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The differences between licensed physical therapist assistants and outpatient physical therapist assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an outpatient physical therapist assistant has an average salary of $54,009, which is higher than the $53,673 average annual salary of a licensed physical therapist assistant.
The top three skills for a licensed physical therapist assistant include patients, patient care and home health. The most important skills for an outpatient physical therapist assistant are patients, rehabilitation, and PTA.
| Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant | Outpatient Physical Therapist Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $53,673 | $54,009 |
| Hourly rate | $25.80 | $25.97 |
| Growth rate | 24% | 24% |
| Number of jobs | 77,253 | 62,717 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 81% | Associate Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A Physical Therapist assistant serves as an apprentice of a Physical Therapist. Their work is mainly to help patients who are undergoing recovery treatment because of certain sicknesses or injuries. They are the ones who are directing care for patients inside a hospital or a facility. They also treat patients who need a massage by giving them the proper exercise and recording and reporting everything that a patient does in a day. This will serve as a basis to determine their improvement.
A PTA (physical therapist assistant) helps a physical therapist carry out a treatment or rehabilitation program. Outpatient PTAs provide patients with physical therapy support services in a private space, clinic, or other facilities. Their responsibilities often involve setting up equipment to be used by patients, documenting patient progress, and cleaning the therapy area between appointments. PTA duties include assisting patients to do exercises, warm-ups, stretching, using equipment, and other movements prescribed by physical therapists during appointments.
Licensed physical therapist assistants and outpatient physical therapist assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant | Outpatient Physical Therapist Assistant | |
| Average salary | $53,673 | $54,009 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $71,000 | Between $40,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a licensed physical therapist assistant and an outpatient physical therapist assistant in terms of educational background:
| Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant | Outpatient Physical Therapist Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 81% | Associate Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Physical Therapy | Physical Therapy |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between licensed physical therapist assistants' and outpatient physical therapist assistants' demographics:
| Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant | Outpatient Physical Therapist Assistant | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.3% Female, 67.8% | Male, 26.7% Female, 73.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 9.3% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 9.3% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |