Kelly AlhooiePelviBiz, Pelvibiz · Healthcare Business Strategy Assistant

15 Years Experience and Capped at $85K

12 Mar 2026 · 1 min

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In this brief monologue, Kelly Alhooie recounts a conversation with his boss who asserted that therapists working under insurance contracts cannot earn more than $85,000 annually, regardless of experience. Kelly notes that even after 15 years in the field, his compensation is limited by low insurance reimbursement rates, especially in San Diego, where both new graduates and veteran therapists receive the same pay because reimbursement is fixed. He argues that the only viable path to surpass this ceiling—and achieve a take‑home pay around $60,000—is to become self‑employed, thereby escaping the insurance‑driven salary cap.

Chapters

His boss told him there is no more that you can make more than $85K a year. $85K a year. We've been out for 15 years. Okay. And he said, you can't make more than that because he's working in insurance base and like, and the reimbursement's so low. Guys, this is the only way is actually becoming your own boss and staying with doing this that we're going to survive and make above $85K, which means our take-home is like $60,000. Yeah, in San Diego, Brittany, in San Diego. Yes. He's like, the reimbursement is— I mean, I heard him on the phone, okay? Yeah. And he's like, oh, by the way, we paid new grads and 15-year therapists the same because the reimbursement's the same.