School Physical Therapist (PT)

Physical TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$122.7K - $131K

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Job Title: School Physical Therapist (PT)

About the Company

Strides Therapy & Educational Services is a reputable local provider of educational and therapeutic services, dedicated to enhancing the lives of students through high-quality support and intervention. We are currently seeking an experienced and enthusiastic School-Based Physical Therapist to join our team. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on students' physical development and overall well-being within the school setting.

Job Description

A School-Based Physical Therapist plays a crucial role in supporting the physical development and well-being of students within the educational environment.

Working collaboratively with teachers, parents, and other educational professionals, the Physical Therapist assesses, plans, and implements individualized therapy programs to help students overcome physical challenges, improve motor skills, and achieve their academic and functional goals.

This position requires a compassionate and dedicated professional committed to enhancing students' physical capabilities and overall quality of life.

Requirements

PT State Licensure In MD

Additional Details: In-Person. The student population is K-12; it is multiple schools within the same (Elkton, North East) vicinity. The total contacts weekly are 28 direct and 8 consult. This role requires an active Maryland Physical Therapist (PT) License issued by the Maryland State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (or willing to obtain this before starting the position)

Responsibilities

  • Conduct comprehensive physical assessments to identify students' motor skill deficits and physical challenges.
  • Develop individualized education programs (IEPs) based on assessment findings.
  • Provide direct and consultative physical therapy services to improve students' strength, mobility, coordination, and overall physical functioning.
  • Implement evidence-based therapeutic techniques and exercises tailored to each student's needs.
  • Collaborate with teachers, parents, and other school staff to integrate physical therapy goals into students' educational plans.
  • Participate in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings to provide expert input and recommendations.
  • Maintain accurate records of assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, and therapy sessions.
  • Prepare and submit detailed quarterly student progress reports.
  • Educate and train school staff and parents on strategies to support students' physical development and mobility.
  • Adapt and modify therapy activities to ensure they are appropriate and effective for the school environment.
  • Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of therapy interventions, adjusting plans as necessary.
  • Advocate for students' needs and guide accessibility and accommodations within the school setting.
  • Stay current with best practices, research, and advancements in pediatric physical therapy.
  • Participate in professional development opportunities to enhance clinical skills and knowledge.

Qualifications

  • Master's degree or Doctorate in Physical Therapy from an accredited program.
  • Valid license to practice physical therapy in the state of Maryland.
  • Educator Certificate (if applicable)
  • Experience working with children, preferably in a school or pediatric setting.
  • Strong clinical skills in pediatric physical therapy assessment, intervention, and documentation.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with school team members and family/caregivers.
  • Compassion, patience, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact on the school-aged students.
  • Ability to work independently and manage a flexible schedule.

Benefits

  • Health Benefits on Day 1 (Medical, Dental, Vision) with 50% employer contribution
  • 401k with match and immediate vesting, 100% match for the first 3% and 50% for 4 % and 5% (also a part-time benefit)
  • Up to 40 hours PTO/sick time (also a part-time benefit)
  • State Licensure Reimbursement
  • National Certification Stipend
  • Professional liability insurance (also a part-time benefit)
  • Cancer insurance (also a part-time benefit)
  • Pet insurance (also a part-time benefit)
  • Life insurance (also a part-time benefit)
  • Catastrophe medical (also a part-time benefit)
  • Please contact Dana Morgan for more information and additional details. Email: danamorgan@stridesspeechtherapy.com / Phone: 443-247-5517
  • Can add in Zenos Velasco; zenosvelasco@stridesspeechtherapy.com

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Motor skill assessmentTherapeutic exercisesCollaborationPatient advocacyMobility trainingClinical assessmentEvidence-based practice

Physical Therapist Career Context

Of the 45 active Physical Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 62% have no call, 62% require no weekends.

In Maryland, the Physical Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$92k (298 salary observations; 878 listings), vs ~$94k nationally (10,861 salary observations; 55,605 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-10-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

The cost-of-living index for Maryland is 105.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$127k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $121k in an average-cost state. 62.9% of Maryland clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Strides Therapy and Educational Services holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 75/100, 56 active listings.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates School Physical Therapist (PT) at Strides Therapy and Educational Services 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 22,541 active Physical Therapy listings on WeekdayDoc.

Top Physical Therapist Jobs

29 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution29 jobs · 19 employers

10
<$100k
12
$100k-115k
2
$115k
4
$130k-145k
1
$160k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks27 jobs · 19 employers

401k / retirement match
96% this job
CME allowance
81%
Sign-on bonus
67%
Loan repayment
37%
Relocation assistance
11%

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, Home Care

$72k-$138k
+ 27 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 7.2
Better work-life than 80% of Physical Therapy listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 22,541 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site

Living in Elkton

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$333k
Typical market rent
$1,935/mo
Residents’ average commute
25 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
102.6
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

Strides Therapy and Educational Services logo

About Strides Therapy and Educational Services

Education
Davidsonville, MD
11-50 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health Benefits on Day 1
401k with match
PTO/sick time
State Licensure Reimbursement
National Certification Stipend
Professional liability insurance
Cancer insurance
Pet insurance