Physical therapist aides salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $25,360 | $12.19 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $35,240 | $16.94 |
| Mean (average) | $36,430 | $17.52 |
| 90th percentile | $47,780 | $22.97 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Physical therapist aides pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 50 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $27,290 | $21,160 | $33,770 | 750 | 1.15 |
| Alaska | $55,760 | $35,700 | $72,290 | 110 | 1.05 |
| Arizona | $35,260 | $31,510 | $44,630 | 1,340 | 1.34 |
| Arkansas | $29,450 | $24,810 | $47,650 | 160 | 0.4 |
| California | $38,330 | $34,690 | $60,200 | 7,330 | 1.3 |
| Colorado | $41,970 | $31,500 | $52,290 | 360 | 0.4 |
| Connecticut | $35,770 | $34,010 | $43,830 | 520 | 0.99 |
| Delaware | $34,060 | $31,200 | $42,750 | 300 | 2 |
| District of Columbia | $38,950 | $36,960 | $39,040 | 30 | 0.16 |
| Florida | $35,140 | $30,620 | $44,180 | 1,210 | 0.39 |
| Georgia | $30,550 | $22,080 | $38,680 | 1,200 | 0.79 |
| Hawaii | $33,810 | $31,050 | $46,480 | 60 | 0.33 |
| Idaho | $28,660 | $23,600 | $40,680 | 540 | 2.04 |
| Illinois | $36,650 | $31,200 | $48,360 | 680 | 0.36 |
| Indiana | $35,100 | $23,010 | $73,430 | 860 | 0.86 |
| Iowa | $29,120 | $21,840 | $43,760 | 390 | 0.81 |
| Kansas | $25,280 | $21,880 | $39,260 | 440 | 0.99 |
| Kentucky | $35,490 | $27,470 | $47,780 | 160 | 0.25 |
| Louisiana | $22,460 | $19,490 | $30,070 | 1,380 | 2.31 |
| Maine | $39,660 | $34,590 | $70,540 | 90 | 0.43 |
| Maryland | $34,780 | $31,200 | $39,330 | 830 | 0.97 |
| Massachusetts | $37,440 | $35,070 | $48,690 | 1,020 | 0.91 |
| Michigan | $29,350 | $27,070 | $38,300 | 1,810 | 1.33 |
| Minnesota | $42,330 | $37,510 | $48,190 | 150 | 0.16 |
| Mississippi | $27,370 | $23,450 | $36,880 | 270 | 0.74 |
| Missouri | $29,250 | $28,600 | $39,140 | 750 | 0.83 |
| Montana | $38,950 | $24,240 | $48,780 | 110 | 0.68 |
| Nebraska | $28,080 | $28,080 | $41,590 | 670 | 2.13 |
| Nevada | $31,970 | $27,550 | $40,090 | 900 | 1.88 |
| New Hampshire | $40,460 | $29,130 | $49,950 | 130 | 0.63 |
| New Jersey | $34,430 | $32,220 | $44,350 | 2,230 | 1.68 |
| New Mexico | $31,990 | $29,090 | $47,860 | 240 | 0.89 |
| New York | $35,380 | $32,610 | $51,460 | 4,950 | 1.65 |
| North Carolina | $34,760 | $28,920 | $72,890 | 1,050 | 0.68 |
| North Dakota | $37,680 | $29,900 | $56,430 | 120 | 0.89 |
| Ohio | $37,220 | $22,970 | $46,050 | 760 | 0.44 |
| Oklahoma | $27,630 | $21,550 | $35,990 | 370 | 0.69 |
| Oregon | $36,060 | $31,430 | $44,490 | 1,090 | 1.79 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,520 | $24,180 | $43,100 | 1,200 | 0.64 |
| Rhode Island | $31,200 | $31,200 | $43,480 | 280 | 1.83 |
| South Carolina | $33,280 | $22,830 | $45,290 | 370 | 0.52 |
| South Dakota | $31,330 | $24,010 | $44,770 | 70 | 0.53 |
| Tennessee | $30,320 | $21,220 | $42,830 | 710 | 0.7 |
| Texas | $31,590 | $22,520 | $46,710 | 5,710 | 1.31 |
| Utah | $29,150 | $23,010 | $36,220 | 1,130 | 2.11 |
| Virginia | $33,390 | $25,960 | $42,530 | 1,260 | 0.99 |
| Washington | $39,500 | $35,930 | $58,100 | 760 | 0.69 |
| West Virginia | $34,840 | $22,960 | $43,720 | 170 | 0.77 |
| Wisconsin | $36,820 | $28,080 | $46,520 | 840 | 0.93 |
| Wyoming | $30,470 | $29,730 | $37,080 | 240 | 2.78 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for physical therapist aides
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 6,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for physical therapist aides
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Rehabilitation Aide CIP 51.2604
- Physical Therapy Technician/Aide CIP 51.2605
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
- Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
- Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.
- Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
- Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist.
- Change linens, such as bed sheets and pillow cases.
- Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, or heat, light, sound, water, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
- Transport patients to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or providing standing support.
Technology skills
- Epic Systems (hot technology)
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Medical procedure coding software
- Patient record maintenance software
- Scheduling software
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Instructing, Time Management, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Physical Therapist Aide (PTA), Physical Therapy Aide (PTA), PT Attendant (Physical Therapy Attendant), PT Tech (Physical Therapist Technician), PT Tech (Physical Therapy Technician), Rehabilitation Aide, Rehabilitation Attendant, Rehabilitation Technician (Rehabilitation Tech), Restorative Aide (RA), Therapy Aide.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do physical therapist aides make?
The national median annual wage for physical therapist aides was $35,240 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $25,360 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $47,780. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do physical therapist aides need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is physical therapist aides a growing career?
BLS projects employment of physical therapist aides to change +4.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 6,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay physical therapist aides the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Alaska ($55,760), Minnesota ($42,330), Colorado ($41,970). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.