Median Salary
$35,240
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$16.94
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$47,780
entry level starts ~$25,360
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 48,000 employed
How much does a Physical Therapist Aide make?
Physical Therapist Aides in the United States bring home a median salary of $35,240 a year, or around $16.94 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $25,360, while the top 10% earn $47,780.
That is $26,150 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Physical Therapist Aide salary range by percentile
Half of all Physical Therapist Aides earn between $30,410 and $38,810 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,360 | $12.19 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $30,410 | $14.62 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $35,240 | $16.94 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $38,810 | $18.66 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,780 | $22.97 |
|
Highest-paying states for Physical Therapist Aide
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Alaska leads the country for Physical Therapist Aide pay at $55,760 a year, followed by Minnesota ($42,330) and Colorado ($41,970). At the other end, Louisiana posts the lowest median at $22,460 — a gap of $33,300 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Physical Therapist Aide salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 50 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Alaska $55,760Minnesota $42,330Colorado $41,970New Hampshire $40,460Maine $39,660Washington $39,500District of Columbia $38,950Montana $38,950California $38,330North Dakota $37,680Massachusetts $37,440Ohio $37,220Wisconsin $36,820Illinois $36,650Oregon $36,060Connecticut $35,770Pennsylvania $35,520Kentucky $35,490New York $35,380Arizona $35,260Florida $35,140Indiana $35,100West Virginia $34,840Maryland $34,780North Carolina $34,760New Jersey $34,430Delaware $34,060Hawaii $33,810Virginia $33,390South Carolina $33,280New Mexico $31,990Nevada $31,970Texas $31,590South Dakota $31,330Rhode Island $31,200Georgia $30,550Wyoming $30,470Tennessee $30,320Arkansas $29,450Michigan $29,350Missouri $29,250Utah $29,150Iowa $29,120Idaho $28,660Nebraska $28,080Oklahoma $27,630Mississippi $27,370Alabama $27,290Kansas $25,280Louisiana $22,460
Workforce and education
About 48,000 people work as Physical Therapist Aides in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $36,430 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Physical Therapist Aide make in the United States?
The median Physical Therapist Aide salary in the United States is $35,240 per year, or about $16.94 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $25,360, while the top 10% of earners make $47,780 or more.
How does Physical Therapist Aide pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Physical Therapist Aide median of $35,240 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Physical Therapist Aides the most?
Alaska is the highest-paying state for Physical Therapist Aides, with a median salary of $55,760 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Physical Therapist Aide?
Becoming a Physical Therapist Aide typically requires 6 to 18 months of training. A certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path.
How many Physical Therapist Aides work in the United States?
About 48,000 people were employed as Physical Therapist Aides in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
Related salaries
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.