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Physical therapist aide salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$38,330median pay per year in California, or $18.43 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $34,690lowest 10% earn less
  2. $35,76025th percentile
  3. $38,330median
  4. $46,19075th percentile
  5. $60,200top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $35,240[3]

The median pay for physical therapist aides in California was $38,330 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $3,090 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
7,330[4]
Rank by median pay
9 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
+8.8%[6]

How much do physical therapist aides make in California?

Physical therapist aides in California had a median wage of $38,330 a year, or $18.43 an hour[1]. The median is the middle point, so half of these workers earned more and half earned less. The average was higher at $43,470 a year[7].

Across the US, the median for physical therapist aides was $35,240 a year[3]. California's median was $3,090 (8.8%) higher[6]. California ranked 9th among the 49 states and DC with a published median[5]. Compared with all jobs in the state, the median of $58,240[8] was $19,910 above what physical therapist aides earned[9].

The lowest-paid 10% of physical therapist aides in California earned less than $34,690 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $60,200[2]. Among metro areas, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median, at $44,440[10]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had 330 jobs and a median of $43,300[11]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had 2,720 jobs and a median of $37,280[11].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, both full time and part time. They leave out self-employed people, and they do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for physical therapist aides in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$38,330[1]$35,240[3]
Median per hour$18.43[1]$16.94[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$34,690[2]$25,360[13]
Top 10% earn more than$60,200[2]$47,780[13]
Jobs7,330[4]48,150[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for physical therapist aides, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$37,2802,720
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$37,850760
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$38,440740
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$44,440680
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$38,980330
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$43,300330
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$36,240290
Fresno, CA$40,350240

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for physical therapist aides in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$36,0601,090
Arizona$35,2601,340
Nevada$31,970900

Median pay for physical therapist aides in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for physical therapist aides are projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: high school diploma or equivalent[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a physical therapist aide make in California?
The median was $38,330 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $43,470 a year[7].
How much does a physical therapist aide make an hour in California?
The median was $18.43 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $16.68 an hour and the 90th percentile was $28.94[17].
Which city in California pays physical therapist aides the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median among 21 metro areas with a published figure, at $44,440 a year[10].
Is California a good state for physical therapist aides?
California had the 9th highest median annual wage for this job among the 49 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $3,090 above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a physical therapist aide in California?
Across the US, the typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related work experience and short-term on-the-job training[16]. This is a US figure, not a California one.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Physical Therapist Aides in California was $38,330 per year and $18.43 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Aides in California: 10th percentile $34,690, 25th percentile $35,760, 75th percentile $46,190, 90th percentile $60,200. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Physical Therapist Aides in the US as a whole was $35,240 per year and $16.94 per hour, with about 48,150 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 7,330 people worked as Physical Therapist Aides in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 9th highest median annual wage for Physical Therapist Aides out of the 49 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Physical Therapist Aides in California ($38,330) was $3,090 (8.8%) higher than the US median ($35,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Physical Therapist Aides in California was $43,470 per year and $20.90 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Physical Therapist Aides in California was $19,910 lower than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 21 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Physical Therapist Aides, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median annual wage, $44,440. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. 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
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Aides in the US: 10th percentile $25,360, 25th percentile $30,410, 75th percentile $38,810, 90th percentile $47,780. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Physical Therapist Aides in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $36,060; Arizona $35,260; Nevada $31,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Physical Therapist Aides is projected to grow 4% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 6,400 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), 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
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Aides in California: 10th percentile $16.68, 25th percentile $17.19, 75th percentile $22.21, 90th percentile $28.94. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.