When you work with patients, they and their families are highly appreciative of your efforts, and you get a lot of positive reinforcement for what you do. Margaret Rinehart Ayres, PhD, PT, concurred that salaries in academia are out of balance with those of practicing clinicians. Five years ago, I had new grads from Jefferson that were making more money than I was. Dr. Ayres does acknowledge that the disparity between clinical and academic salaries may be shrinking somewhat. You certainly don't go into the academic environment to make a lot of money.
Many faculty members choose to practice part-time while teaching.
But other degree options are possible if you're looking more at a clinical faculty track. Faculty members with clinical degrees and backgrounds can help keep a curriculum current. The remainder is made up of clinical faculty. No matter which degree is the goal, Dr. Pfalzer makes certain her students know what's at stake before continuing down the academic road, and exactly what personality traits or characteristics will translate well into the world of teaching. Most college faculty members actually tend to be introverts, prefer logic over feelings, are more decision-oriented, that type of person.