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Physical therapist assistant: 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.

$68,380median pay per year, or $32.88 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $47,750lowest 10% earn less
  2. $59,82025th percentile
  3. $68,380median
  4. $78,68075th percentile
  5. $89,510top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

The median physical therapist assistant earned $68,380 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 23% from 2025 to 2035, well above the 3.5% projected for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+23%[2]
Openings per year
18,500[6]
Typical entry education
Associate's degree[7]

How much do physical therapist assistants make?

The median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants was $68,380 a year, or $32.88 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $68,730 a year, or $33.04 an hour[8]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[5].

Pay varies a lot within the job. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $47,750 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $89,510[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

Level Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[4][10] $47,750 $22.96
25th percentile[4][10] $59,820 $28.76
Median[1] $68,380 $32.88
75th percentile[4][10] $78,680 $37.83
90th percentile[4][10] $89,510 $43.04

These figures cover wage and salary workers, part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses outside regular production pay or the cost of benefits[11]. About 112,430 people held these jobs[12].

Pay by state and city

California had the highest median annual wage at $83,110[13]. Massachusetts was next at $79,460, then New Jersey at $78,440[13]. South Dakota had the lowest median among the states listed, at $49,310[13].

The most jobs were in Texas (10,510), Florida (9,870) and California (9,400)[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $97,190[15]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA followed at $95,920, and Spartanburg, SC at $88,070[15]. The metro area with the most jobs was Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, with 3,730 jobs and a median of $82,140[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[13]$83,1109,400
Massachusetts$79,4602,640
New Jersey$78,4401,810
Texas$78,00010,510
Maryland$77,6701,430
Alaska$77,640110
Connecticut$75,880980
Nevada$75,520560
Delaware$74,610340
Virginia$73,7603,370
Oregon$73,180890
Georgia$72,8002,620
Florida$72,5309,870
Vermont$71,600100
New Hampshire$71,440500
South Carolina$70,5001,870
Rhode Island$68,640420
North Carolina$67,5403,280
Hawaii$67,510250
Minnesota$66,7701,230
Washington$66,4502,150
Maine$66,250410
Louisiana$65,3701,670
Indiana$65,2802,830
Illinois$65,2404,890
Colorado$64,8101,350
Arizona$64,6502,010
Arkansas$64,5201,620
Kansas$64,5001,300
New York$64,1003,620
Wisconsin$64,0801,650
Ohio$63,8207,040
Missouri$63,7702,490
Wyoming$63,550240
North Dakota$63,520120
District of Columbia$63,40040
Montana$62,650250
Pennsylvania$62,5804,270
Tennessee$62,5003,390
New Mexico$62,280700
Utah$61,980970
Mississippi$61,7701,150
Michigan$61,6704,520
Kentucky$61,4802,580
Alabama$61,4302,700
Nebraska$61,370980
Iowa$61,0301,060
Idaho$61,020560
West Virginia$60,430980
Oklahoma$59,4802,380
South Dakota$49,310300

How to become a physical therapist assistant

The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers assistants and aides together[17]. The steps are for assistants.

In an O*NET survey of 18 workers, 84% said an associate's degree or other 2-year degree is required, and 15% said a bachelor's degree[21]. Workers can also earn extra certifications in areas such as CPR or basic life support[22].

What physical therapist assistants do

They help physical therapists carry out treatment, working within plans a therapist sets[23]. Common tasks include:

BLS says the job calls for compassion, close attention to detail, and comfort using the hands for manual therapy[25][26][27].

Where they work

The largest employer group for assistants and aides together was offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists, at 44% of jobs in 2025[28].

The work is active. Assistants and aides are often on their feet and moving, and lifting patients puts them at risk of back injuries[29]. Their work often means kneeling, stooping, bending and standing for long stretches[30]. Full-time work is typical, and part-time work is common. Some work nights and weekends because clinics often keep extended hours[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of physical therapist assistants to grow 23% from 2025 to 2035[2]. That means going from about 114,100 jobs to 140,400, a change of 26,200[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[3]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

About 18,500 openings a year are projected on average[6]. Openings include jobs that open when people retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 4.6% of workers leave the labor force and 7.9% move to a different occupation[32].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job with pay above the all-occupations median of $50,980[1][5] and a two-year degree path[19]. Growth is projected well above average[2][3]. The tradeoffs are a license requirement[20] and physical work that includes lifting and long periods on your feet[30][29]. Pay depends on where you work, from $83,110 in California to $49,310 in South Dakota[13].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[33].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a physical therapist assistant make an hour?
The median was $32.88 an hour in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $22.96, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $43.04[10].
How long does it take to become a physical therapist assistant?
Accredited associate's degree programs typically last about 2 years[19]. A license or certification is also required in every state[20].
What degree do you need to be a physical therapist assistant?
BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry education[7], from an accredited program[18].
Are physical therapist assistants in demand?
BLS projects 23% job growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 18,500 openings a year are projected[6].
What is the highest paying state for physical therapist assistants?
California, with a median of $83,110 a year[13]. Massachusetts ($79,460) and New Jersey ($78,440) followed[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in the US was $68,380 per year and $32.88 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Physical Therapist Assistants is projected to grow 23% from 2025 to 2035, from about 114,100 to 140,400 jobs (a change of +26,200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Assistants: 10th percentile $47,750, 25th percentile $59,820, 75th percentile $78,680, 90th percentile $89,510. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 18,500 openings for Physical Therapist Assistants 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 Employment Projections, typical path into Physical Therapist Assistants: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Physical Therapist Assistants was $68,730 per year and $33.04 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. 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
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Assistants: 10th percentile $22.96, 25th percentile $28.76, 75th percentile $37.83, 90th percentile $43.04. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. 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
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 112,430 people were employed as Physical Therapist Assistants in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Physical Therapist Assistants jobs: Texas 10,510; Florida 9,870; California 9,400; Ohio 7,040; Illinois 4,890. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $97,190; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $95,920; Spartanburg, SC $88,070; Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $85,150; Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $84,930; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $84,290; Bakersfield-Delano, CA $84,100; Modesto, CA $83,450. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Physical Therapist Assistants jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,730 (median $82,140); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 3,520 (median $72,230); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 3,420 (median $72,530); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,220 (median $75,620); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 2,210 (median $77,280); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,110 (median $80,370). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides" covers Physical Therapist Assistants together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 31-2021.00 survey of workers (18 respondents), education level they say is required: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 84%, Bachelor's Degree 15% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET description of Physical Therapist Assistants. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Physical Therapist Assistants. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of physical therapist assistants and aides in 2025: Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists 44%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Physical Therapist Assistants: 4.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

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.