Physical Therapist Assistants
Physical Therapist Assistants (SOC 31-2021) earn a median $68,380 a year ($32.88 an hour) in the United States, with 112,430 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What physical therapist assistants do
Physical therapist assistants assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. The SOC adds that, in accordance with state laws, they may help develop treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments to fit patient status within the plan a physical therapist established. They instruct, motivate, safeguard and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities, and secure patients into or onto therapy equipment. They administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, and heat, light, sound or electrical treatments such as ultrasound. They teach proper body mechanics and ways to improve functional mobility, and transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them as positioning requires. They watch patients during treatment to compile data on their responses and progress, document notes, and give the physical therapist the results in person or in progress notes. About 84 percent of respondents report an associate degree. Names listed alongside it include licensed physical therapist assistant, home health PTA, outpatient PTA and nursing facility PTA.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report an associate degree as the typical level of education for this occupation (84 percent).
Also called: Certified Physical Therapist Assistant (CPTA), Home Care Physical Therapy Assistant, Home Health Physical Therapist Assistant, Home Health Physical Therapy Assistant (Home Health PTA), Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (LPTA).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $22.96 | $28.76 | $32.88 | $37.83 | $43.04 | $33.04 | 112,430 |
| Annual | $47,750 | $59,820 | $68,380 | $78,680 | $89,510 | $68,730 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where physical therapist assistants earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $28.61 | $36.49 | $39.96 | $45.64 | $49.42 | $39.94 | 9,400 | 0.52 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $59,500 | $75,900 | $83,110 | $94,940 | $102,800 | $83,080 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $29.82 | $32.24 | $38.20 | $39.25 | $42.44 | $36.71 | 2,640 | 0.73 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $62,030 | $67,060 | $79,460 | $81,640 | $88,280 | $76,350 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $30.11 | $35.05 | $37.71 | $40.00 | $43.31 | $37.03 | 1,810 | 0.42 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $62,620 | $72,900 | $78,440 | $83,200 | $90,090 | $77,020 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $21.11 | $30.22 | $37.50 | $41.98 | $47.91 | $36.09 | 10,510 | 0.75 | 1.03 |
| Annual | $43,900 | $62,870 | $78,000 | $87,330 | $99,640 | $75,060 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $18.88 | $29.38 | $37.34 | $40.42 | $44.02 | $35.09 | 1,430 | 0.52 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $39,260 | $61,120 | $77,670 | $84,080 | $91,570 | $73,000 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $21.11 | $30.22 | $37.50 | $41.98 | $47.91 | $36.09 | 10,510 | 0.75 | 1.03 |
| Annual | $43,900 | $62,870 | $78,000 | $87,330 | $99,640 | $75,060 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $28.20 | $30.35 | $34.87 | $36.26 | $38.98 | $34.19 | 9,870 | 0.99 | 1.37 |
| Annual | $58,650 | $63,120 | $72,530 | $75,420 | $81,080 | $71,110 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $28.61 | $36.49 | $39.96 | $45.64 | $49.42 | $39.94 | 9,400 | 0.52 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $59,500 | $75,900 | $83,110 | $94,940 | $102,800 | $83,080 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $24.65 | $28.63 | $30.68 | $36.35 | $40.45 | $32.34 | 7,040 | 1.27 | 1.75 |
| Annual | $51,280 | $59,550 | $63,820 | $75,600 | $84,130 | $67,260 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $20.00 | $28.56 | $31.37 | $35.71 | $39.37 | $31.64 | 4,890 | 0.80 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $41,600 | $59,410 | $65,240 | $74,280 | $81,890 | $65,810 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $33.31 | $39.41 | $46.73 | $50.39 | $57.12 | $45.53 | 400 | 0.35 | 0.49 |
| Annual | $69,290 | $81,970 | $97,190 | $104,820 | $118,810 | $94,690 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $32.02 | $39.32 | $46.12 | $48.71 | $56.18 | $45.00 | 1,040 | 0.44 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $66,600 | $81,790 | $95,920 | $101,310 | $116,850 | $93,600 | ||||
| Spartanburg, SC | Hourly | $27.22 | $31.66 | $42.34 | $42.34 | $42.51 | $38.21 | 160 | 0.98 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $56,620 | $65,850 | $88,070 | $88,070 | $88,420 | $79,480 | ||||
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | Hourly | $30.74 | $40.12 | $41.99 | $47.48 | $54.14 | $42.80 | 60 | 0.63 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $63,940 | $83,440 | $87,330 | $98,750 | $112,610 | $89,020 | ||||
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | Hourly | $31.45 | $36.16 | $41.97 | $49.09 | $52.54 | $41.75 | 90 | 0.44 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $65,420 | $75,220 | $87,300 | $102,110 | $109,270 | $86,840 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $28.71 | $37.32 | $39.49 | $43.24 | $48.59 | $39.27 | 3,730 | 0.59 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $59,710 | $77,620 | $82,140 | $89,940 | $101,060 | $81,680 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $20.00 | $29.77 | $34.73 | $36.47 | $39.85 | $32.30 | 3,520 | 0.78 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $41,600 | $61,930 | $72,230 | $75,870 | $82,880 | $67,180 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $29.69 | $31.59 | $34.87 | $35.01 | $38.27 | $35.49 | 3,420 | 1.21 | 1.68 |
| Annual | $61,740 | $65,710 | $72,530 | $72,830 | $79,600 | $73,810 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $21.76 | $32.02 | $36.36 | $40.00 | $43.04 | $35.25 | 3,220 | 0.34 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $45,250 | $66,600 | $75,620 | $83,200 | $89,510 | $73,320 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $20.42 | $29.09 | $37.15 | $41.32 | $48.70 | $35.51 | 2,210 | 0.67 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $42,480 | $60,510 | $77,280 | $85,940 | $101,290 | $73,870 | ||||
Top industries employing physical therapist assistants
Offices of Other Health Practitioners employ 45.2% of physical therapist assistants nationally (50,830 jobs) at a median $62,990 a year ($30.29 an hour), followed by General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (16.5%) and Home Health Care Services (12.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners NAICS 621300 | 50,830 | 45.2% | $62,990 | $30.29 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 18,520 | 16.5% | $66,850 | $32.14 |
| Home Health Care Services NAICS 621600 | 14,030 | 12.5% | $80,050 | $38.49 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) NAICS 623100 | 11,820 | 10.5% | $77,440 | $37.23 |
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 6,570 | 5.8% | $62,970 | $30.28 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (112,430). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $61,180 for physical therapist assistants in May 2021 and $68,380 in May 2025, with employment of 93,660 and 112,430.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $61,180 | $29.42 | 93,660 |
| May 2022 | $62,770 | $30.18 | 97,740 |
| May 2023 | $64,080 | $30.81 | 104,000 |
| May 2024 | $65,510 | $31.50 | 108,010 |
| May 2025 | $68,380 | $32.88 | 112,430 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $39.96 | $83,110 | $59,500 | $102,800 | 9,400 | 0.52 | 0.71 |
| 2 | Massachusetts profile | $38.20 | $79,460 | $62,030 | $88,280 | 2,640 | 0.73 | 1.00 |
| 3 | New Jersey profile | $37.71 | $78,440 | $62,620 | $90,090 | 1,810 | 0.42 | 0.58 |
| 4 | Texas profile | $37.50 | $78,000 | $43,900 | $99,640 | 10,510 | 0.75 | 1.03 |
| 5 | Maryland profile | $37.34 | $77,670 | $39,260 | $91,570 | 1,430 | 0.52 | 0.72 |
| 6 | Alaska profile | $37.33 | $77,640 | $65,640 | $87,850 | 110 | 0.33 | 0.45 |
| 7 | Connecticut profile | $36.48 | $75,880 | $62,070 | $82,870 | 980 | 0.58 | 0.80 |
| 8 | Nevada profile | $36.31 | $75,520 | $49,140 | $87,930 | 560 | 0.36 | 0.50 |
| 9 | Delaware profile | $35.87 | $74,610 | $51,750 | $83,510 | 340 | 0.71 | 0.98 |
| 10 | Virginia profile | $35.46 | $73,760 | $54,170 | $93,600 | 3,370 | 0.82 | 1.13 |
| 11 | Oregon profile | $35.19 | $73,180 | $56,620 | $89,480 | 890 | 0.45 | 0.63 |
| 12 | Georgia profile | $35.00 | $72,800 | $43,400 | $89,600 | 2,620 | 0.54 | 0.74 |
| 13 | Florida profile | $34.87 | $72,530 | $58,650 | $81,080 | 9,870 | 0.99 | 1.37 |
| 14 | Vermont profile | $34.42 | $71,600 | $60,580 | $83,250 | 100 | 0.33 | 0.46 |
| 15 | New Hampshire profile | $34.35 | $71,440 | $59,540 | $80,940 | 500 | 0.74 | 1.02 |
| 16 | South Carolina profile | $33.90 | $70,500 | $47,510 | $88,070 | 1,870 | 0.81 | 1.12 |
| 17 | Rhode Island profile | $33.00 | $68,640 | $58,380 | $76,990 | 420 | 0.83 | 1.15 |
| 18 | North Carolina profile | $32.47 | $67,540 | $56,100 | $80,850 | 3,280 | 0.66 | 0.92 |
| 19 | Hawaii profile | $32.46 | $67,510 | $49,920 | $74,770 | 250 | 0.40 | 0.56 |
| 20 | Minnesota profile | $32.10 | $66,770 | $58,010 | $77,420 | 1,230 | 0.42 | 0.58 |
| 21 | Washington profile | $31.95 | $66,450 | $36,610 | $93,140 | 2,150 | 0.60 | 0.84 |
| 22 | Maine profile | $31.85 | $66,250 | $53,440 | $80,530 | 410 | 0.64 | 0.88 |
| 23 | Louisiana profile | $31.43 | $65,370 | $24,360 | $81,520 | 1,670 | 0.86 | 1.19 |
| 24 | Indiana profile | $31.39 | $65,280 | $46,410 | $80,060 | 2,830 | 0.89 | 1.22 |
| 25 | Illinois profile | $31.37 | $65,240 | $41,600 | $81,890 | 4,890 | 0.80 | 1.11 |
| 26 | Colorado profile | $31.16 | $64,810 | $48,580 | $89,550 | 1,350 | 0.47 | 0.65 |
| 27 | Arizona profile | $31.08 | $64,650 | $36,160 | $79,570 | 2,010 | 0.62 | 0.86 |
| 28 | Arkansas profile | $31.02 | $64,520 | $31,540 | $85,280 | 1,620 | 1.25 | 1.72 |
| 29 | Kansas profile | $31.01 | $64,500 | $52,520 | $79,550 | 1,300 | 0.91 | 1.25 |
| 30 | New York profile | $30.82 | $64,100 | $46,350 | $81,000 | 3,620 | 0.37 | 0.52 |
| 31 | Wisconsin profile | $30.81 | $64,080 | $51,960 | $77,440 | 1,650 | 0.56 | 0.78 |
| 32 | Ohio profile | $30.68 | $63,820 | $51,280 | $84,130 | 7,040 | 1.27 | 1.75 |
| 33 | Missouri profile | $30.66 | $63,770 | $50,460 | $79,000 | 2,490 | 0.85 | 1.18 |
| 34 | Wyoming profile | $30.56 | $63,550 | $48,180 | $79,320 | 240 | 0.84 | 1.17 |
| 35 | North Dakota profile | $30.54 | $63,520 | $30,480 | $77,600 | 120 | 0.27 | 0.38 |
| 36 | District of Columbia profile | $30.48 | $63,400 | $45,750 | $82,250 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.08 |
| 37 | Montana profile | $30.12 | $62,650 | $52,310 | $77,990 | 250 | 0.48 | 0.67 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania profile | $30.09 | $62,580 | $49,610 | $78,010 | 4,270 | 0.71 | 0.97 |
| 39 | Tennessee profile | $30.05 | $62,500 | $48,010 | $80,800 | 3,390 | 1.03 | 1.43 |
| 40 | New Mexico profile | $29.94 | $62,280 | $30,470 | $85,040 | 700 | 0.81 | 1.11 |
| 41 | Utah profile | $29.80 | $61,980 | $34,190 | $84,000 | 970 | 0.56 | 0.77 |
| 42 | Mississippi profile | $29.70 | $61,770 | $51,720 | $78,830 | 1,150 | 0.99 | 1.37 |
| 43 | Michigan profile | $29.65 | $61,670 | $35,700 | $78,600 | 4,520 | 1.03 | 1.42 |
| 44 | Kentucky profile | $29.56 | $61,480 | $27,870 | $79,500 | 2,580 | 1.29 | 1.78 |
| 45 | Alabama profile | $29.53 | $61,430 | $49,340 | $79,060 | 2,700 | 1.28 | 1.77 |
| 46 | Nebraska profile | $29.50 | $61,370 | $48,100 | $77,690 | 980 | 0.96 | 1.33 |
| 47 | Iowa profile | $29.34 | $61,030 | $45,760 | $74,950 | 1,060 | 0.68 | 0.94 |
| 48 | Idaho profile | $29.34 | $61,020 | $37,780 | $75,050 | 560 | 0.65 | 0.90 |
| 49 | West Virginia profile | $29.05 | $60,430 | $45,510 | $79,160 | 980 | 1.39 | 1.93 |
| 50 | Oklahoma profile | $28.60 | $59,480 | $24,960 | $79,860 | 2,380 | 1.39 | 1.93 |
| 51 | South Dakota profile | $23.71 | $49,310 | $40,120 | $63,930 | 300 | 0.65 | 0.89 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (31-2020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Support Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 31-2021 Physical Therapist Assistants.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 31-2021, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 31-2021.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.