Physical Therapy Assistant salary: how much does a physical therapy assistant make?
A physical therapy assistant in the US earns a median of $68,380 a year, about $32.88 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,750 and the top 10% earn over $89,510. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, California, has a median of $83,110.
Physical Therapy Assistant pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a physical therapy assistant make an hour?
The median physical therapy assistant earns $32.88 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $22.96 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43.04 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $47,750 | $22.96 |
| Lower 25% | $59,820 | $28.76 |
| Median (typical) | $68,380 | $32.88 |
| Upper 25% | $78,680 | $37.83 |
| Top 10% | $89,510 | $43.04 |
Physical Therapy Assistant salary by state
Median annual pay for physical therapy assistants by state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,430 | $29.53 |
| Alaska | $77,640 | $37.33 |
| Arizona | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Arkansas | $64,520 | $31.02 |
| California | $83,110 | $39.96 |
| Colorado | $64,810 | $31.16 |
| Connecticut | $75,880 | $36.48 |
| Delaware | $74,610 | $35.87 |
| District of Columbia | $63,400 | $30.48 |
| Florida | $72,530 | $34.87 |
| Georgia | $72,800 | $35.00 |
| Hawaii | $67,510 | $32.46 |
| Idaho | $61,020 | $29.34 |
| Illinois | $65,240 | $31.37 |
| Indiana | $65,280 | $31.38 |
| Iowa | $61,030 | $29.34 |
| Kansas | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| Kentucky | $61,480 | $29.56 |
| Louisiana | $65,370 | $31.43 |
| Maine | $66,250 | $31.85 |
| Maryland | $77,670 | $37.34 |
| Massachusetts | $79,460 | $38.20 |
| Michigan | $61,670 | $29.65 |
| Minnesota | $66,770 | $32.10 |
| Mississippi | $61,770 | $29.70 |
| Missouri | $63,770 | $30.66 |
| Montana | $62,650 | $30.12 |
| Nebraska | $61,370 | $29.50 |
| Nevada | $75,520 | $36.31 |
| New Hampshire | $71,440 | $34.35 |
| New Jersey | $78,440 | $37.71 |
| New Mexico | $62,280 | $29.94 |
| New York | $64,100 | $30.82 |
| North Carolina | $67,540 | $32.47 |
| North Dakota | $63,520 | $30.54 |
| Ohio | $63,820 | $30.68 |
| Oklahoma | $59,480 | $28.60 |
| Oregon | $73,180 | $35.18 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,580 | $30.09 |
| Rhode Island | $68,640 | $33.00 |
| South Carolina | $70,500 | $33.89 |
| South Dakota | $49,310 | $23.71 |
| Tennessee | $62,500 | $30.05 |
| Texas | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| Utah | $61,980 | $29.80 |
| Vermont | $71,600 | $34.42 |
| Virginia | $73,760 | $35.46 |
| Washington | $66,450 | $31.95 |
| West Virginia | $60,430 | $29.05 |
| Wisconsin | $64,080 | $30.81 |
| Wyoming | $63,550 | $30.55 |
Highest-paying states for physical therapy assistants
- California: $83,110 median
- Massachusetts: $79,460 median
- New Jersey: $78,440 median
- Texas: $78,000 median
- Maryland: $77,670 median
The lowest published medians are in South Dakota ($49,310), Oklahoma ($59,480), West Virginia ($60,430), Idaho ($61,020), Iowa ($61,030). The most physical therapy assistant jobs are in Texas (10,510 jobs), Florida (9,870 jobs), California (9,400 jobs), Ohio (7,040 jobs), Illinois (4,890 jobs).
How much does a physical therapy assistant make a month?
At the median salary of $68,380, a physical therapy assistant earns about $5,698 a month, $2,630 every two weeks or $1,315 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced physical therapy assistant pay
New physical therapy assistants typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,750 a year and the lowest 25% under $59,820. The top 25% earn over $78,680 and the top 10% over $89,510. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Physical Therapy Assistant salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Physical therapy assistant | $68,380 |
| Medical assistant | $45,690 |
| Surgical tech | $64,650 |
| Radiology tech | $80,110 |
| Ultrasound tech | $96,590 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 |
PT assistant salary
A PT assistant earns a median $68,380 a year, $32.88 an hour, BLS May 2025.
PTA salary
PTA is short for physical therapist assistant, a licensed role that needs an associate degree. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,750 and the top 10% over $89,510.
Physical therapy aide salary
A physical therapy aide is a different, unlicensed job (cleaning equipment, setting up treatment areas). BLS May 2025: median $35,240 a year ($16.94 an hour), bottom 10% under $25,360, top 10% over $47,780, 48,150 jobs.
Physical Therapy Assistant take-home pay by state (2026)
2026 federal brackets and standard deduction, Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% plus 0.9% above $200,000 ($250,000 joint), and each state's 2026 income tax. Local income taxes, state disability or paid-leave payroll taxes and other deductions are not included. Estimate only, not tax advice.
Common questions
How much does a physical therapy assistant make?
The US median is $68,380 a year ($32.88 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a physical therapy assistant make an hour?
The median is about $32.88 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $22.96 and the top 10% about $43.04 an hour.
Which state pays physical therapy assistants the most?
California has the highest median at $83,110, followed by Massachusetts ($79,460) and New Jersey ($78,440).
How much does a physical therapy assistant make a month?
At the US median of $68,380 a year, about $5,698 a month or $2,630 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level physical therapy assistant make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,750 a year and the lowest 25% under $59,820, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of physical therapy assistants make?
The top 10% earn over $89,510 a year; the top 25% earn over $78,680.
How much does a physical therapy assistant make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $83,110 in California, $78,000 in Texas, $72,530 in Florida, $64,100 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 31-2021, “Physical Therapist Assistants”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.