MYTHS vs. REALITY FOR TRAVELING PTs, OTs, SLPs, COTAs & PTAs

Pay rates earned by contractors are always higher than those of permanent employees. If your skill set is in high demand, you could DOUBLE or even TRIPLE your current take-home pay when you become a contract therapist.

Average pay for a contract therapist represented by NSS is $100k to $120k per year. Our highest is $180k. We can find you local contracts within driving distance from your house making at least $100k per year and working only 40 hours per week. We are so confident in our ability to pay you more, we have a $1,000 guarantee.

Our business philosophy is simple: we work with you as a partner. Tell us how far you’re willing to travel, what setting you want to work in, and how much you need to be paid. It is our job to make it happen.

A common concern among new contract therapists is that after a year or two your skills may fall behind, and you won’t have the opportunity to undertake necessary training.

But the reality is, as a contractor, you’ll be working at facilities that will challenge you and, in turn, improve your skill set. Your exposure to different institutions, systems, and methodologies will give you a much broader depth of experience than someone working a permanent job where the routine stays the same year after year.

If there are certifications that will benefit your career, you have the option to apply for those programs. Our paid CEU program allows you to learn and grow — and we pay for it!

Contracting allows you to control your professional development. If there is a facility or research center that you want to work at, we will do our best to get you a contract there. You’ll grow in the areas you want to take your career. In contrast, permanent employees can be mandated to take courses that may not be necessary for their personal career paths.

We’ve found that the current shortage of therapy professionals is so vast, facilities are grateful to have you onboard and they usually go out of their way to exceed your expectations. You’re treated like a welcome guest. Some facilities may hope to get you to stay on in a permanent role, so they treat you well. Permanent staff tends to be assigned mundane work more readily than contract staff because they are obliged to do it and are less likely to leave.

If you are on a contract assignment and are asked to do something that is outside the bounds of your original contractual agreement, you are not obligated to do it. You operate under the protection of a contractual agreement that limits your job responsibilities to whatever was outlined at the onset of your assignment. If things become untenable (which is very rare), then you simply call us and let National Staffing Solutions resolve the problem for you.

As a contract employee, you also have the benefit of an NSS corporate liaison. Whereas a permanent employee often has no recourse beyond going to his/her direct supervisor to express a concern, a contract employee has the full support of our agency. We have a direct line of communication with corporate “higher ups” and have the ability to get grievances resolved in a timely and effective manner.

You get every benefit available in a permanent position. You also have the flexibility to choose only the benefits you want, so that you can minimize deductions and maximize your income. NSS has partnered with an outside benefits specialist that can help you tailor a benefits package to meet your needs. Benefit packages can include 401K plans; paid time off; sick leave; long-term/short-term disability; continuing education reimbursement; and medical, dental, and vision insurance; and more.

All NSS contract employees are covered by our Liability and Workers’ Compensation Insurance. This limits your cost of working and decreases the burden felt by permanent employees because you will always have the full support of the NSS legal staff and corporate team behind you.

In the past five years an extreme shortage of qualified personnel has created increased demand for your services. We are able to keep our contract therapists working year-round without gaps between positions.

As a contract therapist, you will likely have a choice of assignments because there is such a high demand for your skill set. Plus, when your contract assignment approaches its end date, if you choose not to renew with that account, NSS recruiters and account managers will seek your next assignment. We work under your direction. You have complete control over where and when you pursue your next assignment.

Facilities no longer use contract therapists only to fill short-term, temporary needs. Often, you can stay in the same facility for two or more years if that is your preference. Rather than spending your free time looking for your next job, you can enjoy life.

Most permanent employees, when they are ready to make a change or are forced to seek a new position due to company reorganization, must undertake time-consuming job hunting, résumé writing, and interviewing on their own. In contrast, you have the entire NSS team working on your behalf to find and secure your next position.