Physical Therapist Aide salary in California
Physical Therapist Aides in California earn a median of $38,330 a year ($18.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,330 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,200 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $35,240. California ranks 9th of 50 states for physical therapist aides pay. There are 0.40 physical therapist aides per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $43,470, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physical therapist aides in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,690 | $16.68 |
| 25th percentile | $35,760 | $17.19 |
| Median | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| 75th percentile | $46,190 | $22.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,200 | $28.94 |
| Average (mean) | $43,470 | $20.90 |
Half of physical therapist aides earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,194.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,597.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,474.23 |
| Weekly | $737.12 |
| Hourly | $18.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physical Therapist Aide salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $44,440 | 680 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $43,300 | 330 |
| Fresno, CA | $40,350 | 240 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $39,210 | 100 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38,980 | 330 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,810 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $38,440 | 740 |
| Chico, CA | $38,230 | 30 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $37,850 | 760 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,700 | 80 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $37,620 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37,280 | 2,720 |
| Vallejo, CA | $37,270 | 30 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $36,790 | 120 |
| Modesto, CA | $36,640 | 80 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $36,380 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $36,240 | 290 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $35,880 | 90 |
| Merced, CA | $35,870 | 50 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $35,220 | 90 |
| Redding, CA | $35,010 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for physical therapist aides
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $55,760 |
| Minnesota | $42,330 |
| Colorado | $41,970 |
| New Hampshire | $40,460 |
| Maine | $39,660 |
| Washington | $39,500 |
| District of Columbia | $38,950 |
| Montana | $38,950 |
| California | $38,330 |
| North Dakota | $37,680 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $83,110 | $39.96 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $81,770 | $39.31 |
| Occupational Therapy Aide | $43,480 | $20.91 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Medical Assistant | $49,660 | $23.88 |
| Nursing Assistant | $47,630 | $22.90 |
| Dental Assistant | $50,110 | $24.09 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $49,130 | $23.62 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $46,260 | $22.24 |
| Massage Therapist | $45,970 | $22.10 |
| Phlebotomist | $56,040 | $26.94 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $61,370 | $29.50 |
| Pharmacy Aide | $42,200 | $20.29 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $45,050 | $21.66 |
More: Healthcare Support Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-2022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical therapist aide make in California?
The median salary for physical therapist aides in California is $38,330 a year, or $18.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physical therapist aides make in California?
The top 10% of physical therapist aides in California earn at least $60,200 a year. The top 25% earn $46,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for physical therapist aides in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,690 a year, and a quarter of physical therapist aides earn $35,760 or less.
How many physical therapist aides work in California?
About 7,330 physical therapist aides are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.