Physical Therapist Assistants Salary
The median physical therapist assistants salary in the United States is $68,380 per year ($32.88/hour). Salaries range from $47,750 at the entry level to $89,510+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 112,430 physical therapist assistants jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 22% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Physical Therapist Assistants Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for physical therapist assistantss.
PTAs work under PTs implementing treatment plans across outpatient + hospital + home health + skilled nursing + sports. Entry $58-72k; mid-career $65-85k; senior/specialty $78-98k; PRN + traveling $85-125k+; lead PTA + supervisor $85-115k. Associate's + NPTE-PTA license required. Growing sector via aging + orthopedic + rehab expansion. PSLF eligible at hospitals + nonprofits.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Physical Therapist Assistants
- 1Get accredited associate's degree2-year CAPTE-accredited PTA program ($15-30k). Prerequisites in anatomy + physiology.
- 2Complete clinical rotations16-22 weeks fieldwork across settings during program.
- 3Pass NPTE-PTA + state license$485 exam + $50-500 state license. Portable via FSBPT.
- 4Start in setting (outpatient + hospital + home health + SNF)Outpatient orthopedic + SNF common entry. Cross-train after 2-3 years.
- 5Advance to specialty + supervisor + DPT pathSports + geriatric + orthopedic + neuro specialty. Or Lead PTA + supervisor. Some pursue DPT for PT license.
Career Progression
- β’Implement PT plans
- β’Documentation + billing
- β’Patient education
- β’Learn setting workflow
- β’Full caseload independently
- β’Specialty populations
- β’Precept students
- β’Insurance + regulatory
- β’Team of 3-8 PTAs
- β’Specialty expertise
- β’Program development
- β’Mentor + train
- β’Department management
- β’Team of 8-22 PTAs + PTs
- β’Quality + compliance
- β’Vendor + budget
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Walk me through a session for post-op knee patient.technical
Q2. How do you handle a patient with pain during exercise?situational
Q3. Describe your documentation approach.technical
Q4. Tell me about a challenging case.behavioral
Q5. Where do you see career in 5 years?closer
Resume Template β PTA (0-2 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈManaged caseload of 14 patients/day in outpatient orthopedic clinic + 85% productivity.
- βΈPassed NPTE-PTA + state license within 60 days of graduation.
- βΈImplemented post-op protocols for 220+ knee + hip patients under PT supervision.
- βΈPrecepted 4 PTA students + earned Preceptor of the Year recognition.
What Gets You Rejected
- βCant handle productivity requirements.
- βWeak documentation.
- βCant work under PT supervision boundaries.
- βPoor patient rapport + motivation.
- βNo specialty focus.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βSpecialty (sports + hand + neuro + geriatric) = $5-15k premium.
- βPRN + traveling PTA = $35-55/hr ($70-115k equivalent).
- βHome health + SNF pay premium over outpatient.
- βSign-on: $3-10k common at SNFs + home health.
- βPSLF at hospitals + nonprofits.
- βMetro premium 15-25%.
Physical Therapist Assistants Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired physical therapist assistantss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Physical Therapist Assistants Career Kit β $19
- β All 13 interview questions with expert answers
- β 6 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 6 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
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Physical Therapist Assistants Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $83,110 | +21.5% |
| Massachusetts | $79,460 | +16.2% |
| New Jersey | $78,440 | +14.7% |
| Texas | $78,000 | +14.1% |
| Maryland | $77,670 | +13.6% |
| Alaska | $77,640 | +13.5% |
| Connecticut | $75,880 | +11.0% |
| Nevada | $75,520 | +10.4% |
| Delaware | $74,610 | +9.1% |
| Virginia | $73,760 | +7.9% |
Physical Therapist Assistants Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,190 | +42.1% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $95,920 | +40.3% |
| Spartanburg, SC | $88,070 | +28.8% |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $87,330 | +27.7% |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $87,300 | +27.7% |
| Vallejo, CA | $86,630 | +26.7% |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $85,150 | +24.5% |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $84,930 | +24.2% |
| Salinas, CA | $84,850 | +24.1% |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $84,290 | +23.3% |