Meliora Academy logo
Meliora Academy
Meriden, Connecticut

Physical Therapist (PT)

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 3mo ago

Job Description

At Meliora Academy, we provide individualized education for students with autism and related challenges, focusing on academics, life skills, and independence. Guided by collaboration, evidence-based practice, and whole-child support, we help students grow with confidence. Join us and make a difference every day.

We are seeking a compassionate, collaborative, and innovative Physical Therapist to join our team. In this role, you'll empower students to improve mobility, balance, strength, coordination, and independence through individualized, evidence-based interventions that support success both in and beyond the classroom.

What You'll Need

  • Graduate of an accredited Physical Therapy program.
  • Current Connecticut Department of Public Health licensure as a Physical Therapist.
  • Current Safety-Care, First Aid, and CPR certifications (or ability to obtain upon hire).
  • Clinical knowledge and experience evaluating students and developing individualized treatment plans in a school-based setting.
  • Experience working with neurodiverse students and students with autism and related developmental disabilities.
  • Ability to lift, push, pull, and move up to 60 pounds.
  • Excellent communication, collaboration, organizational, and documentation skills.

What You'll Do

Conduct comprehensive physical therapy evaluations to assess students' functional abilities and educational needs.

Develop, implement, and adjust individualized treatment plans aligned with each student's educational goals and Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Provide direct physical therapy services focused on improving strength, mobility, balance, coordination, endurance, and functional independence.

Conduct assessments and contribute to Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meetings and the development of IEP goals.

Collaborate with teachers and related service providers to integrate motor goals into classroom routines and daily school activities.

Monitor student progress and modify interventions based on data and student outcomes.

Maintain accurate, timely, and Medicaid-compliant documentation, including evaluations, treatment notes, progress reports, and annual reviews.

Educate school staff and families on positioning, mobility, adaptive equipment, and strategies that promote student independence, participation, and safety.

Attend professional development opportunities, in-service trainings, and team meetings to remain current on best practices in pediatric and school-based physical therapy.

  • Review current research and evidence-based practices to ensure high-quality therapeutic services.
  • Why You’ll Love Working Here
  • Enjoy both paid time off and extra paid school breaks (for select roles), plus paid holidays
  • Wellness perks including gym discounts, mindfulness apps, and prescription savings
  • Tuition reimbursement, career development programs, and leadership training
  • 401(k) retirement savings with a 4% company match and immediate vesting
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Free Employee Assistance Program with confidential counseling, life coaching, and mental health resources
  • Life insurance, disability coverage, and Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions at no cost to you

Meliora Academy is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you require reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact us at talent@newstory.com.

Key Responsibilities

The Physical Therapist will conduct comprehensive evaluations and develop individualized treatment plans to improve students' mobility, strength, and functional independence. They will collaborate with teachers and families to integrate motor goals into classroom routines and ensure compliance with educational standards.

Requirements

Candidates must be graduates of an accredited Physical Therapy program and hold current Connecticut Department of Public Health licensure. Experience working with neurodiverse students and proficiency in school-based therapeutic interventions are required.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Pediatric physical therapyIndividualized treatment planningIEP developmentMobility assessmentStrength trainingCoordination therapyData monitoringSchool-based therapyAutism support

Physical Therapist Career Context

In Connecticut, the Physical Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$100k (214 salary observations; 879 listings), vs ~$94k nationally (13,008 salary observations; 66,534 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 Connecticut is 103.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 62.6% of Connecticut clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Physical Therapy market look like in Connecticut?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score7.2 / 10 · top 10% in physical therapyranked against 22,012 Physical Therapy listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Connecticut vs national$100k median in Connecticut$94k nationally (+6%)214 state / 13,008 national salary observations
Cost of livingConnecticut index 103.6US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Physical Therapy listings in Connecticut295 active22,004 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 2% remote · 40% no call · 62% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedConnecticut physical therapist listings (all specialties): 25% state a sign-on bonus (median $10k) · 7% offer loan repayment338 active listings, Nov 2026
New Physical Therapy listings7,905 in the last 30 days4,365 the 30 days before (+81%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Physical Therapy pay trend+1.6% 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 (PT) at Meliora Academy 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

43 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

41 jobs · 31 employers
12
<$110k
11
$110k-125k
5
$125k-140k
9
$140k-155k
4
$155k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

38 jobs · 31 employers
401k / retirement match
92% this job
CME allowance
66%
Sign-on bonus
37%
Loan repayment
24%
Relocation assistance
5%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Physical Therapist

Providence · Anchorage, Alaska

$49.65-$77.08/hr
#2

Physical Therapist, PT, Flexible FT Weekday ScheduleContract

Concierge Home Care · Port St. Lucie, Florida

$70-$75/hr
#3

Travel Physical Therapist

$75/hr
#4

Physical Therapist (PT)

$70-$75/hr
+ 41 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.

Meliora Academy logo

About Meliora Academy

Education
Meriden, Connecticut
11-50 employees

Benefits & Perks

Paid time off
Paid school breaks
Paid holidays
Wellness perks including gym discounts, mindfulness apps, and prescription savings
Tuition reimbursement
Career development programs
Leadership training
401(k) retirement savings with 4% company match and immediate vesting

Living in Meriden

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$350k
Typical market rent
$1,873/mo
Residents’ average commute
23 min
State income tax
Up to 7%
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.