The average salary for a physical therapy assistant in California is around $83,110 per year.
Avg Salary
Physical therapy assistants earn an average yearly salary of $83,110.
Wages typically start from $59,500 and go up to $102,800.
2% above national average Updated in 2025
Physical therapy assistant earnings by seniority
Top-level physical therapy assistant earnings begin at:
$49.42 per hour
$102,800 per year
Senior-level physical therapy assistant earnings begin at:
$45.64 per hour
$94,940 per year
Mid-level physical therapy assistant earnings begin at:
$39.96 per hour
$83,110 per year
Junior-level physical therapy assistant earnings begin at:
$36.49 per hour
$75,900 per year
Starting level physical therapy assistant earnings begin at:
$28.61 per hour
$59,500 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Physical therapy assistant salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $83,110 |
| Massachusetts | $79,460 |
| New Jersey | $78,440 |
| Texas | $78,000 |
| Maryland | $77,670 |
| Alaska | $77,640 |
| Connecticut | $75,880 |
| Nevada | $75,520 |
| Delaware | $74,610 |
| Virginia | $73,760 |
| Oregon | $73,180 |
| Georgia | $72,800 |
| Florida | $72,530 |
| Vermont | $71,600 |
| New Hampshire | $71,440 |
| South Carolina | $70,500 |
| Rhode Island | $68,640 |
| North Carolina | $67,540 |
| Hawaii | $67,510 |
| Minnesota | $66,770 |
| Washington | $66,450 |
| Maine | $66,250 |
| Louisiana | $65,370 |
| Indiana | $65,280 |
| Illinois | $65,240 |
| Colorado | $64,810 |
| Arizona | $64,650 |
| Arkansas | $64,520 |
| Kansas | $64,500 |
| New York | $64,100 |
| Wisconsin | $64,080 |
| Ohio | $63,820 |
| Missouri | $63,770 |
| Wyoming | $63,550 |
| North Dakota | $63,520 |
| District of Columbia | $63,400 |
| Montana | $62,650 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,580 |
| Tennessee | $62,500 |
| New Mexico | $62,280 |
| Utah | $61,980 |
| Mississippi | $61,770 |
| Michigan | $61,670 |
| Kentucky | $61,480 |
| Alabama | $61,430 |
| Nebraska | $61,370 |
| Iowa | $61,030 |
| Idaho | $61,020 |
| West Virginia | $60,430 |
| Oklahoma | $59,480 |
| South Dakota | $49,310 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,080 |
How do physical therapy assistant salaries compare to similar careers?
Physical therapy assistants earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than respiratory therapists but more than neurodiagnostic technologists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Respiratory therapist salary | $105K |
| Nurse educator salary | $82K |
| Cardiovascular technologist salary | $78K |
| Orthotist salary | $92K |
| Midwife salary | $76K |
| Physical therapy assistant salary | $83K |
| Surgical technologist salary | $81K |
| Licensed practical nurse salary | $80K |
| Paramedic salary | $75K |
| Neurodiagnostic technologist salary | $60K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)