31 Series · SOC 31-2022

Physical Therapist Aides Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$35,240
Median / year
+2.1%
2024→2025
$47,780
Top 10% earn
+2.8%
Growth '24–'34
48,150
Estimated US jobs

Physical Therapist Aides earn a median of $35,240 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $35,240, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $25,360 (10th percentile) to $47,780 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 48,150 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Alaska ($55,760).

31 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Physical Therapist Aides earn a median of $35,240, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 3% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Support, it ranks #17 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2.8% by 2034.

$35,240
Median annual wage
Top 97%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#17 of 17
in Healthcare Support
1.9×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Alaska at $55,760. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Physical Therapist Aides moved from $27,000 in May 2019 to $35,240 in May 2025 (+30.5%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Physical Therapist Aides sits +6.1 pp ahead of that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Physical Therapist Aides (SOC 31-2022) has a national median of $35,240 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $25,360 to $47,780, and the published mean is $36,430. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 48,150 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 50 state or territory areas and 229 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $34,520 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $35,240 in May 2025, a rise of $720 (+2.1%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2.8% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 6,600 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as short-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Healthcare Support Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Alaska pays the highest state median at $55,760, which is +58% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Abilene, TX at $49,790. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 48,150 jobs Median $35,240/yr

Median Salary

$35,240

per year

Median Hourly

$16.94/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$36,430

average

Employment

48,150

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Physical Therapist Aides pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$35,240 Bottom 3% higher than 3% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). This entry sits in this band. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Above this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 (this entry) 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$35,240 · 3rd percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 31-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Physical Therapist Aides; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 17 31-series occupations with growth data, Physical Therapist Aides sits on the slower-growing side at +2.8% growth and $35,240 median pay. Scatter plot of 17 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000$80000 -10%0%10%20%30% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Home Health and Pers… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 17% · Median annual wage: $35800Nursing Assistants - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.3% · Median annual wage: $42260Medical Assistants - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 12.5% · Median annual wage: $45690Dental Assistants - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.4% · Median annual wage: $48070Phlebotomists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.6% · Median annual wage: $45230Veterinary Assistant… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 8.7% · Median annual wage: $38150Physical Therapist A… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 22% · Median annual wage: $68380Healthcare Support W… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.5% · Median annual wage: $48430Massage Therapists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 15.4% · Median annual wage: $58450Medical Equipment Pr… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 10% · Median annual wage: $47700Orderlies - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.3% · Median annual wage: $38290Occupational Therapy… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 19.2% · Median annual wage: $72300Physical Therapist A… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.8% · Median annual wage: $35240Medical Transcriptio… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -4.9% · Median annual wage: $40410Pharmacy Aides - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.1% · Median annual wage: $37680Psychiatric Aides - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.4% · Median annual wage: $44910Occupational Therapy… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.5% · Median annual wage: $39160
Among 17 31-series occupations with growth data, Physical Therapist Aides sits on the slower-growing side at +2.8% growth and $35,240 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Home Health and Pers…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 17%, Median annual wage $35800
  • Nursing Assistants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.3%, Median annual wage $42260
  • Medical Assistants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.5%, Median annual wage $45690
  • Dental Assistants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $48070
  • Phlebotomists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $45230
  • Veterinary Assistant…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.7%, Median annual wage $38150
  • Physical Therapist A…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 22%, Median annual wage $68380
  • Healthcare Support W…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.5%, Median annual wage $48430
  • Massage Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 15.4%, Median annual wage $58450
  • Medical Equipment Pr…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 10%, Median annual wage $47700
  • Orderlies: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $38290
  • Occupational Therapy…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 19.2%, Median annual wage $72300
  • Physical Therapist A…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.8%, Median annual wage $35240
  • Medical Transcriptio…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -4.9%, Median annual wage $40410
  • Pharmacy Aides: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.1%, Median annual wage $37680
  • Psychiatric Aides: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.4%, Median annual wage $44910
  • Occupational Therapy…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.5%, Median annual wage $39160

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+2.8%

About as fast as average

Annual Openings

6,600

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+1,300

45,600 (2024) → 46,900 (2034)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Short-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Healthcare Support Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

0.6/100K

Injury Rate

5.5/100

Danger Index

22.3/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Physical Therapist Aides roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Active Listening 3.6
Monitoring 3.3
Service Orientation 3.3
Reading Comprehension 3.1
Social Perceptiveness 3.1
Coordination 3.1
Writing 3.0
Speaking 3.0
Critical Thinking 3.0
Active Learning 3.0

Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service 4.5
English Language 4.0
Computers and Electronics 3.5
Therapy and Counseling 3.3
Psychology 3.0
Public Safety and Security 2.9
Administrative 2.8
Education and Training 2.6
Telecommunications 2.4
Administration and Management 2.4

Key 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.
  • Record treatment given and equipment used.
  • Transport patients to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or providing standing support.
  • Measure patient's range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$25,360
25th$30,410
Median$35,240
75th$38,810
90th$47,780

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$12.19
25th$14.62
Median$16.94
75th$18.66
90th$22.97

Physical Therapist Aides pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$20,000$25,000$30,000$35,000$40,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $25,120National median - 2016: $25,680National median - 2017: $25,730National median - 2018: $26,240National median - 2019: $27,000National median - 2020: $28,450National median - 2021: $29,200National median - 2022: $31,410National median - 2023: $33,520National median - 2024: $34,520National median - 2025: $35,240$35,240
National median annual wage for Physical Therapist Aides, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $25,120
2016 $25,680
2017 $25,730
2018 $26,240
2019 $27,000
2020 $28,450
2021 $29,200
2022 $31,410
2023 $33,520
2024 $34,520
2025 $35,240

2015 median

$25,120

2025 median

$35,240

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$8,240 (+30.5%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+4.5%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Physical Therapist Aides by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $25,120 First banked release 50,540
May 2016 $25,680 +2.2% 50,030
May 2017 $25,730 +0.2% 49,290
May 2018 $26,240 +2.0% 47,260
May 2019 $27,000 Classification break 49,270
May 2020 $28,450 +5.4% 45,790
May 2021 $29,200 +2.6% 42,390
May 2022 $31,410 +7.6% 42,800
May 2023 $33,520 +6.7% 42,390
May 2024 $34,520 +3.0% 44,010
May 2025 $35,240 +2.1% 48,150

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $25,120 in May 2015 to $35,240 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +4.5% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 49,270 in May 2019 to 48,150 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 50 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Alaska $55,760 +58% above national
2 Minnesota $42,330 +20% above national
3 Colorado $41,970 +19% above national
4 New Hampshire $40,460 +15% above national
5 Maine $39,660 +13% above national
6 Washington $39,500 +12% above national
7 District of Columbia $38,950 +11% above national
8 Montana $38,950 +11% above national
9 California $38,330 +9% above national
10 North Dakota $37,680 +7% above national
11 Massachusetts $37,440 +6% above national
12 Ohio $37,220 +6% above national
13 Wisconsin $36,820 +4% above national
14 Illinois $36,650 +4% above national
15 Oregon $36,060 +2% above national
16 Connecticut $35,770 +2% above national
17 Pennsylvania $35,520 +1% above national
18 Kentucky $35,490 +1% above national
19 New York $35,380 same as national
20 Arizona $35,260 same as national
21 Florida $35,140 same as national
22 Indiana $35,100 same as national
23 West Virginia $34,840 1% below national
24 Maryland $34,780 1% below national
25 North Carolina $34,760 1% below national
26 New Jersey $34,430 2% below national
27 Delaware $34,060 3% below national
28 Hawaii $33,810 4% below national
29 Virginia $33,390 5% below national
30 South Carolina $33,280 6% below national
31 New Mexico $31,990 9% below national
32 Nevada $31,970 9% below national
33 Texas $31,590 10% below national
34 South Dakota $31,330 11% below national
35 Rhode Island $31,200 11% below national
36 Georgia $30,550 13% below national
37 Wyoming $30,470 14% below national
38 Tennessee $30,320 14% below national
39 Arkansas $29,450 16% below national
40 Michigan $29,350 17% below national
41 Missouri $29,250 17% below national
42 Utah $29,150 17% below national
43 Iowa $29,120 17% below national
44 Idaho $28,660 19% below national
45 Nebraska $28,080 20% below national
46 Oklahoma $27,630 22% below national
47 Mississippi $27,370 22% below national
48 Alabama $27,290 23% below national
49 Kansas $25,280 28% below national
50 Louisiana $22,460 36% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 182 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Abilene, TX $49,790 +41% above national
2 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,460 +32% above national
3 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,440 +26% above national
4 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $43,300 +23% above national
5 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $42,520 +21% above national
6 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $42,230 +20% above national
7 Manchester-Nashua, NH $40,460 +15% above national
8 Fresno, CA $40,350 +15% above national
9 Toledo, OH $40,160 +14% above national
10 Columbus, OH $39,990 +13% above national
11 Madison, WI $39,420 +12% above national
12 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $39,210 +11% above national
13 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $38,980 +11% above national
14 Anchorage, AK $38,930 +10% above national
15 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $38,810 +10% above national
16 Salinas, CA $38,810 +10% above national
17 Pittsburgh, PA $38,740 +10% above national
18 Worcester, MA $38,710 +10% above national
19 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $38,440 +9% above national
20 Chico, CA $38,230 +8% above national
21 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $38,050 +8% above national
22 Cleveland, OH $38,030 +8% above national
23 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $37,850 +7% above national
24 Portland-South Portland, ME $37,720 +7% above national
25 Visalia, CA $37,700 +7% above national
26 Fargo, ND-MN $37,680 +7% above national
27 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $37,630 +7% above national
28 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $37,620 +7% above national
29 Winston-Salem, NC $37,610 +7% above national
30 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $37,580 +7% above national
31 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $37,440 +6% above national
32 Boulder, CO $37,440 +6% above national
33 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $37,280 +6% above national
34 Vallejo, CA $37,270 +6% above national
35 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $37,250 +6% above national
36 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $37,130 +5% above national
37 Midland, TX $37,020 +5% above national
38 Gainesville, FL $36,830 +5% above national
39 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $36,790 +4% above national
40 Akron, OH $36,750 +4% above national
41 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $36,730 +4% above national
42 Modesto, CA $36,640 +4% above national
43 Tucson, AZ $36,550 +4% above national
44 Stockton-Lodi, CA $36,380 +3% above national
45 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $36,240 +3% above national
46 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $36,230 +3% above national
47 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $36,200 +3% above national
48 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $36,190 +3% above national
49 Jacksonville, FL $36,110 +2% above national
50 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $36,080 +2% above national
51 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $36,070 +2% above national
52 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $35,920 +2% above national
53 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $35,880 +2% above national
54 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $35,870 +2% above national
55 Merced, CA $35,870 +2% above national
56 New Haven, CT $35,830 +2% above national
57 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $35,780 +2% above national
58 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $35,770 +2% above national
59 Columbia, SC $35,740 +1% above national
60 Bend, OR $35,730 +1% above national
61 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $35,570 +1% above national
62 Lexington-Fayette, KY $35,490 +1% above national
63 Salem, OR $35,430 +1% above national
64 Asheville, NC $35,420 +1% above national
65 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $35,410 same as national
66 Raleigh-Cary, NC $35,370 same as national
67 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $35,320 same as national
68 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $35,220 same as national
69 Rochester, NY $35,200 same as national
70 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $35,180 same as national
71 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $35,010 1% below national
72 Redding, CA $35,010 1% below national
73 Medford, OR $34,870 1% below national
74 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $34,790 1% below national
75 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $34,780 1% below national
76 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $34,760 1% below national
77 Springfield, MO $34,720 1% below national
78 Springfield, MA $34,700 2% below national
79 Kenosha, WI $34,650 2% below national
80 Greensboro-High Point, NC $34,530 2% below national
81 Port St. Lucie, FL $34,320 3% below national
82 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $34,280 3% below national
83 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $34,270 3% below national
84 Corvallis, OR $34,230 3% below national
85 Fayetteville, NC $34,200 3% below national
86 Eugene-Springfield, OR $34,160 3% below national
87 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $34,110 3% below national
88 Dover, DE $33,920 4% below national
89 Richmond, VA $33,860 4% below national
90 Charlottesville, VA $33,850 4% below national
91 Urban Honolulu, HI $33,810 4% below national
92 Ann Arbor, MI $33,790 4% below national
93 Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $33,600 5% below national
94 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $33,580 5% below national
95 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $33,570 5% below national
96 Idaho Falls, ID $33,280 6% below national
97 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $33,180 6% below national
98 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $33,060 6% below national
99 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $32,780 7% below national
100 Texarkana, TX-AR $32,770 7% below national
101 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $32,240 9% below national
102 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $32,240 9% below national
103 Syracuse, NY $32,240 9% below national
104 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $32,220 9% below national
105 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $32,130 9% below national
106 Tallahassee, FL $32,050 9% below national
107 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $31,980 9% below national
108 Tuscaloosa, AL $31,900 9% below national
109 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $31,840 10% below national
110 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $31,730 10% below national
111 Colorado Springs, CO $31,520 11% below national
112 Wilmington, NC $31,510 11% below national
113 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $31,200 11% below national
114 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $31,200 11% below national
115 Omaha, NE-IA $31,000 12% below national
116 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $30,900 12% below national
117 Cheyenne, WY $30,700 13% below national
118 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $30,590 13% below national
119 Reno, NV $30,560 13% below national
120 Rome, GA $30,480 14% below national
121 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $30,370 14% below national
122 Knoxville, TN $30,200 14% below national
123 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $30,040 15% below national
124 Killeen-Temple, TX $29,970 15% below national
125 Fort Wayne, IN $29,930 15% below national
126 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $29,910 15% below national
127 Las Cruces, NM $29,800 15% below national
128 Casper, WY $29,730 16% below national
129 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $29,730 16% below national
130 Waco, TX $29,660 16% below national
131 Coeur d'Alene, ID $29,430 16% below national
132 St. Louis, MO-IL $29,250 17% below national
133 St. George, UT $29,240 17% below national
134 Columbia, MO $29,130 17% below national
135 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $29,120 17% below national
136 Evansville, IN $29,120 17% below national
137 Corpus Christi, TX $29,080 17% below national
138 Jackson, MS $28,980 18% below national
139 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $28,850 18% below national
140 Logan, UT-ID $28,730 18% below national
141 Wichita Falls, TX $28,690 19% below national
142 Chattanooga, TN-GA $28,610 19% below national
143 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $28,570 19% below national
144 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $28,520 19% below national
145 Pocatello, ID $28,520 19% below national
146 Boise City, ID $28,430 19% below national
147 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $28,410 19% below national
148 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $28,200 20% below national
149 Lincoln, NE $28,080 20% below national
150 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI $27,920 21% below national
151 Ogden, UT $27,920 21% below national
152 Tulsa, OK $27,870 21% below national
153 Iowa City, IA $27,700 21% below national
154 Lubbock, TX $27,620 22% below national
155 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $27,370 22% below national
156 Traverse City, MI $27,370 22% below national
157 Savannah, GA $27,220 23% below national
158 Flint, MI $27,100 23% below national
159 Amarillo, TX $26,930 24% below national
160 Odessa, TX $26,870 24% below national
161 Montgomery, AL $26,800 24% below national
162 Twin Falls, ID $26,740 24% below national
163 Birmingham, AL $26,530 25% below national
164 Huntsville, AL $26,440 25% below national
165 Oklahoma City, OK $26,430 25% below national
166 College Station-Bryan, TX $26,420 25% below national
167 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $26,410 25% below national
168 Mobile, AL $25,690 27% below national
169 Dothan, AL $25,360 28% below national
170 El Paso, TX $25,300 28% below national
171 Kansas City, MO-KS $25,280 28% below national
172 Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA $24,590 30% below national
173 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $23,750 33% below national
174 Wichita, KS $23,120 34% below national
175 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $23,040 35% below national
176 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA $23,010 35% below national
177 Laredo, TX $22,790 35% below national
178 Monroe, LA $22,170 37% below national
179 Lafayette, LA $22,150 37% below national
180 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $22,120 37% below national
181 Baton Rouge, LA $21,910 38% below national
182 Johnson City, TN $20,140 43% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 31 (Healthcare Support Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 16 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Healthcare Support Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($35,240 here) and reported employment (48,150 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Physical Therapist Aides make?
The median annual salary for Physical Therapist Aides is $35,240 ($16.94/hour). The salary range spans from $25,360 at the 10th percentile to $47,780 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Physical Therapist Aides pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $35,240, Physical Therapist Aides pay is higher than 3% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Physical Therapist Aides the most?
Alaska pays the highest median salary for Physical Therapist Aides at $55,760/year, which is +58% above the national median.
What education do Physical Therapist Aides need?
BLS assigns Physical Therapist Aides to High school diploma or equivalent for typical education needed for entry. Typical on-the-job training assignment: Short-term on-the-job training.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Physical Therapist Aides?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Physical Therapist Aides in this release. WageDex shows the Healthcare Support Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Physical Therapist Aides a good career?
Employment for Physical Therapist Aides is projected to grow 2.8% from 2024 to 2034, which is about as fast as average. About 6,600 openings are projected each year.
How does Physical Therapist Aides pay vary by state?
Physical Therapist Aides salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Alaska at $55,760/year, while Louisiana pays the least at $22,460/year. BLS data covers 50 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Physical Therapist Aides?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Abilene, TX at $49,790/year. BLS reports a median for 182 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Physical Therapist Aides pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $38,810/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Alaska leads at $55,760/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.