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Physical therapist aide: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$35,240median pay per year, or $16.94 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $25,360lowest 10% earn less
  2. $30,41025th percentile
  3. $35,240median
  4. $38,81075th percentile
  5. $47,780top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Physical therapist aides earned a median of $35,240 a year[1]. The usual way in is a high school diploma or equivalent plus short on-the-job training[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4%[5]
Openings per year
6,400[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[2]

How much do physical therapist aides make?

The median wage for physical therapist aides was $35,240 a year, or $16.94 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean (average) was $36,430 a year, or $17.52 an hour[7].

For all occupations in the US, the median annual wage was $50,980[4]. So the median for this job sits below the all-occupations median[1][4].

BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8]. The lowest-paid 10% of aides earned less than $25,360 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $47,780[3].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[3][9] $25,360 $12.19
25th percentile[3][9] $30,410 $14.62
Median[1] $35,240 $16.94
75th percentile[3][9] $38,810 $18.66
90th percentile[3][9] $47,780 $22.97

These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses outside regular production or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10].

Pay by state and city

Alaska had the highest median wage for physical therapist aides at $55,760, but that figure rests on only 110 jobs[11]. Minnesota came next at $42,330, then Colorado at $41,970[11]. Louisiana was last in the list at $22,460[11].

The most jobs were in California (7,330), Texas (5,710) and New York (4,950)[12]. California's median was $38,330 and Texas's was $31,590[11].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA had the highest median at $46,460[13]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA followed at $44,440, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $43,300[13]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area had the most jobs at 6,030, with a median of $35,320[14]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA was next with 2,720 jobs and a median of $37,280[14].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Alaska[11]$55,760110
Minnesota$42,330150
Colorado$41,970360
New Hampshire$40,460130
Maine$39,66090
Washington$39,500760
District of Columbia$38,95030
Montana$38,950110
California$38,3307,330
North Dakota$37,680120
Massachusetts$37,4401,020
Ohio$37,220760
Wisconsin$36,820840
Illinois$36,650680
Oregon$36,0601,090
Connecticut$35,770520
Pennsylvania$35,5201,200
Kentucky$35,490160
New York$35,3804,950
Arizona$35,2601,340
Florida$35,1401,210
Indiana$35,100860
West Virginia$34,840170
Maryland$34,780830
North Carolina$34,7601,050
New Jersey$34,4302,230
Delaware$34,060300
Hawaii$33,81060
Virginia$33,3901,260
South Carolina$33,280370
New Mexico$31,990240
Nevada$31,970900
Texas$31,5905,710
South Dakota$31,33070
Rhode Island$31,200280
Georgia$30,5501,200
Wyoming$30,470240
Tennessee$30,320710
Arkansas$29,450160
Michigan$29,3501,810
Missouri$29,250750
Utah$29,1501,130
Iowa$29,120390
Idaho$28,660540
Nebraska$28,080670
Oklahoma$27,630370
Mississippi$27,370270
Alabama$27,290750
Kansas$25,280440
Louisiana$22,4601,380

How to become a physical therapist aide

The path is short. The Employment Projections data lists these typical entry steps[2].

No related work experience is typical[2]. States do not require aides to be licensed[16].

In an O*NET survey of 19 workers, 34% said a high school diploma or equivalent is the education required, and 25% said an associate's degree[17]. That is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture.

The training details here come from a BLS profile that covers aides together with other related occupations, so its text describes a wider group[18]. One of those occupations is physical therapist assistant. Assistants typically need an associate's degree from an accredited program and a license or certification[19]. That is a different job from aide, with a median of $68,380 a year[20].

BLS also lists personal qualities for the group, including compassion, attention to detail, comfort working with your hands, courtesy with patients and physical stamina[21][22][23][24][25].

What physical therapist aides do

Aides work under close supervision of a physical therapist or a physical therapy assistant. They carry out routine or delegated tasks and help get patients and treatment areas ready[26]. Common tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as rehabilitation aide, PT tech and physical therapy attendant[28].

Where they work

In the BLS profile for assistants and aides, offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists were the largest employer, at 65% of jobs in 2025[29].

The work keeps you moving. Assistants and aides are often on their feet while they set up equipment and help patients. Lifting and moving patients can lead to back injuries, and proper technique lowers that risk[30].

Full-time work is common, and so is part-time work. Some people work nights and weekends because many clinics keep extended hours[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of physical therapist aides to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 49,000 to 51,000 jobs[5]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[32]. The projection counts include self-employed workers[5]. The OEWS count of 48,150 aides covers wage and salary jobs only[33].

About 6,400 openings a year are projected on average[6]. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 4.6% of aides leave the labor force and 7.9% move to a different occupation[34].

One factor holds demand back. BLS notes that payer restrictions on reimbursement for services provided by aides reduce demand for the occupation[35].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to an entry-level job with a low barrier to entry. It asks for a high school diploma or equivalent and short on-the-job training, with no license for aides[2][15][16]. Pay is lower than the all-occupations median[1][4]. Projected growth of 4% is a little above the 3.5% for all occupations[5][32]. The work is physical and involves lifting and moving patients[30]. If you want higher pay in the same field, physical therapist assistants had a median of $68,380 a year, but they typically need an associate's degree and a license or certification[19][20].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[20].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a physical therapist aide make an hour?
The median wage was $16.94 an hour in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $12.19 an hour, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $22.97[9].
How long does it take to become a physical therapist aide?
On-the-job training usually lasts from about one week to one month[15]. BLS lists the typical training as short-term[2].
What education do you need to be a physical therapist aide?
A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry education[2]. States do not require aides to be licensed[16].
Is physical therapist aide a job in demand?
BLS projects 4% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[5][32]. About 6,400 openings a year are projected[6].
What is the highest paying state for physical therapist aides?
Alaska had the highest median wage at $55,760, based on 110 jobs[11]. Minnesota ($42,330) and Colorado ($41,970) followed[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Physical Therapist Aides in the US was $35,240 per year and $16.94 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Physical Therapist Aides: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Aides: 10th percentile $25,360, 25th percentile $30,410, 75th percentile $38,810, 90th percentile $47,780. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Physical Therapist Aides is projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 49,000 to 51,000 jobs (a change of +2,000). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 6,400 openings for Physical Therapist Aides are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Physical Therapist Aides was $36,430 per year and $17.52 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Aides: 10th percentile $12.19, 25th percentile $14.62, 75th percentile $18.66, 90th percentile $22.97. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Physical Therapist Aides in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Physical Therapist Aides jobs: California 7,330; Texas 5,710; New York 4,950; New Jersey 2,230; Michigan 1,810. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Physical Therapist Aides (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,460; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,440; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $43,300; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $42,520; Fresno, CA $40,350; Columbus, OH $39,990; Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $39,210; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $38,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Physical Therapist Aides jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 6,030 (median $35,320); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,720 (median $37,280); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 1,280 (median $33,060); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 1,070 (median $35,010); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 990 (median $35,570); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 990 (median $32,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. O*NET 31-2022.00 survey of workers (19 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 34%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 25%, Less than a High School Diploma 10%, Doctoral Degree 10%, Some College Courses 10%, Bachelor's Degree 9% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  18. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides" covers Physical Therapist Aides together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. O*NET description of Physical Therapist Aides. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Physical Therapist Aides. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET 31-2022.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Physical Therapist Aide (PTA), Physical Therapy Aide (PTA), PT Attendant (Physical Therapy Attendant), PT Tech (Physical Therapist Technician), PT Tech (Physical Therapy Technician), Rehabilitation Aide, Rehabilitation Attendant, Rehabilitation Technician (Rehabilitation Tech). O*NET OnLine
  29. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of physical therapist assistants and aides in 2025: Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists 65%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 48,150 people were employed as Physical Therapist Aides in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Physical Therapist Aides: 4.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Physical Therapist Aides: Demand change - share decreases as payer restrictions in the reimbursement of services provided by physical therapist aides dampens demand for the occupation. BLS Employment Projections

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.