Physical Therapist Assistant salary in the U.S.
Physical Therapist Assistants in the U.S. earn a median of $68,380 a year ($32.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 112,430 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,510 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $68,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physical therapist assistants in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,750 | $22.96 |
| 25th percentile | $59,820 | $28.76 |
| Median | $68,380 | $32.88 |
| 75th percentile | $78,680 | $37.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,510 | $43.04 |
| Average (mean) | $68,730 | $33.04 |
Half of physical therapist assistants 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 | $5,698.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,849.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,630 |
| Weekly | $1,315 |
| Hourly | $32.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physical Therapist Assistant salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $83,110 | 9,400 |
| Massachusetts | $79,460 | 2,640 |
| New Jersey | $78,440 | 1,810 |
| Texas | $78,000 | 10,510 |
| Maryland | $77,670 | 1,430 |
| Alaska | $77,640 | 110 |
| Connecticut | $75,880 | 980 |
| Nevada | $75,520 | 560 |
| Delaware | $74,610 | 340 |
| Virginia | $73,760 | 3,370 |
| Oregon | $73,180 | 890 |
| Georgia | $72,800 | 2,620 |
| Florida | $72,530 | 9,870 |
| Vermont | $71,600 | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $71,440 | 500 |
| South Carolina | $70,500 | 1,870 |
| Rhode Island | $68,640 | 420 |
| North Carolina | $67,540 | 3,280 |
| Hawaii | $67,510 | 250 |
| Minnesota | $66,770 | 1,230 |
| Washington | $66,450 | 2,150 |
| Maine | $66,250 | 410 |
| Louisiana | $65,370 | 1,670 |
| Indiana | $65,280 | 2,830 |
| Illinois | $65,240 | 4,890 |
| Colorado | $64,810 | 1,350 |
| Arizona | $64,650 | 2,010 |
| Arkansas | $64,520 | 1,620 |
| Kansas | $64,500 | 1,300 |
| New York | $64,100 | 3,620 |
| Wisconsin | $64,080 | 1,650 |
| Ohio | $63,820 | 7,040 |
| Missouri | $63,770 | 2,490 |
| Wyoming | $63,550 | 240 |
| North Dakota | $63,520 | 120 |
| District of Columbia | $63,400 | 40 |
| Montana | $62,650 | 250 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,580 | 4,270 |
| Tennessee | $62,500 | 3,390 |
| New Mexico | $62,280 | 700 |
| Utah | $61,980 | 970 |
| Mississippi | $61,770 | 1,150 |
| Michigan | $61,670 | 4,520 |
| Kentucky | $61,480 | 2,580 |
| Alabama | $61,430 | 2,700 |
| Nebraska | $61,370 | 980 |
| Iowa | $61,030 | 1,060 |
| Idaho | $61,020 | 560 |
| West Virginia | $60,430 | 980 |
| Oklahoma | $59,480 | 2,380 |
| South Dakota | $49,310 | 300 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,710 | 830 |
Best-paying metro areas for physical therapist assistants
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,190 | 400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $95,920 | 1,040 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $88,070 | 160 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $87,330 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $87,300 | 90 |
| Vallejo, CA | $86,630 | 50 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $85,150 | 100 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $84,930 | 1,180 |
| Salinas, CA | $84,850 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $84,290 | 570 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $84,100 | 150 |
| Modesto, CA | $83,450 | 150 |
| Midland, TX | $82,620 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $82,160 | 870 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82,140 | 3,730 |
Metro areas with the most physical therapist assistants
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,730 | $82,140 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 3,520 | $72,230 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3,420 | $72,530 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,220 | $75,620 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,210 | $77,280 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,110 | $80,370 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,880 | $62,220 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,860 | $80,430 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,650 | $71,540 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,440 | $64,720 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,370 | $74,730 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1,340 | $70,170 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,340 | $78,790 |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,280 | $64,800 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 1,180 | $84,930 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $35,240 | $16.94 |
| Occupational Therapy Aide | $39,160 | $18.83 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Nursing Assistant | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | $21.75 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| Massage Therapist | $58,450 | $28.10 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| Orderly | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $40,410 | $19.43 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-2021. 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 assistant make in the U.S.?
The median salary for physical therapist assistants in the U.S. is $68,380 a year, or $32.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physical therapist assistants make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of physical therapist assistants in the U.S. earn at least $89,510 a year. The top 25% earn $78,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for physical therapist assistants in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,750 a year, and a quarter of physical therapist assistants earn $59,820 or less.
How many physical therapist assistants work in the U.S.?
About 112,430 physical therapist assistants are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.