams.
  • Minimum of two years experience in a skilled nursing facility (SNF)

Preferred Qualifications

  • Specialized certification in sports medicine or geriatric rehabilitation.
  • Experience working with diverse patient populations including athletes and elderly individuals.
  • Familiarity with advanced therapeutic modalities and rehabilitation technologies.
  • Continuing education or advanced training in manual therapy or orthopedic physical therapy.
  • Ability to contribute to clinical research or quality improvement initiatives within the practice.

Responsibilities

  • Conduct thorough patient evaluations to assess physical conditions, functional limitations, and rehabilitation needs.
  • Develop and implement individualized treatment plans focusing on orthopedic rehabilitation, manual therapy, and sports injury recovery.
  • Provide hands-on therapy and guide patients through therapeutic exercises to improve strength, flexibility, and mobility.
  • Monitor patient progress and adjust treatment plans accordingly to achieve optimal rehabilitation outcomes.
  • Collaborate with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to coordinate patient care and ensure holistic treatment.
  • Educate patients and caregivers on injury prevention, home exercise programs, and strategies for maintaining physical health.
  • Maintain accurate and detailed patient records in compliance with healthcare regulations and standards.

Skills

The required skills such as physical therapy, orthopedic rehabilitation, and manual therapy are essential for assessing patient conditions and delivering targeted treatment interventions that promote recovery and functional improvement.

Expertise in sports medicine and sports injuries enables the therapist to design specialized rehabilitation programs tailored to athletes and active individuals, facilitating a safe return to activity.

Knowledge of geriatric rehabilitation is crucial for addressing the unique mobility and health challenges faced by older adults, ensuring their independence and quality of life.

Effective communication and interpersonal skills are used daily to educate patients, motivate adherence to therapy plans, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. Additionally, proficiency in documentation and patient management supports the delivery of high-quality care and compliance with healthcare standards.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related condition), age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (including transgender status), genetic predisposition or carrier status, military or veteran status, familial status, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other status protected by law.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited institution and possess valid state licensure. A minimum of two years of experience in a skilled nursing facility is required, along with strong knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Patient EvaluationTreatment Planning

Physical Therapist Career Context

In California, the Physical Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$118k (1,189 salary observations; 4,756 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 California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$109k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $99k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Physical Therapy market look like in California?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score7.2 / 10 · top 10% in physical therapyranked against 22,012 Physical Therapy listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$104k–$114kPhysical Therapy median $125k (middle half $92k–$133k)30 comparable listings, Nov 2026
California vs national$118k median in California$94k nationally (+25%)1,189 state / 12,162 national salary observations
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$99k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Physical Therapy listings in California1,799 active21,921 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 60% no call · 52% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedCalifornia physical therapist listings (all specialties): 19% state a sign-on bonus (median $10k) · 8% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Physical Therapy listings7,870 in the last 30 days4,345 the 30 days before (+81%)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 (22,012 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 at Links Healthcare a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 10% in Physical Therapy — ranked against 22,012 active Physical Therapy listings on WeekdayDoc.

Top Physical Therapist Jobs

36 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

36 jobs · 19 employers
14
<$115k
12
$115k-135k
6
$135k-155k
1
$160k
3
$186k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

31 jobs · 19 employers
401k / retirement match
97% this job
CME allowance
65% this job
Sign-on bonus
61%
Loan repayment
39%
Relocation assistance
19%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Physical Therapist II, Pelvic Health, Lymphedema, Dublin

Sutter Health · Dublin, California

$133k-$186k
#2

Physical Therapist II, Santa Cruz, Limited Term

Sutter Health · Santa Cruz, California

$133k-$186k
#3

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist II, Sunnyvale

$133k-$186k
#4

Physical Therapist Case Manager, Level 2: Home Health

$125k-$160k
+ 34 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 7.2
Among the best 10% of Physical Therapy listings for work-life

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

Links Healthcare logo

About Links Healthcare

Hospitals and Health Care
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Paid Vacation Leaves
Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision)
401(k)
Accident and Life Insurance
Continuing Education

Living in El Cajon

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$783k
Typical market rent
$2,259/mo
Residents’ average commute
25 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.9
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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