How Much Do Physical Therapy Assistants Make?

Physical therapy assistants (PTAs) work with physical therapists to improve the quality of patients’ lives. These professionals help patients regain mobility, physical function, and coordination as they recover from injuries and illnesses. Compared to physical therapists who must complete a doctor of physical therapy degree to practice, PTAs can enter the workforce relatively quickly, after earning an associate degree in two years or less.

As the demand for PTAs grows, professionals can expect ample and well-paid employment opportunities in a variety of healthcare settings.

A physical therapy assistant salary varies by location, years of experience, and clinical setting. According to a May 2021 earnings report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), PTAs make a mean annual salary of $60,740, or $29.20 an hour. PTAs rank among the highest paid in the allied health career professions, earning more than dental assistants and nursing aides.

The BLS also expects demand for PTAs to increase by 32% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the national average for all occupations. In response to the need by the baby boomer population to address chronic medical conditions and related mobility issues, the demand for physical therapy assistants and aides should continue to grow by 23,800 openings each year in that time frame.

Where you work significantly impacts how much you can make as a PTA. The five top-paying states for PTAs offer salaries that range from about $7,000-$11,000 above the national average for this occupation. California ranks as the highest-paying state, followed by Rhode Island, New Jersey, Texas, and Connecticut.

The top-paying states tend to have the highest rates of job growth and employment openings, due in part to aging populations and the unmet need for therapeutic and rehabilitative healthcare. States where the cost of living runs higher than the national average typically offer more competitive salaries.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Physical therapy assistants do not make as much as physical therapists. However, once established in their career, PTAs can increase their earning potential and career options by obtaining certifications, changing practice settings, and working as travel PTAs.

The median annual salary for PTAs, according to BLS, is $61,180. The lowest 10% of earners reported making $37,280 a year, while the top 90% of earners made $80,170.

PTAs typically earn higher salaries in cities than in rural areas. Of the ten top-paying metropolitan areas for PTAs, eight are in California and two are in Texas. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro region in California pays the highest average annual wage of $85,960, followed by the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward urban area, which offers a yearly salary of $78,740.

PTAs have many opportunities to boost their careers. They can pursue certification in neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary and other specialties. Besides traditional hospital and nursing care, they can move into other practice settings, such as private physical therapy facilities, sports medicine clinics, and fitness centers. Some PTAs become licensed physical therapists by earning a bachelor’s degree in preparation for entering a doctor of physical therapy program.

PTAs employed in home health care earn the highest pay, making a mean salary of over $75,000 a year. Skilled nursing facilities and retirement and assisted living settings serving the elderly offer annual salaries over $69,000, well above the national average of $60,740.