SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 31-2021.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $47,750 | $3,979 | $918 | $22.96 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $59,820 | $4,985 | $1,150 | $28.76 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $68,380 | $5,698 | $1,315 | $32.88 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $78,680 | $6,557 | $1,513 | $37.83 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $89,510 | $7,459 | $1,721 | $43.04 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Physical Therapist Assistants is $68,380, which is 34% higher. Among the 17 occupations of the field Healthcare Support, it ranks number 2 by median pay. With 112,430 jobs, it makes up about 7.2 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Physical Therapist Assistants pay by state
The highest median pay was in California ($83,110), Massachusetts ($79,460) and New Jersey ($78,440). The lowest was in Puerto Rico ($29,710), South Dakota ($49,310) and Oklahoma ($59,480). The most jobs were in Texas (10,510), Florida (9,870) and California (9,400). The occupation is most concentrated in Oklahoma, where its share of all jobs is 1.9 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 9,400 | $83,110 | $83,080 | $39.96 |
| Massachusetts | 2,640 | $79,460 | $76,350 | $38.20 |
| New Jersey | 1,810 | $78,440 | $77,020 | $37.71 |
| Texas | 10,510 | $78,000 | $75,060 | $37.50 |
| Maryland | 1,430 | $77,670 | $73,000 | $37.34 |
| Alaska | 110 | $77,640 | $77,670 | $37.33 |
| Connecticut | 980 | $75,880 | $73,730 | $36.48 |
| Nevada | 560 | $75,520 | $72,960 | $36.31 |
| Delaware | 340 | $74,610 | $71,070 | $35.87 |
| Virginia | 3,370 | $73,760 | $72,710 | $35.46 |
| Oregon | 890 | $73,180 | $70,490 | $35.19 |
| Georgia | 2,620 | $72,800 | $68,580 | $35.00 |
| Florida | 9,870 | $72,530 | $71,110 | $34.87 |
| Vermont | 100 | $71,600 | $71,320 | $34.42 |
| New Hampshire | 500 | $71,440 | $72,140 | $34.35 |
| South Carolina | 1,870 | $70,500 | $68,260 | $33.90 |
| Rhode Island | 420 | $68,640 | $67,980 | $33.00 |
| North Carolina | 3,280 | $67,540 | $68,790 | $32.47 |
| Hawaii | 250 | $67,510 | $66,160 | $32.46 |
| Minnesota | 1,230 | $66,770 | $67,730 | $32.10 |
| Washington | 2,150 | $66,450 | $65,090 | $31.95 |
| Maine | 410 | $66,250 | $67,300 | $31.85 |
| Louisiana | 1,670 | $65,370 | $61,250 | $31.43 |
| Indiana | 2,830 | $65,280 | $65,470 | $31.39 |
| Illinois | 4,890 | $65,240 | $65,810 | $31.37 |
| Colorado | 1,350 | $64,810 | $67,520 | $31.16 |
| Arizona | 2,010 | $64,650 | $64,970 | $31.08 |
| Arkansas | 1,620 | $64,520 | $64,500 | $31.02 |
| Kansas | 1,300 | $64,500 | $66,320 | $31.01 |
| New York | 3,620 | $64,100 | $65,660 | $30.82 |
| Wisconsin | 1,650 | $64,080 | $65,480 | $30.81 |
| Ohio | 7,040 | $63,820 | $67,260 | $30.68 |
| Missouri | 2,490 | $63,770 | $65,190 | $30.66 |
| Wyoming | 240 | $63,550 | $65,820 | $30.56 |
| North Dakota | 120 | $63,520 | $60,490 | $30.54 |
| District of Columbia | 40 | $63,400 | $67,130 | $30.48 |
| Montana | 250 | $62,650 | $65,320 | $30.12 |
| Pennsylvania | 4,270 | $62,580 | $63,820 | $30.09 |
| Tennessee | 3,390 | $62,500 | $64,060 | $30.05 |
| New Mexico | 700 | $62,280 | $62,000 | $29.94 |
| Utah | 970 | $61,980 | $62,470 | $29.80 |
| Mississippi | 1,150 | $61,770 | $62,850 | $29.70 |
| Michigan | 4,520 | $61,670 | $60,260 | $29.65 |
| Kentucky | 2,580 | $61,480 | $60,490 | $29.56 |
| Alabama | 2,700 | $61,430 | $63,130 | $29.53 |
| Nebraska | 980 | $61,370 | $61,890 | $29.50 |
| Iowa | 1,060 | $61,030 | $60,220 | $29.34 |
| Idaho | 560 | $61,020 | $60,200 | $29.34 |
| West Virginia | 980 | $60,430 | $61,560 | $29.05 |
| Oklahoma | 2,380 | $59,480 | $57,990 | $28.60 |
| South Dakota | 300 | $49,310 | $52,170 | $23.71 |
| Puerto Rico | 830 | $29,710 | $35,620 | $14.28 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Occupational Therapy Assistants$72,300 a year
- Massage Therapists$58,450 a year
- Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$48,430 a year
- Dental Assistants$48,070 a year
Common questions
How much do Physical Therapist Assistants earn in the United States?
The median pay was $68,380 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $47,750 and the highest-paid 10% more than $89,510.
How many people work as Physical Therapist Assistants?
About 112,430 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.