Pennsylvania PT Tax Comparison — Mid-Atlantic & Border States
Pennsylvania's 3.07% flat income tax is one of the lowest in the region — a significant net take-home advantage versus New York, New Jersey, and Maryland. Tax-free housing and meal stipends further boost weekly net pay for PA travel PTs.
| State | Income Tax | PT Compact? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 3.07% flat | ✓ Yes | Lowest flat rate in Mid-Atlantic; huge stipend advantage |
| Ohio | 0% – 3.5% graduated | ✓ Yes | 0% up to $26,050; comparable effective rate |
| Illinois | 4.95% flat | ✓ Yes | Higher flat tax than PA; Chicago market premium |
| New York | 6.25% – 10.9% graduated | ✗ No | Very high effective tax; non-compact state |
| New Jersey | Graduated up to 10.75% | ✓ Yes | Very high rate for top earners; compact member |
| Maryland | 2% – 5.75% graduated | ✓ Yes | Plus local income tax; compact member |
Why Travel PTs Choose Pennsylvania
From Moss Rehabilitation's top-ranked IRF PT to UPMC Pittsburgh's dual Level I trauma systems, CHOP pediatric PT, and Pennsylvania's unbeatable 3.07% flat-tax stipend advantage, PA delivers some of the richest PT travel opportunities in the nation.
Moss Rehabilitation — One of the Top IRF PT Programs in the United States
Moss Rehabilitation at Jefferson Health is consistently ranked among the nation's premier inpatient rehabilitation facilities. Travel PTs treat complex SCI, TBI, and stroke cases — Lokomat robotic gait therapy, constraint-induced movement therapy, and cognitive-motor dual-task programs. Moss draws patients from across Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic. IRF PT experience (2+ years) required. Demand is year-round with consistent traveler need.
UPMC Rehab Institute — Pittsburgh IRF + Steelers/Penguins Sports PT
UPMC Rehabilitation Institute is Pittsburgh's leading IRF, receiving complex cases from UPMC Presbyterian (Level I trauma) and UPMC Mercy. Travel PTs work SCI, TBI, stroke, and post-surgical complex rehab. UPMC Sports Medicine carries the official PT affiliation for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Penguins — sports ortho travel PT roles available. UPMC is the largest health system in PA with PT demand spanning Pittsburgh metro inpatient and outpatient sites.
3.07% Flat Income Tax — Highest Net Take-Home of Any Major PT Market
Pennsylvania's 3.07% flat income tax is one of the lowest flat-rate income tax rates among major PT travel markets. Combined with tax-free housing and meal stipends, PA travel PTs keep significantly more per paycheck than colleagues in NY (up to 10.9%), NJ (graduated to 10.75%), or MD (up to 5.75%). For a traveler earning $2,500/wk, the difference versus NY can exceed $400/week in net take-home.
PT Compact Member — Fast Start Across Both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania is a PT Compact member state. PTs licensed in any compact home state can apply for Compact Privilege at PTCompact.com and begin practicing in PA without a separate full PA license. Non-compact home state PTs must apply for full endorsement through the Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy (6–10 weeks processing). PA Compact Privilege covers both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metro assignments simultaneously.
Key Pennsylvania PT Facilities & Demand Drivers
Pennsylvania's PT market is anchored by two major metros (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh), each with multiple Level I trauma systems, top IRF programs, and major academic medical centers, plus a significant rural HPSA shortage across central and north-central PA.
UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) — Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania's largest health system with over 40 hospitals statewide. UPMC Presbyterian is a Level I trauma center — acute PT, trauma PT, post-surgical complex PT. UPMC Mercy is a Level I trauma center in Pittsburgh's south side. UPMC Rehabilitation Institute provides IRF PT for SCI, TBI, and stroke from across western PA. UPMC Sports Medicine carries official PT affiliation for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Penguins — the premier sports ortho PT network in Pittsburgh. UPMC Magee-Womens provides women's health and NICU developmental PT. Travel PT demand across the UPMC system is among the highest in the state year-round.
Penn Medicine — Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia
Level I trauma center and major academic medical center in West Philadelphia. Cardiac and transplant PT covers post-heart transplant, post-LVAD, TAVR, and CABG patients. Penn Rusk Rehabilitation is Penn Medicine's IRF program — SCI, TBI, and stroke PT. Abramson Cancer Center oncology PT serves one of the largest cancer patient populations in the region. Penn Orthopaedics provides high-volume orthopedic PT: total joint, spine, and sports medicine. Travel PTs cover inpatient acute care and outpatient Penn Medicine network sites across the Philadelphia metro.
Jefferson Health — Thomas Jefferson University Hospital — Philadelphia
Level I trauma center anchoring center-city Philadelphia PT demand. Moss Rehabilitation (Jefferson) is one of the top IRF PT programs in the United States — SCI, TBI, stroke, and complex neurological PT with Lokomat robotic gait therapy and advanced cognitive-motor programs. Jefferson Orthopaedics provides high-volume joint replacement and spine PT. Jefferson Health spans multiple campuses across the Philadelphia metro, creating consistent travel PT demand across inpatient and outpatient settings.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) — Philadelphia
CHOP is consistently ranked among the top pediatric hospitals in the United States. Pediatric PT programs cover cerebral palsy, scoliosis (post-surgical and bracing), developmental delays, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and pediatric sports injuries. CHOP outpatient PT across the Philadelphia metro provides high-volume pediatric outpatient PT. NICU developmental PT for premature and medically complex infants. Travel pediatric PT at CHOP requires 2+ years pediatric PT experience — these are not generalist entry-level assignments.
Lehigh Valley Health Network — Allentown
Largest health system in the Lehigh Valley region and a Level I trauma center. Orthopedic PT hub for Lehigh Valley — total joint replacement, spine surgery, and sports medicine PT. Acute trauma PT from a large regional catchment area. LVHN spans multiple hospitals and outpatient sites across Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton — travel PTs cover both inpatient and outpatient network sites. The Lehigh Valley sits between Philadelphia and New York City, offering access to both metros with PA's lower tax rate.
Geisinger Medical Center — Danville / Penn State Hershey — Hershey
Geisinger Medical Center in Danville is a Level I trauma center serving rural central and north-central Pennsylvania. Acute PT and trauma PT for a large geographic catchment including HPSA-designated Potter, Sullivan, and Cameron counties. Penn State Hershey Medical Center (Penn State Health) in Hershey is also a Level I trauma center and central PA referral center — neurological PT, complex acute care PT, and neuro rehab for the Harrisburg/Hershey corridor. Both systems drive persistent travel PT demand in the central PA market.
Pennsylvania Travel PT Pay by Setting (2026)
Weekly pay includes base hourly rate plus tax-free housing and meal stipends. Pennsylvania's 3.07% flat income tax improves net take-home across all settings compared to neighboring NY, NJ, and MD. Actual packages vary by agency, contract length, and facility bill rate.
| Setting | Weekly Pay | Demand | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moss Rehabilitation IRF PT | $2,400–$3,000/wk | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | SCI/TBI/stroke — 2+ years IRF experience required |
| UPMC Level I Acute PT | $2,300–$2,900/wk | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | UPMC Presbyterian + UPMC Mercy Level I trauma |
| Penn Medicine / Jefferson Acute PT | $2,400–$2,900/wk | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Cardiac/transplant PT; Philadelphia Level I trauma |
| CHOP Pediatric PT | $2,200–$2,800/wk | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | CP, scoliosis, developmental, sports — 2+ yrs peds required |
| Outpatient Orthopedic PT | $2,000–$2,600/wk | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Penn Orthopaedics, Jefferson, UPMC Sports Medicine |
| Rural PA HPSA PT | $2,200–$2,700/wk | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Potter, Sullivan, Cameron counties — long-term contracts |
| SNF / Home Health PT | $2,000–$2,500/wk | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | High Medicare volume statewide; aging rural population |
Open Pennsylvania PT Jobs
Live physical therapist travel assignments in Pennsylvania — updated every 4 hours from our active job database.
Pennsylvania PT Jobs Being Updated
Our Pennsylvania PT job inventory is refreshing. New assignments are added daily — contact a recruiter for the most current PA PT openings.
Contact a Pennsylvania PT RecruiterMoss Rehabilitation — SCI, TBI & Stroke IRF PT, Lokomat Robotics
Moss Rehabilitation at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia is consistently recognized as one of the premier inpatient rehabilitation facilities in the United States. Moss draws complex SCI, TBI, and stroke cases from across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the broader mid-Atlantic region. The Moss PT program uses advanced technology including Lokomat robotic gait therapy — body-weight supported robotic-assisted treadmill training for SCI and stroke gait rehabilitation. Aphasia-adjacent PT (post-stroke motor-speech coordination, swallowing-adjacent mobility PT) develops due to close interdisciplinary collaboration between Moss PT and SLP teams. Cognitive-motor dual-task training is a core component of TBI rehabilitation at Moss.
Moss Rehabilitation PT Programs
- SCI Rehabilitation PT — Complete and incomplete spinal cord injury PT. FIM-based functional mobility goals, standing programs, Lokomat robotic gait training, transfer training, and wheelchair mobility independence goals.
- TBI Rehabilitation PT — Traumatic brain injury PT encompassing cognitive-motor integration, dual-task gait training, balance rehabilitation, and community reintegration functional mobility goals.
- Stroke Rehabilitation PT — Hemiplegia PT, Lokomat body-weight supported gait training, constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT), and post-stroke functional mobility restoration for complex neurological cases.
- Lokomat Robotic Gait Therapy — Moss operates Lokomat robotic-assisted gait training systems — body-weight supported, computer-guided treadmill PT for SCI and stroke patients. Travel PTs with Lokomat experience are in high demand.
- Cognitive-Motor PT — TBI — Moss's interdisciplinary TBI program integrates PT cognitive-motor dual-task training with neuropsychology and SLP. PT delivers gait-cognitive dual-task, environmental navigation, and executive function-linked mobility goals.
- Aphasia-Adjacent PT — Post-Stroke — Close PT-SLP interdisciplinary collaboration at Moss creates aphasia-adjacent PT cases: post-stroke patients with concurrent motor speech deficits and mobility limitations require integrated PT-SLP co-treatment planning.
UPMC Sports Medicine — Pittsburgh Steelers & Penguins PT Affiliation
UPMC Sports Medicine holds the official PT and sports medicine affiliation for both the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) and the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL) — making UPMC Sports Medicine the premier sports ortho PT network in western Pennsylvania. Travel sports PT roles at UPMC cover outpatient orthopedic sports medicine across the UPMC system, ACL reconstruction PT, rotator cuff PT, shoulder instability, hip arthroscopy PT, and complex sports ortho post-surgical rehabilitation. The UPMC Center for Sports Medicine in Pittsburgh is the flagship outpatient sports PT site — travel PTs with sports PT or orthopedic clinical specialist (OCS) certification are preferred.
UPMC Pittsburgh PT Network
- UPMC Presbyterian — Level I Trauma Acute PT — UPMC's flagship hospital, Level I trauma center. Acute inpatient PT covers trauma mobilization, ICU early mobility, post-surgical complex PT, and cardiac PT. Consistent travel PT demand year-round.
- UPMC Mercy — Level I Trauma Acute PT — Second Level I trauma center in the UPMC system. High-volume trauma PT: orthopedic trauma, TBI, and complex multi-system injury acute PT. Located in Pittsburgh's south side.
- UPMC Rehabilitation Institute — IRF PT — Pittsburgh's leading IRF, receiving complex SCI, TBI, and stroke cases from UPMC Presbyterian. SCI PT, stroke PT, brain injury PT. Travel PT requires 2+ years IRF experience.
- UPMC Sports Medicine — Steelers/Penguins PT — Official PT affiliation for Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) and Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL). Outpatient sports ortho PT across UPMC network sites. OCS certification or sports PT experience preferred.
- UPMC Magee-Womens PT — Women's health PT, pelvic floor PT, high-risk obstetrics PT. NICU developmental PT for premature infants. One of the highest-volume obstetrics programs in western Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania PT License Guide — Compact Privilege vs. Full Endorsement
Pennsylvania's PT Compact membership streamlines licensure for most US-licensed PTs. Understanding your licensure track is critical to planning your contract start date correctly.
PT Compact Privilege (Recommended)
- ➤Available if your home state PT license is in a PT Compact member state
- ➤Apply at PTCompact.com — faster processing than full PA endorsement
- ➤No separate Pennsylvania PT license required — Compact Privilege IS your authorization to practice in PA
- ➤Covers both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metro assignments simultaneously
- ➤Home state license must remain active and unencumbered — Compact Privilege deactivates if home license lapses
Full Pennsylvania PT Endorsement
- ➤Required if your home state is NOT a PT Compact member state
- ➤Apply through the Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy
- ➤Processing: 6–10 weeks from complete application submission
- ➤Requirements: current PT license, NPTE verification, background check, CPR documentation
- ➤Plan licensure 8–10 weeks ahead of your desired Pennsylvania contract start date
Rural Pennsylvania PT — Potter, Sullivan & Cameron County HPSA, PA Wilds
North-central Pennsylvania carries federal HPSA (Health Professional Shortage Area) designation for physical therapy — including Potter County, Sullivan County, and Cameron County in the Pennsylvania Wilds region. These rural communities depend on sole-community hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and SNFs for PT services, with persistent structural vacancies that sustain long-term travel PT contracts year-round. Geisinger Medical Center in Danville serves as the regional referral anchor for rural north-central PA, creating a dual-demand dynamic: rural shortage positions and Geisinger acute care PT.
Pennsylvania Rural PT HPSA Counties
PA Rural PT Demand Drivers
- ➤Potter/Sullivan/Cameron HPSA PT — North-central Pennsylvania's mountainous, sparsely populated counties carry structural PT shortages. Sole-community hospitals and SNFs in Coudersport (Potter), Dushore (Sullivan), and Emporium (Cameron) carry persistent PT vacancies with crisis pay $2,200–$2,700/wk. Long-term contracts (13–26+ weeks) are the norm.
- ➤Geisinger Medical Center — Danville — Geisinger Danville is a Level I trauma center serving rural central and north-central PA. Acute PT and trauma PT for a massive geographic catchment. Geisinger operates a regional outpatient PT network across central PA — travel PTs cover both inpatient Geisinger Main Campus and outpatient rural Geisinger network sites.
- ➤Penn State Hershey Medical Center — Central PA — Penn State Health in Hershey is a Level I trauma center and central PA's academic medical center referral hub. Neuro PT, complex acute PT, and post-surgical PT for the Harrisburg/Hershey corridor. Travel PT demand is consistent across Penn State Health's regional network.
- ➤Appalachian PA — WellSpan Health — WellSpan Health serves south-central and southwest Pennsylvania (York, Gettysburg, Chambersburg) with a regional PT network. Orthopedic PT, outpatient PT, and SNF PT vacancies create steady travel PT demand across the WellSpan system in a region with lower-density PT training program output.
Pennsylvania Travel PT — Frequently Asked Questions
How much do travel PTs make in Pennsylvania?
Travel PTs in Pennsylvania earn $2,000–$3,000/week depending on setting and location. Moss Rehabilitation IRF PT (Jefferson Health) pays $2,400–$3,000/wk for experienced SCI/TBI/stroke travelers. UPMC Level I acute PT and Penn Medicine acute PT pay $2,300–$2,900/wk. CHOP pediatric PT runs $2,200–$2,800/wk. Outpatient orthopedic PT pays $2,000–$2,600/wk. Rural PA HPSA positions (Potter, Sullivan, Cameron counties) reach $2,200–$2,700/wk with long-term contracts.
Is Pennsylvania a PT Compact state?
Yes — Pennsylvania is a PT Compact member state. PTs whose home state license is in a compact member state can apply for Pennsylvania Compact Privilege at PTCompact.com and begin practicing in PA without a separate full Pennsylvania PT license. PTs from non-compact home states must apply for full endorsement through the Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy (processing typically 6–10 weeks from complete application). Plan your licensure timeline at least 8 weeks before your desired PA start date.
What is the Pennsylvania income tax rate for travel PTs?
Pennsylvania has a 3.07% flat income tax rate — one of the lowest flat-rate income taxes among major PT travel markets. Unlike graduated states, every dollar of taxable income is taxed at the same 3.07% rate regardless of income level. Combined with tax-free housing and meal stipends, Pennsylvania's net weekly take-home is significantly higher than New York (6.25–10.9%), New Jersey (graduated to 10.75%), or Maryland (2–5.75%). For a traveler earning $2,600/wk gross, the PA tax rate advantage versus NY can exceed $400/week in net pay.
What is Moss Rehabilitation and why is it significant for travel PTs?
Moss Rehabilitation at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia is one of the top inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRF) in the United States — consistently ranked among the nation's premier IRF programs by US News & World Report. Moss treats complex SCI (spinal cord injury), TBI (traumatic brain injury), and stroke cases from across Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic. The Moss PT program uses Lokomat robotic gait therapy, constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT), and advanced cognitive-motor dual-task training. Travel PT positions at Moss require a minimum of 2 years IRF or acute care inpatient experience. Aphasia-adjacent PT (post-stroke motor speech and swallowing-adjacent mobility PT) is also part of the Moss caseload due to close collaboration with SLP programs.
Which Pennsylvania cities hire the most travel PTs?
Philadelphia is the largest PA PT market — Penn Medicine (cardiac/transplant PT), Jefferson Health/Moss Rehab (IRF SCI/TBI/stroke), CHOP (pediatric PT), Temple University Hospital (Level I trauma acute PT). Pittsburgh is the second major market — UPMC Presbyterian (Level I trauma), UPMC Rehab Institute (IRF PT), UPMC Sports Medicine (Steelers/Penguins affiliation), UPMC Mercy (Level I trauma). Allentown (Lehigh Valley Health Network Level I) is a growing mid-size market. Central PA (Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Geisinger Danville) provides academic medical center PT demand. Rural PA HPSA (Potter, Sullivan, Cameron counties) offers crisis pay $2,200–$2,700/wk.
Pennsylvania PT Travel Jobs by City
Pennsylvania's PT market spans two major academic medical center metros (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh), a growing mid-market (Allentown/Bethlehem), central PA (Hershey/Harrisburg), and rural north-central HPSA shortages.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia County
- Moss Rehabilitation (Jefferson) — top IRF
- Penn Medicine — cardiac/transplant PT
- CHOP — pediatric PT
- Temple University Hospital — acute PT
- Pay: $2,300–$3,000/wk
Pittsburgh
Allegheny County
- UPMC Presbyterian — Level I trauma PT
- UPMC Mercy — Level I trauma PT
- UPMC Rehab Institute — IRF PT
- UPMC Sports Medicine — Steelers/Penguins
- Pay: $2,300–$2,900/wk
Allentown / Bethlehem
Lehigh County
- Lehigh Valley Health Network — Level I
- LVHN orthopedic PT hub
- LVHN outpatient PT network
- Between Philadelphia & NYC
- Pay: $2,200–$2,800/wk
Hershey / Harrisburg
Dauphin County
- Penn State Hershey — Level I trauma
- Neuro PT and complex acute PT
- WellSpan Health outpatient network
- Central PA referral hub
- Pay: $2,100–$2,700/wk
Danville / Scranton
Montour / Lackawanna County
- Geisinger Danville — Level I trauma PT
- Geisinger rural outpatient network
- Geisinger Commonwealth acute PT
- Rural north-central PA referral
- Pay: $2,000–$2,600/wk
Rural PA HPSA — PA Wilds
HPSA — Potter, Sullivan, Cameron
- Sole-community hospital acute PT
- SNF and home health PT
- Federal HPSA designation
- Long-term contracts 13–26+ weeks
- Pay: $2,200–$2,700/wk
Explore Related Travel Therapy Markets
Compare Pennsylvania PT rates to neighboring compact states, or explore other therapy disciplines and nursing specialties in PA.