Physical therapy aide vs physical therapist

The differences between physical therapy aides and physical therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a physical therapist has an average salary of $73,070, which is higher than the $31,160 average annual salary of a physical therapy aide.

The top three skills for a physical therapy aide include patients, patient care and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a physical therapist are patients, rehabilitation, and home health.

Physical therapy aide vs physical therapist overview

	Physical Therapy Aide	Physical Therapist
Yearly salary	$31,160	$73,070
Hourly rate	$14.98	$35.13
Growth rate	24%	17%
Number of jobs	99,485	86,697
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 68%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age	39	41
Years of experience	-	-

What does a physical therapy aide do?

Physical therapy aides are employed under physical therapists' direction. They typically perform non-medical tasks, including helping with patient intake, setting up treatment rooms, and assisting with patient transportation to another health care facility. They are also responsible for documenting the responses and progress of patients and communicating with hospital personnel and physicians' offices. There are several skills and competencies to become a successful physical therapy aide, which include active listening skills, attention to detail, and compassion for patients.

What does a physical therapist do?

Physical therapists are health care professionals who diagnose and treat patients with health conditions and limited ability to move and perform daily activities. They help in restoring physical function and mobility and teach how to properly use therapeutic exercise techniques. They also help promote overall wellness and encourage healthier and more active lifestyles. They design a recovery plan unique for every patient, provide treatment and therapy to help improve and manage their condition. They provide care to all kinds of individuals, from newborns to people at the end of their life.

Physical therapy aide vs physical therapist salary

Physical therapy aides and physical therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Physical Therapy Aide	Physical Therapist
Average salary	$31,160	$73,070
Salary range	Between $8,000 And $118,000	Between $56,000 And $94,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	New York	California
Best paying company	Aya Healthcare	Parkway
Best paying industry	Health Care	Professional

Differences between physical therapy aide and physical therapist education

There are a few differences between a physical therapy aide and a physical therapist in terms of educational background:

	Physical Therapy Aide	Physical Therapist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 68%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common major	Kinesiology	Physical Therapy
Most common college	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor	Duke University

Physical therapy aide vs physical therapist demographics

Here are the differences between physical therapy aides' and physical therapists' demographics:

	Physical Therapy Aide	Physical Therapist
Average age	39	41
Gender ratio	Male, 35.6% Female, 64.4%	Male, 36.3% Female, 63.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 9.3% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	7%	12%

Differences between physical therapy aide and physical therapist duties and responsibilities

Physical therapy aide example responsibilities.

Manage flexible schedule at various company facilities categorize as ILF, ALF, and SNF.
Administer ultrasound and electrical stimulation and start patients with their prescribe exercise programs.
Educate patients on supportive devices, such as braces, splints, and slings.
Earn repeated appreciations from supervisor, co-workers, and patients for providing the best quality care with compassion.
Work closely with PT's/PTA's; OT/COTA's and SLP in providing quality hands on care to rehab patients.
Create and maintain patient charts and paperwork including exercise, insurance authorization, insurance, HIPAA, and patient information.

Physical therapist example responsibilities.

Conduct in-services and train colleagues in effective techniques for safely managing the CVA patient.
Achieve high level of patients satisfaction due to sound clinical management, quality of care and compassion.
Perform physical therapy evaluation and treatment of orthopedic patients and supervise PTAs.
Progress patients' functional mobility during treatment sessions by modifying task, intensity, and adaptive equipment utilize.
Motivate patients to participate in treatment sessions by educating them on the benefits of early mobility following cardiac and thoracic surgery.
Experience include IFSP and IEP writing and implementation

Physical therapy aide vs physical therapist skills

Common physical therapy aide skills

Patients, 42%
Patient Care, 10%
Rehabilitation, 8%
Customer Service, 5%
Ultrasound, 5%
Direct Supervision, 4%

Common physical therapist skills

Patients, 30%
Rehabilitation, 15%
Home Health, 13%
Quality Care, 5%
Physical Therapy, 3%
Treatment Programs, 3%

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Healthcare Support Industry
Physical Therapy Aide
Physical Therapy Aide vs Physical Therapist

Updated January 8, 2025

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