Physical Therapist Aides Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for physical therapist aides in the U.S. is $35,240 ($16.94 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $35,240
- Mean annual wage
- $36,430
- Median hourly wage
- $16.94
- Employment
- 48,150
48,150 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $25,360 | $12.19 |
| 25th percentile | $30,410 | $14.62 |
| Median (50th) | $35,240 | $16.94 |
| 75th percentile | $38,810 | $18.66 |
| 90th percentile | $47,780 | $22.97 |
Highest-paying states for physical therapist aides
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $55,760 | 110 |
| Minnesota | $42,330 | 150 |
| Colorado | $41,970 | 360 |
| New Hampshire | $40,460 | 130 |
| Maine | $39,660 | 90 |
| Washington | $39,500 | 760 |
| District of Columbia | $38,950 | 30 |
| Montana | $38,950 | 110 |
| California | $38,330 | 7,330 |
| North Dakota | $37,680 | 120 |
Lowest-paying states
- Louisiana: $22,460 median annual wage
- Kansas: $25,280 median annual wage
- Alabama: $27,290 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $27,370 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $27,630 median annual wage
About this occupation
Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.
Typical tasks
- Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist.
- Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
- Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.
- Record treatment given and equipment used.
- Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
- Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, or heat, light, sound, water, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 1.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.6% |
| Some college, no degree | 11.1% |
| Associate's degree | 46.5% |
| Bachelor's degree | 32.1% |
| Master's degree | 4.1% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 2.3% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides$35,800
- Nursing Assistants$42,260
- Medical Assistants$45,690
- Dental Assistants$48,070
- Phlebotomists$45,230
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$38,150
- Physical Therapist Assistants$68,380
- Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$48,430
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.