How much does a physical therapist assistant make?

The average physical therapist assistant salary in the United States is $53,035. Physical therapist assistant salaries typically range between $40,000 and $70,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for physical therapist assistants is $25.5 per hour. Physical therapist assistant salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Physical therapist assistants earn the highest average salary in Alaska.

Physical therapist assistant salary

Q: What state pays Physical Therapist Assistants the most?

Alaska pays Physical Therapist Assistants the most in the United States, with an average salary of $62,641 per year, or $30.12 per hour.

Q: How do I know if I'm being paid fairly as a physical therapist assistant?

You know if you are being paid fairly as a physical therapist assistant if your pay is close to the average pay for the state you live in. For example, if you live in Maine you should be paid close to $61,074 per year.

Q: Do PTAs get paid hourly or salary?

Most PTAs are paid salaries; however, some may earn an hourly rate. The average salary for a physical therapy assistant (PTA) is $58,790 a year (hourly pay: $28.26). The range in earning for a PTA can vary significantly based on the location of the position.

Q: How much do PTAs make starting out?

PTAs make an average of $54,681 a year starting out. The range, however, starts from $34,000 a year up to $87,000 a year. Factors such as location and company type impact how much a physical therapist assistant (PTA) can earn.

Q: How much does a PTA make compared to a PT?

A PTA makes around $20,000 to $30,000 a year less than a PT. This makes sense, considering becoming a physical therapist (PT) requires more formal education and training compared to a physical therapist assistant (PTA). The salary difference is also reflected in the scope of their job responsibilities.

Q: Where do PTAs get paid the most?

PTAs get paid the most who work in-home health care services. Physical therapy assistants (PTA) who provide home-based care can build a strong client base will potentially earn the most. Another factor that impacts earning potential for PTAs is where they work.

Average physical therapist assistant salary

$53,035

$25.5 hourly rate

Entry-level physical therapist assistant salary

$40,000 yearly salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Understanding the Salary of a Physical Therapist Assistant

The role of a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) plays a crucial part in patient rehabilitation. As of October 2025, the average salary for PTAs in the United States is $53,035 per year, or $26 per hour. Salaries can fluctuate based on factors such as geographic location, workplace setting, and years of experience.

For instance, states like California and Texas often offer higher salaries due to the demand for healthcare services in those regions. Additionally, PTAs with advanced certifications or specializations may command higher wages. Experience also plays a significant role; entry-level PTAs typically earn less than those with several years in the field.

Where to Find Job Opportunities

Job seekers can explore various platforms, including Zippia, to find listings tailored to their skills and preferences. The demand for PTAs continues to grow, driven by an aging population and an increased focus on physical rehabilitation. As a PTA, you can expect not only competitive pay but also a fulfilling career helping others regain their mobility and quality of life.

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Physical therapist assistant salary by:

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Where can a Physical Therapist Assistant earn more?

Compare salary by location

80k

60k

40k

20k

Columbus, OH$61,652

Philadelphia, PA$50,175

Compare salary by company

90k

70k

50k

30k

Children's Hospital Colorado$72,003

Sparrow Health System$60,161

Physical therapist assistant salaries by experience level

Physical therapist assistant salary estimates from across the web

Based on the latest salary information compiled by Zippia, Salary.com, Indeed, Glassdoor, Ziprecruiter, Comparably and CareerExplorer, the average salary for a physical therapist assistant typically falls between $34,369 and $80,240.

zippia

$53,035yearly

glassdoor[1]

$80,240yearly

indeed[2]

$34,369yearly

comparably[3]

$75,228yearly

Salary.com[4]

$65,796yearly

ZipRecruiter[5]

$66,679yearly

CareerExplorer[6]

$61,180yearly

Average physical therapist assistant salary by state

The highest-paying states for physical therapist assistants are Alaska, Maine, and California. The lowest average physical therapist assistant salary states are Hawaii, Louisiana, and Ohio.

State view
County view

Average salary:

Highest paying states for physical therapist assistants

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	Nebraska	$58,328	$28.04
2	New Hampshire	$59,030	$28.38
3	North Dakota	$58,564	$28.16
4	Maine	$61,074	$29.36
5	Vermont	$59,316	$28.52
6	Rhode Island	$59,489	$28.60
7	Idaho	$58,086	$27.93
8	West Virginia	$55,071	$26.48
9	Nevada	$57,401	$27.60
10	Delaware	$58,140	$27.95
11	South Dakota	$58,249	$28.00
12	Washington	$58,103	$27.93
13	Utah	$58,935	$28.33
14	Massachusetts	$60,084	$28.89
15	Mississippi	$58,183	$27.97
16	Connecticut	$59,312	$28.52
17	California	$60,328	$29.00
18	Georgia	$55,945	$26.90
19	Alaska	$62,641	$30.12
20	New Jersey	$56,850	$27.33
21	Kansas	$52,305	$25.15
22	Oregon	$57,157	$27.48
23	Iowa	$52,966	$25.46
24	Tennessee	$53,130	$25.54
25	Colorado	$56,307	$27.07
26	Kentucky	$54,383	$26.15
27	Maryland	$56,287	$27.06
28	Indiana	$50,934	$24.49
29	Wyoming	$53,348	$25.65
30	New York	$54,583	$26.24
31	North Carolina	$51,983	$24.99
32	Illinois	$52,274	$25.13
33	District of Columbia	$57,240	$27.52
34	Wisconsin	$51,097	$24.57
35	Texas	$49,137	$23.62
36	Minnesota	$53,514	$25.73
37	Michigan	$50,568	$24.31
38	Pennsylvania	$49,858	$23.97
39	Arkansas	$49,561	$23.83
40	Alabama	$49,858	$23.97
41	Missouri	$46,307	$22.26
42	New Mexico	$50,433	$24.25
43	Virginia	$50,713	$24.38
44	Oklahoma	$40,644	$19.54
45	Montana	$40,564	$19.50
46	Arizona	$50,191	$24.13
47	Florida	$50,283	$24.17
48	Ohio	$41,351	$19.88
49	Louisiana	$45,616	$21.93
50	Hawaii	$45,642	$21.94
51	South Carolina	$40,700	$19.57

Top physical therapist assistant jobs near you

Highest paying cities for physical therapist assistants

The highest-paying cities for physical therapist assistants are San Francisco, CA, Portland, ME, and Springfield, MA.

Rank	City	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	San Francisco, CA	$61,652	$29.64
2	Portland, ME	$61,358	$29.50
3	Springfield, MA	$60,119	$28.90
4	Vancouver, WA	$58,711	$28.23
5	Omaha, NE	$58,359	$28.06
6	Portland, OR	$56,989	$27.40
7	Lakewood, NJ	$56,863	$27.34
8	Pueblo, CO	$56,483	$27.16
9	Baltimore, MD	$56,467	$27.15
10	Atlanta, GA	$55,958	$26.90
11	New York, NY	$54,560	$26.23
12	Cleveland, TN	$53,190	$25.57
13	Chicago, IL	$52,299	$25.14
14	High Point, NC	$51,960	$24.98
15	Arlington, VA	$51,123	$24.58
16	Columbus, IN	$50,989	$24.51
17	Tallahassee, FL	$50,666	$24.36
18	Albuquerque, NM	$50,606	$24.33
19	Phoenix, AZ	$50,245	$24.16
20	Philadelphia, PA	$50,175	$24.12

Physical Therapist Assistants are the most in-demand in these five cities:

Physical therapist assistant salary details

A physical therapist assistant's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $70,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average physical therapist assistant salary graph, trends, and summary

What is a physical therapist assistant's salary?

Percentile	Annual salary	Monthly salary	Hourly rate
90th Percentile	$70,000	$5,833	$34
75th Percentile	$61,000	$5,083	$29
Average	$53,035	$4,420	$26
25th Percentile	$45,000	$3,750	$22
10th Percentile	$40,000	$3,333	$19

Highest paying physical therapist assistant jobs

The highest paying types of physical therapist assistants are physical therapist, certified physical therapist assistant, and outpatient physical therapist assistant.

Job title	Annual salary	Monthly salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
Rehab Technician	$28,505	$2,375	$13.70	27,969
Rehabilitation Aide	$28,284	$2,357	$13.60	42,701
Physical Therapy Technician	$35,161	$2,930	$16.90	66,670
Physical Therapist	$73,070	$6,089	$35.13	86,697

Top companies hiring physical therapist assistants now:

Which companies pay physical therapist assistants the most?

Physical therapist assistant salaries at Children's Hospital Colorado and Brigham and Women's Hospital are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average physical therapist assistant salary at companies like Massachusetts General Hospital and UMass Memorial Health are highly competitive.

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate
1	Children's Hospital Colorado	$72,003	$34.62
2	Brigham and Women's Hospital	$66,863	$32.15
3	Massachusetts General Hospital	$66,609	$32.02
4	UMass Memorial Health	$65,024	$31.26
5	Mount Sinai Health System	$64,826	$31.17
6	HopeWest	$64,323	$30.92
7	Rady Children's Hospital And Health Center	$64,043	$30.79
8	Amedisys	$63,142	$30.36
9	Favorite Healthcare Staffing	$63,042	$30.31
10	GradyHealth	$62,699	$30.14
11	NHC	$62,122	$29.87
12	Health Alliance	$62,104	$29.86
13	Novant Health	$61,980	$29.80
14	Florida State University	$61,852	$29.74
15	Residential Home Health	$61,257	$29.45
16	Encompass Health	$60,770	$29.22
17	Mission Regional Medical Center	$60,354	$29.02
18	Regional Medical Center- Orangeburg	$60,342	$29.01
19	Sturdy Memorial Hospital	$60,208	$28.95
20	Sparrow Health System	$60,161	$28.92

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$53,000$52,600$52,200$51,800$51,400$51,000

MaleFemale

Physical therapist assistant salary trends

The average physical therapist assistant salary has risen by $7,746 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average physical therapist assistant earned $45,289 annually, but today, they earn $53,035 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for physical therapist assistants over the last decade.

Compare physical therapist assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average physical therapist assistant salary over time

Compare physical therapist assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Physical therapist assistant salary by year

Year	Avg. salary	Hourly rate	% Change
2025	$53,000	$25.50	+1.6%
2024	$52,200	$25.08	+1.3%
2023	$51,500	$24.76	+1.1%
2022	$51,000	$24.50	+1.4%
2021	$50,200	$24.15	+2.5%

Recently added physical therapist assistant salaries

Company	Job	Location	Date added	Salary
Select Medical Corporation	Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)	Henderson, NV	06/30/2025	$58,436
Healthsouth	Physical Therapist Asst. (PRN)	Austin, TX	06/29/2025	$83,480
Healthsouth	Physical Therapist Assistant	Danbury, CT	06/29/2025	$83,480
Healthsouth	Physical Therapist Assistant	Atlanta, GA	06/29/2025	$56,349
Healthsouth	Physical Therapist Asst.	Hot Springs, AR	06/29/2025	$83,480
Healthsouth	Physical Therapist Assistant	Parkersburg, WV	06/29/2025	$68,871
Encompass Health Corp	Physical Therapist Asst. Pool	Winston-Salem, NC	06/29/2025	$85,567
Healthsouth	Physical Therapist Assistant	Middletown, DE	06/29/2025	$88,698
Healthsouth	Physical Therapist Asst. (PRN)	Richmond, VA	06/29/2025	$83,480
Healthsouth	Physical Therapist Assistant PRN	Jacksonville, FL	06/29/2025	$75,132