The average salary for a physical therapist assistant in the United States is around $17,775 per year.
Avg Salary
Physical therapist assistants earn an average yearly salary of $17,775.
Wages typically start from $11,681 and go up to $27,048.
72% below national average Updated in 2023
Physical therapist assistant earnings by seniority
Top-level physical therapist assistant earnings begin at:
$13.00 per hour
$27,048 per year
Senior-level physical therapist assistant earnings begin at:
$10.66 per hour
$22,170 per year
Mid-level physical therapist assistant earnings begin at:
$8.55 per hour
$17,775 per year
Junior-level physical therapist assistant earnings begin at:
$6.85 per hour
$14,251 per year
Starting level physical therapist assistant earnings begin at:
$5.62 per hour
$11,681 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Physical therapist assistant salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $76,940 |
| New Jersey | $73,750 |
| Texas | $71,950 |
| Delaware | $71,730 |
| Rhode Island | $68,320 |
| Connecticut | $66,800 |
| Massachusetts | $64,980 |
| Florida | $62,270 |
| Illinois | $61,740 |
| Tennessee | $61,690 |
| Hawaii | $61,560 |
| New Hampshire | $61,560 |
| Ohio | $61,560 |
| Oregon | $61,460 |
| New York | $61,290 |
| Colorado | $61,280 |
| Vermont | $61,230 |
| Maryland | $61,160 |
| Utah | $61,150 |
| Washington | $61,120 |
| Alabama | $61,040 |
| Georgia | $61,040 |
| Arkansas | $60,960 |
| South Carolina | $60,960 |
| Virginia | $60,730 |
| North Carolina | $60,720 |
| Indiana | $60,620 |
| Alaska | $60,360 |
| Minnesota | $60,360 |
| Montana | $60,110 |
| Louisiana | $59,930 |
| Oklahoma | $59,930 |
| Kansas | $59,820 |
| New Mexico | $59,590 |
| Wisconsin | $59,200 |
| Arizona | $58,910 |
| Missouri | $58,050 |
| Mississippi | $57,850 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,300 |
| Kentucky | $55,580 |
| Maine | $51,330 |
| Nebraska | $50,290 |
| Michigan | $49,410 |
| Wyoming | $49,380 |
| Nevada | $49,250 |
| Iowa | $49,240 |
| West Virginia | $49,180 |
| North Dakota | $48,820 |
| District of Columbia | $48,480 |
| South Dakota | $47,980 |
| Idaho | $47,780 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,080 |
How do physical therapist assistant salaries compare to similar careers?
Physical therapist assistants earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than ophthalmic medical technicians but more than surgical assistants.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Ophthalmic medical technician salary | $21K |
| Medical assistant salary | $20K |
| Veterinary technologist salary | $19K |
| Medical administrative assistant salary | $19K |
| Dental assistant salary | $18K |
| Physical therapist assistant salary | $18K |
| Medical transcriptionist salary | $18K |
| Pharmacy technician salary | $18K |
| Phlebotomist salary | $16K |
| Surgical assistant salary | $11K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)