Regional differences in physical therapists' incomes.

This investigation examines regional differences in the incomes of full-time employed members of the American Physical Therapy Association. The study was undertaken specifically to test the assumption that the gross earned incomes of therapists in New England were less than their peers in other regions. Data came from the 1982 APTA membership survey, based on a random sample of 20 percent of the APTA membership (response rate = 62.8%). Results indicate that in 1981 a significantly greater proportion (women, p less than or equal to .0001; men, p less than or equal to .01) of APTA members in New England had a lower income compared with peers in six other regions. Significant income differences persist even when controlling for age, experience, primary activity or responsibility, entry-level education, and highest earned academic degree.