How to Make 6 Figures As A Physical Therapist? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a physical therapist? Good for you! Being a physical therapist is a highly respectable and well-paid profession, and there's no reason why you can't earn a high income if you put your mind to it.
In this blog post, we'll look at some of the best ways to make more money as a physical therapist - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a lucrative way for a physical therapist to supplement their income and potentially reach six figures. By creating engaging and informative audio content focused on physical therapy, health, and wellness, you could attract a dedicated audience interested in these topics.
With consistent, high-quality episodes, you could build a strong listener base, opening up opportunities for sponsorships, advertisements, and even paid subscriptions. Additionally, your podcast could serve as a platform to promote your services, sell digital products like e-books or online courses, and establish yourself as an authority in the industry.
Ultimately, a podcast not only broadens your reach but also diversifies your income streams, providing a pathway to significant financial growth in your career.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
2. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
As a physical therapist, supplementing your income by becoming an affiliate marketer could provide a substantial boost to your earnings. With affiliate marketing, you could promote health and wellness products that align with your professional expertise, leveraging your credibility and connections to drive sales.
Starting this type of business requires minimal upfront investment, as you don't need to create or own the products yourself. Instead, you could sign up for affiliate programs related to physical therapy, track the sales through your unique links, and earn commissions on successful referrals.
By dedicating a few hours a week to this venture, you could build an additional revenue stream that could help you reach your goal of making six figures.
How much you can make: $18,000 — $83,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)
How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
3. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
As a physical therapist, you could significantly boost your income by starting an eCommerce store. By leveraging your expertise in physical therapy, you could create and sell specialized products such as therapeutic equipment, exercise guides, or even health and wellness programs. These products not only cater to a niche market but also allow you to reach a wider audience without the geographical limitations of a brick-and-mortar business.
The convenience and efficiency of online shopping make it a booming industry, presenting a lucrative opportunity for entrepreneurial-minded physical therapists. With lower overhead costs and increased flexibility, an eCommerce store could serve as a profitable side business or even transform into your main source of income. By effectively managing your online store, you could tap into the growing demand for health-related products and services, paving the way to a six-figure income.
How much you can make: $350 — $13,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Southern Elegance Candle Company, founded by D'Shawn Russell, started as a side hustle making around $200 per weekend at a local Farmers Market, but now averages approximately $20,000 per month in sales across their retail site, wholesale site, and Faire.
4. Create an online course ($82.8K/month)
Creating an online course could offer you a lucrative avenue to make six figures as a physical therapist by leveraging your specialized knowledge and skills. By identifying educational gaps in physical therapy and developing engaging video lessons and supplementary materials, you could attract a student base eager to learn from your expertise.
Whether you design self-paced or cohort-based courses, the potential for passive income is significant, allowing you to earn money even while you focus on your primary practice. For those who enjoy educating others, launching an online course platform not only presents minimal startup costs but also provides a scalable way to monetize your instructional talents while serving the growing market of lifelong learners.
How much you can make: $275 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 88 days (?)
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
5. Digital products ($242K/month)
As a physical therapist, supplementing your income by selling digital products could be an excellent avenue to explore. Digital products are incredibly popular due to their ease of creation and distribution. You could develop information-based products like eBooks or online courses focused on physical therapy techniques, injury prevention, or wellness programs. These could attract a wide audience seeking expert advice, thereby generating a substantial secondary income.
Moreover, the flexibility of digital products means you could maintain your primary role while building this business on the side. Unlike physical inventory, digital items don’t require storage and can be sold directly from your website, minimizing overhead costs. The endless possibilities for digital products could help you diversify your income stream and potentially achieve the six-figure mark more swiftly.
How much you can make: $10,417 — $1,766,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
FilterGrade is an eCommerce platform offering digital assets such as photo filters and video templates; attracting over 450,000 monthly users and generating approximately 30k a month, the founders worked hard to build a valuable marketplace for creators while focusing on digital marketing, partnerships, and content creation.
6. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a physical therapist. By leveraging your expertise in the healthcare field, you could offer specialized guidance in professional transitions and growth opportunities to those in medical and allied health careers. Your knowledge in resume building, interview prep, and workplace advancement could shape personalized, impactful coaching sessions.
Building a client base through in-person or virtual meetings provides flexibility and allows you to empower others while earning additional income. This endeavor could be particularly beneficial for those with a talent for speaking and a knack for human resources, enabling you to monetize your motivational skills. Launching your own coaching practice not only diversifies your income streams but also sets you on a path to potentially reach six figures while maintaining control over your schedule.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $235,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Wall Street Oasis, the largest online community focused on careers in finance, has over 100 million visitors during its 14-year history and is currently receiving over 2 million visits per month, offering interview courses and mentorship services, in addition to building and investing in a thriving online community.
7. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a physical therapist. Sharing your expert knowledge through video content, such as exercise tutorials, injury prevention tips, or rehabilitation advice, could attract a significant following. Once you reach 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours within a year, you could join the YouTube Partner Program and start earning ad revenue.
Additionally, a successful YouTube channel could open doors to other income opportunities, such as sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and selling online courses or e-books. Leveraging YouTube's established monetization system, and its vast audience could potentially increase your earnings, helping you achieve a six-figure income.
Consider promoting your channel through social media and collaborations with other content creators to accelerate your growth and build your own YouTube channel success story.
How much you can make: $800 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Learn how this entrepreneurial couple made $5-7k a month by helping others find legitimate work from home jobs and creative ways to make money online through their blog and YouTube channel, as well as offering two flagship products designed to help beginner freelancers and new bloggers accelerate growth.
8. Start a social media marketing agency ($386K/month)
Starting a social media marketing agency could help you make six figures as a physical therapist by leveraging your unique healthcare expertise to attract health-related businesses as clients. Given your understanding of the industry, you could create tailored social media strategies for clinics, wellness centers, or even other physical therapists, helping them boost their online presence and grow their patient base.
Additionally, the flexibility of running a social media marketing agency means you could manage this side business without sacrificing your primary career. With the right tools and strategies in place, you could automate much of your work, making it easier to balance both roles while earning extra income to clear bills, finance education, or save for vacation.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $4,166,667/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 30 hours/week
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
9. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could be a viable option to supplement your income and eventually help you reach six figures as a physical therapist. With blogs being the 5th most trustworthy source for gathering online information, you can leverage your expertise to provide valuable content that resonates with a broader audience. You could write about topics that interest you and benefit others, such as physical therapy tips, injury prevention, and wellness advice.
Given that 77% of internet users read blogs, you have the potential to attract a substantial following if you consistently generate engaging and informative posts. This significant user base means more opportunities for ad revenue, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing—all of which can boost your income substantially. Furthermore, establishing a blog can create a springboard for other income streams, such as online courses or consulting services, enabling you to diversify and grow your income effectively.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
10. Start a freelance writing business ($62.6K/month)
Starting a freelance writing business could significantly supplement your income as a physical therapist, paving the way to a six-figure salary. With your background in healthcare, you could specialize in writing content related to physical therapy, wellness, and rehabilitation, just to name a few, offering valuable insights that only a professional in your field could provide.
The flexibility of freelance writing allows you to create your own schedule, meaning you could write articles, e-books, or even create content for online courses in your off-hours. Not only could this enhance your income, but it also opens avenues for you to share your expertise on a broader platform. By honing strong writing skills, meeting deadlines, and staying updated with writing trends, you could build a lucrative side business that complements your primary career.
How much you can make: $700 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 56 days (?)
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
11. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
Becoming a Social Media Influencer
As a physical therapist, you could leverage your expertise by becoming a social media influencer. By sharing valuable insights, exercise routines, injury prevention tips, and rehabilitation techniques on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, you could attract a large following. Brands are eager to collaborate with influencers who have established credibility and a substantial audience, providing opportunities for sponsored content, paid partnerships, and product endorsements.
Furthermore, establishing yourself as an influencer creates additional streams of income through affiliate marketing, monetized video views, and even online courses or virtual consultations. Your unique perspective and professional experience could set you apart in a popular niche, offering practical and engaging content that resonates with your audience. With a strategic approach and consistent effort, this social media presence could pave the way to making six figures.
How much you can make: $2,500 — $166,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $800 (?)
How long does it take to build: 155 days (?)
How one mother built a profitable frugal motherhood, life, and travel blog from scratch, using Instagram, Pinterest, and paid sponsorships to grow from 0 to 18.5K followers and generate $1,500-$3,000 per month in less than two years.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
