Physical Therapist Assistants Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for physical therapist assistants in the U.S. is $68,380 ($32.88 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $68,380
- Mean annual wage
- $68,730
- Median hourly wage
- $32.88
- Employment
- 112,430
112,430 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,750 | $22.96 |
| 25th percentile | $59,820 | $28.76 |
| Median (50th) | $68,380 | $32.88 |
| 75th percentile | $78,680 | $37.83 |
| 90th percentile | $89,510 | $43.04 |
Highest-paying states for physical therapist assistants
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Lowest-paying states
- South Dakota: $49,310 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $59,480 median annual wage
- West Virginia: $60,430 median annual wage
- Idaho: $61,020 median annual wage
- Iowa: $61,030 median annual wage
About this occupation
Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.
Typical tasks
- Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.
- Train patients in the use of orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices.
- Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.
- Instruct patients in proper body mechanics and in ways to improve functional mobility, such as aquatic exercise.
- Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or heat, light, sound, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
- Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Associate's degree
| 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.
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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.