School-Based Physical Therapist

Physical Therapist

Charter Schools USA — Duval County, Florida | Full-Time W-2 Employee

School-based PTs in Florida earn well below their clinical counterparts. We're here to close that gap.

There are students across eight Charter Schools USA campuses in Duval County who are waiting for a consistent, skilled Physical Therapist — not a revolving door of short-term contractors who leave before they learn which kid needs a gait trainer and which one needs a sensory break before they can function in the gym. These students deserve someone who knows their history, who builds trust over time, and who shows up on Monday already thinking about what Tuesday's session will look like.

That's the kind of PT we're looking for. And we've built a compensation and support model designed to make sure you can be that person without sacrificing your own wellbeing, your finances, or your professional growth.

The average school-based PT salary in Florida sits around $56,000 — roughly 45% below what PTs earn in outpatient or home health settings. We think that's wrong. Our offer reflects the actual value of what you do.

The Position

School: This position serves Charter Schools USA's eight Duval County campuses. Campus assignment or a split schedule across sites will be determined based on student caseload and your preference.

Start Date: SY26-27

Schedule: School day hours, Monday through Friday. Optional paid Extended School Year available.

Workload: Aligned to APTA best practice standards. We negotiate workload expectations with our school partners because your sustainability is what makes student outcomes possible.

Setting: K–12 charter schools serving diverse learners in a collaborative, supportive school environment

Compensation — Florida's Best Offer

Base hourly pay - $27–$35/hr - $47–$55/hr (W-2)

Annual salary (est.) - $56K–$72K - $77K–$90K

Health insurance - Varies / employee-paid share - Full medical/dental/vision paid

PTO - Per school calendar only - 10 days PTO + sick leave

Retirement - FRS pension - 401(k) with company match

CEU stipend - Limited or none - $750/year

FPTA / licensure - Self-pay - Fully reimbursed

Signing bonus - None - $2,000 (paid at 90 days)

Retention bonus - None - $1,000 per semester

Port St. Lucie offers waterfront living, no state income tax, and a cost of living well below Miami or Orlando. A Thrive salary on the Treasure Coast buys a quality of life that most metro PTs can only dream about.

Why W-2 changes everything:

The staffing agencies that serve Duval County schools pay PTs $27–$35/hr as 1099 contractors — no benefits, no PTO, no stability. Those same agencies bill the schools $65–75/hr. The math isn't hard. The people doing the actual work are getting the smallest share of the value they create.

Thrive flipped the model:

W-2 employment with full benefits — not a 1099 arrangement with a handshake

Higher base pay than any staffing agency in the region

We cover your employer taxes, your health insurance, and your professional dues

A dedicated account manager who knows your campus and goes to bat for you

A clinical community of PTs, OTs, SLPs, and BCBAs who meet regularly, share resources, and support each other

When a workload becomes unsustainable, we step in. That's not a slogan — it's a structural commitment.

The Work That Matters

• Provide direct PT services to PK–12 students — gross motor development, mobility, balance, functional strength, postural support, and safe participation in school activities

• Conduct initial evaluations and triennial re-evaluations with the depth and care each child deserves

• Partner with classroom teachers and OTs to embed PT strategies into daily routines — making therapy part of school life, not separate from it

• Bring your clinical expertise to IEP meetings where your voice is valued and your recommendations are implemented

• Build the kind of trusting relationships with students and families that only come from consistency and commitment

• Be the person a child looks for when they walk through the door. That's the privilege of this work. We want to make sure the work is worthy of you in return.

What You Bring

• Master's or doctoral degree (DPT preferred) in Physical Therapy from a CAPTE-accredited program

• Active Florida PT license (or ability to obtain within 30 days)

• NPTE passage and licensure in good standing

• Pediatric or school-based experience preferred — but new graduates are warmly welcomed with structured mentorship from a clinical lead who remembers what those first months feel like

• Bilingual (Spanish) is a meaningful plus — premium compensation applies

Why Thrive

• Workloads aligned to APTA best practice standards — because quality outcomes require sustainable conditions

• A company that sees you as a person first, a clinician second, and a line item never

• Professional development that's real: $750/year for CEUs, conferences, and materials, plus all licensure and FPTA dues covered

• A no non-compete policy. We believe if you stay, it should be because this is the best professional home you've ever had — not because a clause in a contract says you can't leave

• The chance to be part of something different. We're not a staffing agency that happens to care. We're a company built from the ground up on the belief that investing in providers is the only way to truly invest in students.

Don't wait — apply right now. There are students who need PT who will stay and build something real. If that sounds like you, we want to hear from you today. Email View email address on click.appcast.io or apply at thrivestaffing.com/careers.

Thrive Staffing is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.