How Much Does a Physical Therapy Assistant Make? An Overview of Average Salaries

Introduction

A physical therapy assistant (PTA) is a healthcare professional who works under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. PTAs provide treatments and therapeutic exercises to help individuals with physical impairments, injury or illness. They also help patients in developing, restoring and maintaining their physical capabilities. As such, PTAs play an important role in helping patients achieve their rehabilitation goals.

The salaries of physical therapy assistants vary depending on the location, experience level and other factors. In this article, we’ll explore the average salaries of physical therapy assistants and how much they can expect to make.

Exploring the Average Salaries of Physical Therapy Assistants

Before we dive into the specifics of physical therapy assistant salaries, let’s take a look at the overall pay scale. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for physical therapy assistants was $52,160 in 2019. This means that half of all physical therapy assistants earned more than that amount, while the other half earned less.

The BLS also reported that the lowest 10 percent of physical therapy assistants earned less than $37,200 per year, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $72,480. The middle 50 percent of physical therapy assistants earned between $44,210 and $63,400.

Now that we have an overview of the average salaries of physical therapy assistants, let’s take a closer look at the earnings of physical therapy assistants.

How Much Do Physical Therapy Assistants Make?

Physical therapy assistant salaries vary depending on a number of factors, including experience level, education, geographic location and type of employer. Generally speaking, physical therapy assistants with more experience and higher levels of education tend to earn higher salaries.

For example, according to the BLS, physical therapy assistants with one to four years of experience typically earn between $40,000 and $50,000 per year. On the other hand, those with five to nine years of experience usually make between $50,000 and $60,000 annually, while those with ten or more years of experience may earn up to $70,000 or more per year.

Location also plays a major role in determining physical therapy assistant salaries. Generally speaking, physical therapy assistants in larger cities tend to earn higher salaries than those in smaller towns or rural areas. For instance, the BLS reports that the highest-paying states for physical therapy assistants are California, New Jersey, Alaska, Massachusetts and Connecticut, where the average annual salaries range from $64,300 to $73,900.

Finally, the type of employer can also affect physical therapy assistant salaries. According to the BLS, the highest-paying industries for physical therapy assistants include outpatient care centers, home health care services, hospitals and nursing care facilities, where the average annual salaries range from $58,100 to $63,100.

Conclusion

In conclusion, physical therapy assistant salaries vary depending on experience, education, location and type of employer. On average, physical therapy assistants earn between $37,200 and $72,480 per year. Those with more experience and higher levels of education tend to earn higher salaries, as do those working in larger cities and in certain industries.

While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how much physical therapy assistants make, this overview provides some insight into the average salaries of physical therapy assistants.