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Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Physical Therapist Assistant - Patterson Place

Physical TherapistFull-Time

Compensation

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Job Description

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

About Duke University Hospital Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States.

The largest of the four Duke Healthhospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

Occ Summary Assist the physical therapist in the provision of physical therapy, providing intervention under the supervision of a physical therapist.

The physical therapist assistant may modify an intervention only in accordance with changes in patient/client status and within the scope of the plan of care that has been established by the physical therapist.

Work Performed Levels I, II and III Demonstrate & articulate sound clinical reasoning in treatment planning, implementation and monitoring of patient progress. Recognize when standard patient protocols or treatment plans need modification to meet individual patient needs & reports to therapist.

Understand the role of therapy in the context of the patient's age, total needs perspective and environment Perform age appropriate competency skills with respect to individual patient's problems.

Consistently report to physical therapist, patient progress/status to allow for updated of goals andmodifications by physical therapist of treatment program Consistently meet patient care productivity standard for position. Work cooperatively with peers to contribute to the overall productivity of the team.

Utilize support personnel (aides, senior aides, ) when appropriate and available. Actively support and participate in cross coverage efforts in the division.

Assist physical therapist's assessment of the learning needs and capabilities of patients and caregivers with regard to age, level of understanding & emotional status..

Assist physical therapist in utilizing appropriate methods and materials for effective learning, monitoring response to education, and adapting program appropriately. Ensure that patient/family understands when and how to receive further treatment. Patient care documentation is timely, legible, and efficient.

Notes are concise, pertinent and meet departmental documentation standards. Oral reporting is clear, concise, relevant, and timely. Perform all required data collection forthe department accurately and within expected time frame. Peer review standards are consistently met.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Levels I and II The physical therapist assistant may perform physical therapy procedures and related tasks that have been selected and delegated by the supervising physical therapist. Ability to push-pull, lift-carry, and transfer patients.

Level III Also has demonstrated leadership/specialization at the clinical level. Level Characteristics N/A Minimum

Qualifications

Education Levels I, II and III Associate's degree in physical therapist assistant. Experience Level I None beyond required education. Level II Minimum of 36 months of clinical practice experience.

Required level of achievement for the Level I after 36 months of employment Level III Minimum five years experience as a Physical Therapist Assistant with 2 years at DUHS. Degrees, Licensures, Certifications Levels I, II and III Current Physical Therapist Assistant license in North Carolina.

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes.

To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Key Responsibilities

Assist the physical therapist in providing patient interventions and monitoring progress according to established plans of care. Maintain accurate and timely patient documentation while collaborating with the healthcare team to ensure effective treatment outcomes.

Requirements

Requires an Associate's degree in physical therapist assistant and a current North Carolina Physical Therapist Assistant license. Candidates must demonstrate clinical reasoning skills and the ability to perform physical tasks such as lifting and transferring patients.

Qualifications

Education
Associate degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Patient assessmentPatient educationCommunication

Physical Therapist Career Context

In North Carolina, the Physical Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$90k (578 salary observations; 1,813 listings), vs ~$94k nationally (14,723 salary observations; 56,085 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 North Carolina is 94.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.2% of North Carolina clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top PTA Jobs

10 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution8 jobs · 7 employers

4
<$75k
1
$79k
2
$85k-95k
1
$96k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks10 jobs · 7 employers

401k / retirement match
100%
Sign-on bonus
80%
CME allowance
60%
Relocation assistance
20%
Loan repayment
10%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Physical Therapist Assistant (Inpatient) - Acute Rehab Therapies (Full-Time, Days)

Enloe Health · Chico, California

$34.02-$45.93/hr
#2

Home Health Physical Therapist Assistant

Center Well · Peachtree City, Georgia

$64k-$88k
#3

Physical Therapist Assistant (FT)

$38-$42/hr
#4

Physical Therapist Assistant - Licensed PTA

$30-$38/hr
+ 8 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Physical Therapist Assistant listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 4,946 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Durham

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$363k
Typical market rent
$1,659/mo
Residents’ average commute
22 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.6
State income tax
Up to 4.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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