Physical Therapist-II Locum Tenens Jobs in USA – Earn More, Work Flexibly
If you're a physical therapist with a few years of hands-on experience, a Physical Therapist II locum tenens role is where independence and impact meet flexibility.
This isn't an entry-level position. PT II roles are built for therapists who can evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients with minimal oversight, and who are often trusted to mentor newer therapists, students, or PT assistants along the way.
As a premium healthcare staffing agency, Imperial Locum connects experienced physical therapists with short-term and contract assignments across the USA.
What Does a Physical Therapist II Do?
A PT II typically works with less direct supervision than a PT I, handling a broader caseload and more complex diagnoses.
Direct Patient Care
Evaluating patients: Reviewing medical history, performing assessments, and developing diagnosis and treatment plans.
Delivering hands-on care: Providing therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, equipment-based rehabilitation, and patient education.
Adjusting treatment plans: Modifying care based on patient progress and documenting treatment outcomes.
Coordinating patient care: Working with physicians, case managers, and other providers involved in a patient's care.
Following care standards: Following facility, state, and federal protocols for patient safety and treatment.
Supervisory and Administrative Roles
Supervising support staff: Overseeing PT assistants and aides when required by the facility.
Mentoring students and staff: Supporting physical therapy students, new team members, or other staff through training and guidance.
Maintaining documentation: Keeping accurate patient records and completing required clinical and administrative documentation.
Most facilities look for 2 to 4 years of clinical experience at this level, along with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, an active PT license, and BLS certification. If you've been practicing long enough to work confidently without someone checking every call you make, this is likely the tier you fall into.
PT II Pay and Hourly Rates
PT II salary varies by state, setting, and experience level, but the numbers give a useful benchmark. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025), the national median wage for physical therapists is $102,760 per year, or about $49.40 an hour. The top 10% of earners in the field make upward of $135,140 annually, or roughly $65 an hour.
Physical therapist pay in California runs well above the national figures. The state has the highest average PT wages in the country, with a mean annual wage of $114,270, or about $54.94 an hour, according to BLS data.
Locum tenens pay typically outpaces both benchmarks. This is because facilities are covering urgent, short-term staffing gaps, so they compensate accordingly. Moreover, locum work often doesn’t come with the long-term benefits package a permanent hire gets, including retirement matching, PTO accrual, and more. This value gets rolled into a higher hourly rate instead.
The current Physical Therapist II opening through Imperial Locum pays $77 an hour. This is well above the national median and above the California state average.
Exact terms can vary by assignment length and location, so connect with a recruiter for the full breakdown on pay, housing, and travel support.
Contract PT II Job Openings
Locum tenens work gives you control that a permanent role often doesn't. You choose assignment length, location, and how much you want to work in a given stretch. Whether you're looking to fill a gap between permanent positions, explore a new city, or just diversify your caseload, contract PT jobs let you do it without long-term commitment.
A physical therapy staffing agency like Imperial Locum regularly adds new PT II job openings and contract opportunities. Check often if nothing fits your criteria today.
Why Work With Imperial Locum
Finding the right physical therapist job opportunities shouldn't mean sorting through postings that don't match your experience level or licensing.
As a physical therapy recruitment agency, Imperial Locum works directly with facilities to match PT II-level clinicians. This is why you’ll find assignments that fit your skills, schedule, and pay expectations. We handle the legwork on credentialing and logistics so you can focus on patient care, not paperwork.
Explore current physical therapist job postings or contact us to find a role that supports your career growth!
