BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — According to 24/7 Wall Street , a physical therapist is one of the highest paying jobs for women. The article found that women still make 80 cents to every man's dollar because of the gender wage gap.
Out of all of the occupations on the list, the wage gap between male and female physical therapists is significantly less than other professions. Male physical therapists make an average of $73,320 annually while women make $72,124. The pay discrepancy between physicians and surgeons is much more drastic, men's annual salary is $130,676 while women's is only $87,204.
"I think it stems from the aspect that females are the primary person for physical therapy to begin with," Tristen Chiarmonte, a physical therapy student at D'Youville College said.
Dr. Greg Ford, the Physical Therapy Department Chair at Daemen College, says the field has been dominated by women for decades and but he has seen an increase in male students in the last 10-15 years.
Chiarmonte says she believes there is not as great as a pay discrepancy because women have dominated the field but also because the profession involves a lot of team work.
"I don't know how this is still a thing," Chiarmonte said. "Everyone comes together as a professional to work toward a goal or for a patient."
