How much does a physical therapist assistant make?
The median physical therapist assistant in the United States earns $68,380 per year, about $32.88 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all physical therapist assistants earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 31-2021.
Physical therapist assistant salary range
Pay for physical therapist assistants spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $47,750 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $89,510. The average (mean) wage of $68,730 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,750 | $22.96 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $59,820 | $28.76 | |
| Median (50th) | $68,380 | $32.88 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $78,680 | $37.83 | |
| 90th percentile | $89,510 | $43.04 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for physical therapist assistants (SOC 31-2021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Physical therapist assistant salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Physical therapist assistants earn the most in California at $83,110 a year, and the least in South Dakota at $49,310. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| California | $83,110 | 9,400 |
| Massachusetts | $79,460 | 2,640 |
| New Jersey | $78,440 | 1,810 |
| Texas | $78,000 | 10,510 |
| Maryland | $77,670 | 1,430 |
| Alaska | $77,640 | 110 |
| Connecticut | $75,880 | 980 |
| Nevada | $75,520 | 560 |
| Delaware | $74,610 | 340 |
| Virginia | $73,760 | 3,370 |
| Oregon | $73,180 | 890 |
| Georgia | $72,800 | 2,620 |
| Florida | $72,530 | 9,870 |
| Vermont | $71,600 | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $71,440 | 500 |
| South Carolina | $70,500 | 1,870 |
| Rhode Island | $68,640 | 420 |
| North Carolina | $67,540 | 3,280 |
| Hawaii | $67,510 | 250 |
| Minnesota | $66,770 | 1,230 |
| Washington | $66,450 | 2,150 |
| Maine | $66,250 | 410 |
| Louisiana | $65,370 | 1,670 |
| Indiana | $65,280 | 2,830 |
| Illinois | $65,240 | 4,890 |
| Colorado | $64,810 | 1,350 |
| Arizona | $64,650 | 2,010 |
| Arkansas | $64,520 | 1,620 |
| Kansas | $64,500 | 1,300 |
| New York | $64,100 | 3,620 |
| Wisconsin | $64,080 | 1,650 |
| Ohio | $63,820 | 7,040 |
| Missouri | $63,770 | 2,490 |
| Wyoming | $63,550 | 240 |
| North Dakota | $63,520 | 120 |
| District of Columbia | $63,400 | 40 |
| Montana | $62,650 | 250 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,580 | 4,270 |
| Tennessee | $62,500 | 3,390 |
| New Mexico | $62,280 | 700 |
| Utah | $61,980 | 970 |
| Mississippi | $61,770 | 1,150 |
| Michigan | $61,670 | 4,520 |
| Kentucky | $61,480 | 2,580 |
| Alabama | $61,430 | 2,700 |
| Nebraska | $61,370 | 980 |
| Iowa | $61,030 | 1,060 |
| Idaho | $61,020 | 560 |
| West Virginia | $60,430 | 980 |
| Oklahoma | $59,480 | 2,380 |
| South Dakota | $49,310 | 300 |
State median wages for physical therapist assistants (SOC 31-2021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for physical therapist assistants
The BLS projects employment of physical therapist assistants to grow 23% from 2025 to 2035. That is much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 114,100 jobs in 2025 moving toward 140,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 18,500 openings a year for physical therapist assistants. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a physical therapist assistant
The typical entry-level education for physical therapist assistants is an associate's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a physical therapist assistant earns
Certification, work setting, shift, and region shape pay. Hospitals and high cost metros pay above clinics, nursing homes, and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (California, $83,110) and the lowest (South Dakota, $49,310) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 112,430 people work as physical therapist assistants in the United States. At $68,380 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Physical therapist assistant salary FAQ
How much does a physical therapist assistant make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a physical therapist assistant is $32.88. The middle half of physical therapist assistants earn between $28.76 and $37.83 per hour.
What is the highest physical therapist assistant salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of physical therapist assistants earn more than $89,510 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a physical therapist assistant make a year?
The median annual salary for a physical therapist assistant is $68,380. The average (mean) wage of $68,730 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a physical therapist assistant a well paid job?
At $68,380 a year, a physical therapist assistant earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 112,430 people work as physical therapist assistants in the United States.
Which state pays physical therapist assistants the most?
California has the highest median salary for physical therapist assistants at $83,110 a year. Massachusetts ($79,460) and New Jersey ($78,440) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a physical therapist assistant a good career?
Employment of physical therapist assistants is projected to grow 23% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 18,500 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a physical therapist assistant?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for physical therapist assistants as an associate's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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