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Physical therapist assistant salary in Washington

Updated November 2, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$66,450median pay per year in Washington, or $31.95 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $36,610lowest 10% earn less
  2. $43,89025th percentile
  3. $66,450median
  4. $80,73075th percentile
  5. $93,140top 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 Washington was $66,450 a year[1]. That was $1,930 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in WA
2,150[4]
Rank by median pay
21 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−2.8%[6]

How much do physical therapist assistants make in Washington?

The median wage for physical therapist assistants in Washington was $66,450 a year, or $31.95 an hour[1]. Half of these workers earned more than that and half earned less. Across the US the median was $68,380[3], so Washington sat $1,930 (2.8%) below it[6]. Compared with all jobs in the state, the median for physical therapist assistants was $3,460 higher than the $62,990 median for all occupations[7][8].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36,610 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $93,140[2]. The middle half of workers fell between $43,890 and $80,730[2].

Among metro areas in or partly in Washington with a published median, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA had the highest, at $74,690[9]. Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA was at $74,250, and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA was at $65,450[10].

OEWS counts only wage and salary workers, so self-employed people are left out. It also leaves out bonuses that are not tied to production and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11].

Washington vs US pay

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

WAUS
Median per year$66,450[1]$68,380[3]
Median per hour$31.95[1]$32.88[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$36,610[2]$47,750[12]
Top 10% earn more than$93,140[2]$89,510[12]
Jobs2,150[4]112,430[3]

Pay by metro area in Washington

Metro areas in Washington with the most jobs for physical therapist assistants, and the median pay in each[10]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA[10]$65,4501,120
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$74,690470
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA$64,740220
Bellingham, WA$66,45080
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$66,81080
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA$74,25080
Kennewick-Richland, WA$72,98070
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$61,42050

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[13]$73,180890
Idaho$61,020560

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 Washington?
The median was $66,450 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $65,090 a year[16].
How much does a physical therapist assistant make an hour in Washington?
The median hourly wage was $31.95[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $17.60 an hour and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $44.78[17][2].
Which city in Washington pays physical therapist assistants the most?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA had the highest median among metro areas with a published figure, at $74,690 a year[9]. Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA was at $74,250[10].
Is Washington a good state for physical therapist assistants?
Washington had the 21st highest median annual wage for this job out of the 50 states and DC[5]. Its median was 2.8% lower than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a physical therapist assistant in Washington?
This is a US figure, not one for Washington. Across the US the typical education needed for entry is an Associate's degree, with no work experience in a related occupation and no typical on-the-job training[15].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Washington was $66,450 per year and $31.95 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 Washington: 10th percentile $36,610, 25th percentile $43,890, 75th percentile $80,730, 90th percentile $93,140. 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 2,150 people worked as Physical Therapist Assistants in Washington (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Washington had the 21st highest median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants out of the 50 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 Assistants in Washington ($66,450) was $1,930 (2.8%) lower than the US median ($68,380). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Washington was $3,460 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($62,990). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Washington was $62,990. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 10 metro areas in or partly in Washington with a published median for Physical Therapist Assistants, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA had the highest median annual wage, $74,690. 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 Washington (highest first): Oregon $73,180; Idaho $61,020. 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 Washington was $65,090 per year and $31.29 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Assistants in Washington: 10th percentile $17.60, 25th percentile $21.10, 75th percentile $38.81, 90th percentile $44.78. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Washington. 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.