Physical Therapist (Full-Time + Benefits!) - St Lucie, Florida

Thrive Therapies Group•Florida, FL

15h•$77,000 - $90,000

About The Position

THRIVE STAFFING | NOW HIRING Physical Therapist They don’t need another temp. They need you. Charter Schools USA — St. Lucie 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 three Charter Schools USA campuses in St. Lucie 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 three St. Lucie County campuses. Campus assignment — or a split schedule across sites — will be determined based on student caseload and your preference. Start Date: Immediate — students are actively waiting for PT services 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 Typical school-based PT (FL) Thrive @ CSUSA St. Lucie 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 St. Lucie 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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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.