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Bakersfield, California

Physical Therapist PRN

Physical TherapistPer Diem

Listed compensation

$60-$65/hr

The week · per this posting

Schedule not stated in this posting — no days, weekends, call or nights given.

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

Posted 24m ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Physical Therapist (PT) – PRN
  • Bakersfield Post Acute
  • Location: Bakersfield, CA
  • Pay Range: $60.00 – $65.00 per hour (DOE)
  • Status: PRN / Per Diem
  • Setting: Skilled Nursing Facility | Short-Term Rehabilitation

Join a Team That Truly Cares

If you are caring, compassionate, and committed to making a meaningful difference in people’s lives, this is an excellent opportunity to join a supportive and collaborative rehab team. At Bakersfield Post Acute, we are dedicated to providing exceptional care while fostering a positive, professional environment for our clinicians.

New grads welcome. Immediate availability.

Why Bakersfield Post Acute?

  • Competitive PRN pay
  • Supportive leadership and collaborative rehab team
  • Career stability with a positive workplace culture
  • Referral program
  • Educational and professional development opportunities
  • Skilled nursing and short-term rehab setting

General Purpose

The Physical Therapist (PT) evaluates and treats residents, develops and implements individualized treatment plans, collaborates with interdisciplinary team members, and maintains accurate and timely documentation in the medical record. The PT also provides clinical guidance and education to staff to support optimal resident outcomes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Evaluate residents within 24 hours (or one business day) of physician referral; document any delays appropriately

  • Develop individualized treatment plans and obtain physician approval
  • Treat residents according to the physician-approved plan of care
  • Supervise Physical Therapy Assistants (PTAs), aides, and students in accordance with state practice act
  • Communicate resident progress, challenges, and plans with the rehab and interdisciplinary teams
  • Participate in patient care conferences, utilization review meetings, and rehab meetings as needed
  • Complete evaluations, daily treatment notes, weekly progress notes, recertifications, and discharge documentation per regulatory and payer requirements
  • Educate residents, families, and caregivers on exercises, mobility, safety, and discharge planning
  • Participate in discharge planning and coordination of care
  • Recommend and facilitate ordering of durable medical equipment (DME) to support functional independence
  • Report equipment issues to ensure safe and effective operation
  • Maintain positive, professional relationships with residents, families, and staff
  • Supervisory Responsibilities
  • Supervise Physical Therapy Assistants (PTAs), aides, and students

Qualifications

  • Education & Experience
  • Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy required
  • Master’s or Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy preferred
  • Skilled Nursing Facility or geriatric experience preferred

Licensure & Certifications

  • Current, active California Physical Therapist license in good standing
  • Must meet all continuing education requirements per state regulations

Skills

  • Proficient in electronic documentation systems (NetHealth and PointClickCare preferred)
  • Strong clinical judgment, communication, and organizational skills
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team

Work Environment

  • Inpatient Skilled Nursing Facility
  • Long-term care and short-term rehabilitation
  • Geriatric population

One Primary Location

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

Key Responsibilities

The Physical Therapist evaluates and treats residents, develops individualized treatment plans, and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to ensure optimal outcomes. They also supervise support staff and maintain accurate medical documentation in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Key Skills

Patient evaluationTreatment planningClinical documentationSupervisionGeriatric careInterdisciplinary collaboration

Physical Therapist Career Context

In California, the Physical Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$115k (1,278 salary observations; 4,504 listings), vs ~$94k nationally (12,688 salary observations; 66,259 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 ~$130k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $117k 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
Listed pay$125k–$135kPhysical Therapy median $166k (middle half $114k–$166k)37 comparable listings, Nov 2026
California vs national$115k median in California$94k nationally (+23%)1,278 state / 12,688 national salary observations
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$117k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Physical Therapy listings in California1,776 active21,880 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 4% remote · 50% no call · 60% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedCalifornia physical therapist listings (all specialties): 19% state a sign-on bonus (median $10k) · 9% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Physical Therapy listings8,101 in the last 30 days4,345 the 30 days before (+86%)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, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top contract/1099 Physical Therapist Jobs

48 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

28 jobs
5
<$125k
8
$125k-140k
8
$140k-155k
7
$155k-170k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

30 jobs
401k / retirement match
87%
CME allowance
40%
Sign-on bonus
13%
Relocation assistance
13%
Loan repayment
10%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Home Health Physical Therapist-NEW GRADS WELCOMEPer Diem

Transition Care Telemetry · San Diego, California

$80-$120/hr
#2

Home Health Physical Therapist - Per DiemPer Diem

Transition Care Telemetry · San Diego, California

$80-$110/hr
#3

Physical Therapist II, Outpatient

$60.48-$84.66/hr
#4

Home Health Physical Therapist

$75-$80/hr
+ 46 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 3.0
Better work-life than 30% of Physical Therapy listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 21,786 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

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About PACS

IT Services and IT Consulting
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Competitive PRN pay
Referral program
Educational and professional development opportunities

Living in Bakersfield

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$354k
Typical market rent
$1,901/mo
Residents’ average commute
24 min
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.

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