How Much Does a Physical Therapist Assistant Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$68,380
Physical therapist assistants in the U.S. earn a median of $68,380 a year, or $32.88 an hour. Half of physical therapist assistants earn more than $68,380 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $89,510.
Pay percentiles for physical therapist assistants
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22.96 | $47,750 |
| 25th | $28.76 | $59,820 |
| 50th (median) | $32.88 | $68,380 |
| 75th | $37.83 | $78,680 |
| 90th | $43.04 | $89,510 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Physical Therapist Assistants (SOC 31-2021). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for physical therapist assistants
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $83,110 | $39.96 | +22% |
| Massachusetts | $79,460 | $38.20 | +16% |
| New Jersey | $78,440 | $37.71 | +15% |
| Texas | $78,000 | $37.50 | +14% |
| Maryland | $77,670 | $37.34 | +14% |
| Alaska | $77,640 | $37.33 | +14% |
| Connecticut | $75,880 | $36.48 | +11% |
| Nevada | $75,520 | $36.31 | +10% |
| Delaware | $74,610 | $35.87 | +9% |
| Virginia | $73,760 | $35.46 | +8% |
| United States | $68,380 | $32.88 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many physical therapist assistants are there?
BLS counts about 112,430 physical therapist assistants employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). The most jobs are in Texas (10,510), Florida (9,870) and California (9,400).
The mean (average) annual wage is $68,730, higher than the median of $68,380.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,698
- Biweekly
- $2,630
- Weekly
- $1,315
- Daily (8 hours)
- $263
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make an hour?
The median hourly wage for physical therapist assistants is $32.88. The middle 50% earn between $28.76 and $37.83 an hour.
Which state pays physical therapist assistants the most?
California has the highest median wage for physical therapist assistants at $83,110, +22% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for physical therapist assistants?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of physical therapist assistants earn less than $47,750 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.