Career comparison
Health Sciences Professor vs. Physical Therapist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Health sciences professors earn more at the median ($107,310 vs. $102,760), while physical therapists usually get to work faster (7 years after high school of training). Health sciences professors teach future doctors, therapists and health professionals. Physical therapists help people recover movement and manage pain after injury or illness.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Health Sciences Professor | Physical Therapist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $107,310 | $102,760 ($49.40/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $59,270 – $322,020 | $77,140 – $135,140 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +17.9% (much faster than average) | +11.9% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 24,900 | 13,400 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 8+ years | 7 years after high school |
| Key credential | Professional license | NPTE |
| Work setting | Faculty work in classrooms, simulation labs, clinics and hospitals.. | PTs work in outpatient clinics, hospitals, nursing facilities, homes, schools and sports settings.. |
What each job does
Health Sciences Professor
- Teach health science courses
- Supervise clinical training
- Conduct health research
- Practice clinically
- Mentor students
Physical Therapist
- Examine and evaluate patients
- Diagnose movement problems
- Design treatment plans
- Guide therapeutic exercise
- Provide manual therapy
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, high-pay, in-demand, and working with people. They sit in different fields, education & childcare and healthcare, but share transferable skills such as mentoring and motivation skills.
Which should you choose?
Choose health sciences professor if…
- I love my health profession
- I want to teach
- I enjoy mentoring students
Choose physical therapist if…
- I love anatomy and exercise
- I enjoy motivating people
- I like hands-on work
Still torn? Take the Health Sciences Professor fit quiz and the Physical Therapist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, health sciences professor or physical therapist?
Health Sciences Professors earn more at the median: $107,310 versus $102,760 for physical therapists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Physical Therapists typically train faster (7 years after high school) than health sciences professors (8+ years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects health sciences professors to grow +17.9% from 2025–35, compared with +11.9% for physical therapists.