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Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeHigh pressure

What they do

Diagnose and treat disorders requiring physiotherapy to provide physical, mental, and occupational rehabilitation.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $265,930 Median per year · $127.85/hr Most earn $69,170–$452,360

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Diagnose or treat performance-related conditions, such as sports injuries or repetitive-motion injuries.
  • Assess characteristics of patients' pain, such as intensity, location, or duration, using standardized clinical measures.
  • Assess characteristics of patients' pain, such as intensity, location, or duration, using standardized clinical measures.
  • Conduct physical tests, such as functional capacity evaluations, to determine injured workers' capabilities to perform the physical demands of their jobs.
  • Provide inpatient or outpatient medical management of neuromuscular disorders, musculoskeletal trauma, acute and chronic pain, deformity or amputation, cardiac or pulmonary disease, or other disabling conditions.
  • Develop comprehensive plans for immediate and long-term rehabilitation, including therapeutic exercise, speech and occupational therapy, counseling, cognitive retraining, patient, family or caregiver education, or community reintegration.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 9,400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Offices of physicians42.1%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals27.8%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service10.5%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools5.8%
  • Self-employed (their own business)3.3%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This is not an entry-level job. Most people need a bachelor's degree, a medical degree, and about four years of residency training in physical medicine and rehabilitation, so the usual path takes roughly 12 years after high school. Many people find the long road worth it because they get to help patients regain movement, independence, and daily function.

  1. Bachelor's degree in a science such as biology

    4 years

    Complete the science courses medical schools require, like biology, chemistry, physics, and organic chemistry, while keeping your grades strong. This builds the foundation for medical school.

  2. Medical school (MD or DO degree)

    4 years

    Learn how the body works, how diseases affect it, and how to examine and care for patients. You'll also take medical licensing exams along the way.

  3. Residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

    4 years

    Train in a hospital or clinic under experienced rehabilitation physicians, treating patients with injuries, strokes, brain and spinal cord conditions, and chronic pain. Working closely with physical and occupational therapists here teaches you how to plan a full recovery program.

  4. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician

    Ongoing

    Once you finish residency and get licensed and board certified, you diagnose and treat people whose movement, pain, or daily function is affected by injury or illness. You often coordinate a team that includes therapists, nurses, and other doctors.

Where it can lead

  1. Medical Director of Rehabilitation Services

    5-10 years of experience first

    You move from treating patients to overseeing a rehabilitation program, including staffing, quality of care, and budgets. It usually takes years of clinical leadership and proven results to be chosen for this role.

  2. Department Chair, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

    10+ years of experience first

    You lead a whole department at a hospital or medical school, guiding other doctors, setting training goals, and often doing research or teaching. This role requires a strong reputation, leadership skills, and often academic work.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, and physicsThese classes build the science background you'll need for a future in medicine and make it easier to keep up in college.
  • Volunteer at a hospital, nursing home, or rehab centerHelping patients with daily tasks lets you see rehabilitation up close and shows future schools that you care about patient care.
  • Join a health occupations or science clubClubs like these often bring in guest speakers from healthcare and give you a chance to learn teamwork and practical skills.
  • Look for a starter job in a health settingJobs such as a front desk role at a clinic or a part-time aide position give you a real view of how healthcare teams work together.
  • Ask to shadow a healthcare professionalFollowing a doctor or therapist for a day or two helps you understand what rehabilitation work involves and whether it suits you.

In college

  • Major in biology or another science and complete pre-medical coursesMedical schools expect solid preparation in biology, chemistry, physics, and organic chemistry, so choose a major that includes these courses.
  • Work as a patient care assistant or certified nursing assistantHands-on patient care gives you real experience with people who are recovering from illness or injury and strengthens your medical school applications.
  • Volunteer or shadow in a rehabilitation or physical therapy settingSeeing how therapists and doctors work together on recovery plans helps you learn the specific skills and teamwork of this field.
  • Get involved in a pre-health student groupPre-health clubs on most campuses offer advising, mock interviews, and networking with students and professionals who share your goals.
  • Join a research project with a professorResearch experience shows you can think scientifically and work carefully, which matters for medical school and for later work in rehabilitation medicine.

Tips for getting started

  • Shadow a rehabilitation physician, physical therapist, or occupational therapist. Seeing their daily work will help you decide if this field fits your interests and personality.
  • Take a close look at the science and math classes you enjoy most, and build good study habits early. Medical school admissions depend heavily on strong grades in science courses.
  • Get experience with patients early, even if it is unpaid, so you know what caring for people is really like before you commit to years of training.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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