Travel therapy pay: What you can earn by specialty
September 22, 2026
Travel therapy is a unique way to see the world, help new communities, and earn strong pay. How much a travel therapist makes depends heavily on discipline, so this guide breaks down travel physical therapist, occupational therapist, PTA, and OTA salaries, plus what else affects your rate.
What affects how much travel therapists earn?
Many factors go into pay for travel assignments, including location, experience, position, and specialty. We offer competitive pay, in addition to the tax-free housing stipend and a daily per diem for meals and incidentals.
So, what other factors affect how much a travel therapist is paid? In addition to the position and the therapist's level of experience, these three factors often play a role: geographical location, type of facility, and timing.
Travel therapy pay by discipline: PT, OT, PTA, and OTA
Travel therapy pay varies significantly by discipline. Here's a general breakdown of what each role can expect to earn on assignment, before location, facility type, and experience are factored in.
Travel physical therapist (PT) salary
Travel physical therapists typically earn between $2,000 and $2,300 a week, depending on location, setting, and specialty. Acute care and inpatient rehab assignments tend to pay more than outpatient settings.
Travel occupational therapist (OT) salary
Travel occupational therapist pay is comparable to PT pay, generally ranging from $1,900 to $2,300 a week. Rate depends on setting (hospital and skilled nursing assignments often pay more than school-based or outpatient roles), location, and demand.
Travel physical therapist assistant (PTA) salary
Travel PTAs typically earn between $1,450 and $1,600 a week. Pay is lower than PT roles but often higher than staff PTA positions in the same market, once the housing stipend and per diem are factored in.
Travel occupational therapy assistant (OTA) salary
Travel OTAs generally earn between $1,400 and $1,800 a week, with certified assistants (COTAs) often at the higher end of that range. As with other therapy disciplines, pay shifts based on location and facility type.
Do travel therapists earn more than non-travelers?
They can! When physical therapist Jasmine Van Dyke started her career, she quickly realized that the therapy jobs in her home state wouldn't pay enough to put a dent in her student loans. Jasmine explored travel therapy and discovered that it often pays more than non-travel jobs. She was able to pay off her loans much faster than she expected.
Traveling has allowed me to pay off a ton of money every month. I finished paying off my loans—over six figures in loans—in just over five years.
Why should travel therapists consider working with an agency?
A staffing agency has access to a large number of job openings and can find one that matches each therapist's needs, whether those are based on schedule flexibility, location, or experience. In addition, agencies may provide assistance with housing, insurance, paperwork, and more.
They can also help with licensing, which is particularly beneficial. Licensing can be a cumbersome and expensive process for travel therapists. When therapists work with CompHealth, the agency takes care of processing and paying for licensing upfront. Other agencies may require therapists to request reimbursements.
CompHealth is different from some of the other travel companies, and it comes back to integrity.
They do what they say they're going to do. If they're going to check up on something, they check up on it. The compensation, insurance, and medical benefits—all those things are also outstanding,
What does the agency pay for?
In addition to an hourly wage, the staffing agency will typically pay for housing and travel. Most travelers prefer to receive a stipend and coordinate their own housing, but CompHealth also has a housing department that can help travel therapists find and arrange housing on their behalf if they prefer.
In addition, CompHealth pays for any necessary licensing, paperwork, and malpractice insurance.
We offer more than just competitive pay: All about CompHealth’s benefits for travelers
Do travel therapists receive benefits?
Travel therapists are considered W-2 employees of CompHealth and receive benefits. Coverage begins on the first day of an assignment and can be extended for up to 31 days between assignments. Travel therapists can sign up for 401(k) contributions with a match; medical, dental, and vision insurance; and optional extras, such as pet insurance.
What does the agency not pay for?
Many therapists choose to bring their families and pets when traveling, but CompHealth doesn't cover any additional costs associated with them. However, CompHealth's housing department can help find a spot that fits everyone and is pet-friendly if needed.
In addition, travel therapists will likely want to use their free time to explore the area or participate in nearby activities or entertainment. This is a great perk of working travel therapy jobs, but CompHealth doesn't reimburse travel-related costs like rental cars, meals, and hotels.
When and how are travel therapists paid?
Therapists working with CompHealth will enter their time via the MyCompHealth digital portal, and paychecks are deposited into their bank accounts weekly.
How does the staffing agency make money?
Healthcare facilities contract with staffing agencies like CompHealth when they need to fill an open therapy position. Then, the agency finds the right therapist for the job and gets them set up with travel, housing, licensing, and paperwork.
When therapists start working, they submit their hours to the agency, which pays them directly. Then, the agency bills the healthcare facility for that work. It costs you nothing to work with us.
Working as a travel therapist offers more than just a paycheck, a chance to grow your career, gain new experiences, and explore new places while making a meaningful impact. With the right support from a trusted staffing agency, you can maximize your earnings, simplify licensing and logistics, and focus on what matters most: providing exceptional care to the communities you serve.
Travel therapy pay FAQs
What is a travel physical therapist?
A travel physical therapist is a licensed PT who takes short-term assignments, typically 13 weeks, at healthcare facilities across the country instead of holding a single permanent job. In exchange for that flexibility, travel PTs often earn more than staff PTs and receive a tax-free housing stipend and per diem on top of their hourly wage.
How much do travel PTs make?
Travel PTs typically make between $2,000 and $2,300 a week, including taxable wages plus the housing stipend and per diem. Actual pay depends on location, facility type, and experience.
How much do traveling physical therapists make?
Most traveling physical therapists earn in the same $2,000 – $2,300 weekly range, with higher rates in high-cost or high-demand markets and in acute care or inpatient rehab settings compared to outpatient clinics.
CompHealth can help you find a travel therapy assignment. Call us at 800.453.3030 or look at today's travel therapy jobs.