Median Salary
$68,380
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$32.88
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$89,510
entry level starts ~$47,750
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 112,000 employed
How much does a Physical Therapist Assistant make?
Physical Therapist Assistants in the United States bring home a median salary of $68,380 a year, or around $32.88 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $47,750, while the top 10% earn $89,510.
That is $6,990 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Physical Therapist Assistant salary range by percentile
Half of all Physical Therapist Assistants earn between $59,820 and $78,680 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,750 | $22.96 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $59,820 | $28.76 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $68,380 | $32.88 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $78,680 | $37.83 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,510 | $43.03 |
|
Highest-paying states for Physical Therapist Assistant
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Physical Therapist Assistant pay at $83,110 a year, followed by Massachusetts ($79,460) and New Jersey ($78,440). At the other end, South Dakota posts the lowest median at $49,310 — a gap of $33,800 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Physical Therapist Assistant salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
California $83,110Massachusetts $79,460New Jersey $78,440Texas $78,000Maryland $77,670Alaska $77,640Connecticut $75,880Nevada $75,520Delaware $74,610Virginia $73,760Oregon $73,180Georgia $72,800Florida $72,530Vermont $71,600New Hampshire $71,440South Carolina $70,500Rhode Island $68,640North Carolina $67,540Hawaii $67,510Minnesota $66,770Washington $66,450Maine $66,250Louisiana $65,370Indiana $65,280Illinois $65,240Colorado $64,810Arizona $64,650Arkansas $64,520Kansas $64,500New York $64,100Wisconsin $64,080Ohio $63,820Missouri $63,770Wyoming $63,550North Dakota $63,520District of Columbia $63,400Montana $62,650Pennsylvania $62,580Tennessee $62,500New Mexico $62,280Utah $61,980Mississippi $61,770Michigan $61,670Kentucky $61,480Alabama $61,430Nebraska $61,370Iowa $61,030Idaho $61,020West Virginia $60,430Oklahoma $59,480South Dakota $49,310
Workforce and education
About 112,000 people work as Physical Therapist Assistants in the United States. 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 Assistant make in the United States?
The median Physical Therapist Assistant salary in the United States is $68,380 per year, or about $32.88 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $47,750, while the top 10% of earners make $89,510 or more.
How does Physical Therapist Assistant pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Physical Therapist Assistant median of $68,380 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Physical Therapist Assistants the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Physical Therapist Assistants, with a median salary of $83,110 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Physical Therapist Assistant?
Becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant 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 Assistants work in the United States?
About 112,000 people were employed as Physical Therapist Assistants in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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.