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Physical therapist assistant salary in California

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

$83,110median pay per year in California, or $39.96 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $59,500lowest 10% earn less
  2. $75,90025th percentile
  3. $83,110median
  4. $94,94075th percentile
  5. $102,800top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $68,380[3]

The median pay for physical therapist assistants in California was $83,110 a year in May 2025[1]. That was the highest median of any state[5].

Jobs in CA
9,400[4]
Rank by median pay
1 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+21.5%[6]

How much do physical therapist assistants make in California?

Half of physical therapist assistants in California earned more than $83,110 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $39.96 an hour[1]. Across the US, the median was $68,380[3], so California was $14,730 (21.5%) higher[6]. The median for all jobs in the state was $58,240[7], and this job paid $24,870 more[8].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $59,500[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $102,800[2]. The middle half of workers fell between $75,900 and $94,940[2].

By metro area, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median at $97,190[9]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had 1,040 jobs and a median of $95,920[10]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had 3,730 jobs and a median of $82,140[10].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers, part time and full time[11]. It leaves out the self-employed and owners and partners in unincorporated firms[11]. Bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance are not part of the wages[11].

California vs US pay

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

CAUS
Median per year$83,110[1]$68,380[3]
Median per hour$39.96[1]$32.88[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$59,500[2]$47,750[12]
Top 10% earn more than$102,800[2]$89,510[12]
Jobs9,400[4]112,430[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for physical therapist assistants, and the median pay in each[10].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[10]$82,1403,730
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$95,9201,040
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$82,160870
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$79,210860
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$84,290570
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$97,190400
Fresno, CA$77,000220
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$79,480210

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for physical therapist assistants in the states that border California, highest first[13].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Nevada[13]$75,520560
Oregon$73,180890
Arizona$64,6502,010

Median pay for physical therapist assistants in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for physical therapist assistants are projected to grow 23% from 2025 to 2035[14]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[15].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a physical therapist assistant make in California?
The median was $83,110 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $83,080[16].
How much does a physical therapist assistant make an hour in California?
The median hourly wage was $39.96[1]. The 10th percentile was $28.61 an hour and the 90th percentile was $49.42[17].
Which city in California pays physical therapist assistants the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median annual wage, $97,190, among 21 metro areas with a published median[9].
Is California a good state for physical therapist assistants?
California had the 1st highest median annual wage for this job among the 50 states and DC[5]. It was $14,730 above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a physical therapist assistant in California?
Across the US, the typical entry education is an associate's degree, with no work experience or on-the-job training needed[15]. This is a US figure, not a California one.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in California was $83,110 per year and $39.96 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 Assistants in California: 10th percentile $59,500, 25th percentile $75,900, 75th percentile $94,940, 90th percentile $102,800. 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 Assistants in the US as a whole was $68,380 per year and $32.88 per hour, with about 112,430 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 9,400 people worked as Physical Therapist Assistants in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 1st highest median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants out of the 50 states and DC with a published median (the highest of all). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in California ($83,110) was $14,730 (21.5%) higher than the US median ($68,380). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in California was $24,870 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 21 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Physical Therapist Assistants, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $97,190. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). 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, annual wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Assistants in the US: 10th percentile $47,750, 25th percentile $59,820, 75th percentile $78,680, 90th percentile $89,510. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in states that border California (highest first): Nevada $75,520; Oregon $73,180; Arizona $64,650. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Physical Therapist Assistants is projected to grow 23% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 18,500 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), 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
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in California was $83,080 per year and $39.94 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Assistants in California: 10th percentile $28.61, 25th percentile $36.49, 75th percentile $45.64, 90th percentile $49.42. 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.