Special Kids logo
Special Kids
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Physical Therapist

Physical TherapistFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 4mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

SPECIAL KIDS IS A CHRISTIAN THERAPY AND NURSING CENTER FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. We're based in Murfreesboro, TN; Christ-focused; and ready to serve each family that comes through our doors.

We're professionals who are trained and licensed; but first, we're Christ followers with a God-sized mission that is only met through Him. Special Kids offers professional services to children ages birth through 21 years.

Our treatment range encompasses children who need a little extra help, to children who are medically fragile, and to all sorts of diagnoses in between.

Physical therapists at Special Kids have opportunities for team collaboration as well as collaboration with other disciplines, including occupational therapy, speech therapy and feeding therapy. Physical therapists at Special Kids have access to engaging therapy materials and testing instruments.

If you are looking for a challenge and want to be part of an amazing team in a positive work environment, apply now. Full and part time opportunities available.

Summary

Provides physical therapy services to children from birth to age 21 with a variety of diagnoses and developmental delays by performing the following duties.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Assesses and evaluates patients’ functional limitations and creates a plan of care to address gross motor issues, equipment needs, and family goals.

Tests and measures patients’ strength, motor development, sensory perception, functional capacity, and cardiopulmonary efficiency, and records findings to develop/revise treatment programs.

Able to administer active and passive manual therapeutic exercises to improve and maintain function; therapeutic massage; electrical modality treatments such as electrical stimulation; hot and cold packs; and traction to relieve neck and back pain.

Measures patient's joint range-of-motion, muscle strength via manual muscle testing, length and girth of body parts, and vital signs to determine effects of specific treatments.

Evaluates, fits and trains patients in the use and care of orthotic braces, prostheses, and assistive devices such as crutches, canes, walkers, and wheelchairs; adjusts devices as necessary; makes recommendations to orthotist.

Instructs, motivates, and assists patients to: perform various physical activities; learn and improve functional activities such as pre-ambulation, transfer, ambulation, and daily living activities.

Confers with members of physical therapy staff and other health team members, individually and in conference, to exchange, discuss, and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, and coordinating treatment programs.

Instructs patients and families in treatment procedures for best carryover in multiple environments.

Maintains accurate and timely patient reports and documentation in electronic medical records.

Reviews individual files to obtain background information prior to evaluations to determine appropriate tests to administer and to ensure that all necessary information is collected.

Administers, scores, and interprets evaluation reports in order to develop and modify an individualized treatment plan.

Reviews treatment plans, and assesses individual performance to modify, change, or write new goals; observes patients during treatments and compiles and evaluates data on patients' responses to treatments and progress.

  • Consistently maintains high patient care productivity.
  • Maintains an awareness of the patient attendance policy, enforcing it impartially and consistently at all times.
  • Acts as a consultant to educational, medical, and other professional groups as well as fellow staff members.
  • Collaborates with other disciplines to incorporate physical therapy goals into daily activities.
  • Researches and implements new physical therapy techniques.
  • Refers patients for other services, whether internal or external, as warranted and appropriate.
  • Attends meetings and conferences and participates in other activities to promote professional growth.

Requirements

Education And/or Experience

Master’s or Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy with related experience and/or training. Work experience preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Active and unencumbered Tennessee State PT License required; American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider certification with skills testing required; membership in APTA recommended; HIPAA certification encouraged.

Computer Skills

To be successful in this job, an individual should have basic computer skills and the ability to learn new software and web-based applications such as electronic medical records. Experience with electronic medical records systems preferred.

  • Values
  • Compassion
  • Willingness
  • Courage
  • Faith

Key Responsibilities

Provide comprehensive physical therapy services to children from birth to 21 years old with various developmental delays and diagnoses. Responsibilities include assessing functional limitations, creating individualized treatment plans, and collaborating with other therapy disciplines.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Patient AssessmentPlan Of Care DevelopmentOrthotic FittingPatient InstructionInterdisciplinary CollaborationGross Motor Skill DevelopmentVital Signs MonitoringFunctional Capacity Testing

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Physical Therapist at Special Kids a 6.6 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 25% of all physical therapist listings evaluated on our platform.

Physical Therapist Career Context

In Tennessee, the Physical Therapist weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$85k (253 salary observations; 1,714 listings), vs ~$94k nationally (12,203 salary observations; 67,457 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

Of the 50 active Physical Therapist listings this role was benchmarked against, 4% are remote, 50% have no call, 70% require no weekends.

Physical Therapist by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedPhysical Therapist median $95k (middle half $88k–$103k)307 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Tennessee vs national$85k median in Tennessee$94k nationally (−9%)253 state / 12,203 national salary observations
Cost of livingTennessee index 91.9US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Physical Therapist listings in Tennessee738 active23,243 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 4% remote · 50% no call · 70% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedTennessee Physical Therapist listings: 29% state a sign-on bonus (median $15k) · 24% offer loan repayment738 active listings, Nov 2026
Physical Therapist pay trend+1.8% 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.

Location & Logistics

Tennessee has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.

Top Physical Therapist Jobs

33 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

27 jobs · 23 employers
11
<$105k
9
$105k-125k
3
$125k-145k
4
$145k-165k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

31 jobs · 23 employers
401k / retirement match
94%
CME allowance
68%
Sign-on bonus
35%
Loan repayment
26%
Relocation assistance
3%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Physical Therapist

ERP International · Lemoore, California

$60-$71/hr
#2

Travel Physical TherapistContract

Ironside Human Resources · Fargo, North Dakota

$70/hr
#3

Traveler Physical Therapist: Dutch Harbor, AK

$2800/week
#4

Physical Therapist

$110k-$145k
+ 31 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

6.6/ 10
Listing-based score
Special Kids logo

About Special Kids

Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists
Murfreesboro, TN
11-50 employees

Benefits & Perks

Team Collaboration
Positive Work Environment

Living in Murfreesboro

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$389k
Typical market rent
$1,679/mo
Residents’ average commute
27 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
96.3
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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