Typical entry: Associate's degree
Physical therapist assistant
Physical therapist assistants carry out treatment plans under a physical therapist: exercises, stretching, massage, and mobility training for patients recovering from injury and surgery, in clinics, hospitals, and nursing facilities.
By the Degreeless Jobs research deskUpdated Sep 7, 2026Sources: BLS, O*NET
What a physical therapist assistant makes
Median pay, May 2025, United States
$68,380
$32.88 an hour, median
- 25th percentile
- $59,820
- 75th percentile
- $78,680
- 90th percentile
- $89,510
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Wages of employed workers, not offers.
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- BLS
- Workers without a bachelor's
- 84%
- O*NET
- Growth, 2025 to 2035
- +23.0%
- BLS projections
- Openings a year
- 18,500
- BLS projections
How people get in without a degree
An associate's degree from a CAPTE-accredited PTA program (about two years) and the national licensure exam. Aide or rehab technician jobs are the common first step and count as experience for admission.
The work, as O*NET defines it: Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.
The next step
Associate's degree from a CAPTE-accredited PTA program, NPTE-PTA exam
- Typical cost
- $8,000 to $30,000 depending on the school
- Time to complete
- About 2 years
Costs and durations are ranges gathered from provider and state sources; confirm the current price and your state's rules before you pay anything. Never pay a fee to apply for a job.
Pay by state
Median pay for physical therapist assistants by state, May 2025, sorted by annual median. States without a published estimate are omitted.
| State | Hourly median | Annual median | 25th to 75th | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $39.96 | $83,110 | $75,900 to $94,940 | 9,400 |
| Massachusetts | $38.20 | $79,460 | $67,060 to $81,640 | 2,640 |
| New Jersey | $37.71 | $78,440 | $72,900 to $83,200 | 1,810 |
| Texas | $37.50 | $78,000 | $62,870 to $87,330 | 10,510 |
| Maryland | $37.34 | $77,670 | $61,120 to $84,080 | 1,430 |
| Alaska | $37.33 | $77,640 | $74,410 to $80,770 | 110 |
| Connecticut | $36.48 | $75,880 | $69,440 to $79,530 | 980 |
| Nevada | $36.31 | $75,520 | $63,340 to $80,290 | 560 |
| Delaware | $35.87 | $74,610 | $63,570 to $80,370 | 340 |
| Virginia | $35.46 | $73,760 | $60,810 to $80,400 | 3,370 |
| Oregon | $35.19 | $73,180 | $61,430 to $81,290 | 890 |
| Georgia | $35.00 | $72,800 | $59,120 to $80,150 | 2,620 |
| Florida | $34.87 | $72,530 | $63,120 to $75,420 | 9,870 |
| Vermont | $34.42 | $71,600 | $61,430 to $77,120 | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $34.35 | $71,440 | $62,730 to $74,960 | 500 |
| South Carolina | $33.90 | $70,500 | $59,750 to $78,890 | 1,870 |
| Rhode Island | $33.00 | $68,640 | $61,090 to $73,970 | 420 |
| North Carolina | $32.47 | $67,540 | $62,310 to $76,520 | 3,280 |
| Hawaii | $32.46 | $67,510 | $59,750 to $72,440 | 250 |
| Minnesota | $32.10 | $66,770 | $61,720 to $73,690 | 1,230 |
| Washington | $31.95 | $66,450 | $43,890 to $80,730 | 2,150 |
| Maine | $31.85 | $66,250 | $61,000 to $73,700 | 410 |
| Louisiana | $31.43 | $65,370 | $47,030 to $76,800 | 1,670 |
| Indiana | $31.39 | $65,280 | $57,320 to $76,280 | 2,830 |
| Illinois | $31.37 | $65,240 | $59,410 to $74,280 | 4,890 |
| Colorado | $31.16 | $64,810 | $57,740 to $77,280 | 1,350 |
| Arizona | $31.08 | $64,650 | $60,440 to $76,620 | 2,010 |
| Arkansas | $31.02 | $64,520 | $49,140 to $78,680 | 1,620 |
| Kansas | $31.01 | $64,500 | $59,930 to $74,900 | 1,300 |
| New York | $30.82 | $64,100 | $57,430 to $75,500 | 3,620 |
| Wisconsin | $30.81 | $64,080 | $59,790 to $73,210 | 1,650 |
| Ohio | $30.68 | $63,820 | $59,550 to $75,600 | 7,040 |
| Missouri | $30.66 | $63,770 | $58,540 to $73,940 | 2,490 |
| Wyoming | $30.56 | $63,550 | $60,490 to $74,260 | 240 |
| North Dakota | $30.54 | $63,520 | $51,030 to $73,050 | 120 |
| District of Columbia | $30.48 | $63,400 | $45,970 to $80,950 | 40 |
| Montana | $30.12 | $62,650 | $60,420 to $69,020 | 250 |
| Pennsylvania | $30.09 | $62,580 | $57,770 to $73,310 | 4,270 |
| Tennessee | $30.05 | $62,500 | $55,890 to $76,090 | 3,390 |
| New Mexico | $29.94 | $62,280 | $47,550 to $78,200 | 700 |
| Utah | $29.80 | $61,980 | $57,650 to $71,380 | 970 |
| Mississippi | $29.70 | $61,770 | $58,940 to $71,560 | 1,150 |
| Michigan | $29.65 | $61,670 | $52,450 to $68,700 | 4,520 |
| Kentucky | $29.56 | $61,480 | $50,320 to $73,800 | 2,580 |
| Alabama | $29.53 | $61,430 | $56,350 to $73,230 | 2,700 |
| Nebraska | $29.50 | $61,370 | $52,840 to $69,110 | 980 |
| Iowa | $29.34 | $61,030 | $52,110 to $66,150 | 1,060 |
| Idaho | $29.34 | $61,020 | $55,950 to $65,900 | 560 |
| West Virginia | $29.05 | $60,430 | $50,030 to $67,670 | 980 |
| Oklahoma | $28.60 | $59,480 | $50,240 to $73,890 | 2,380 |
| South Dakota | $23.71 | $49,310 | $46,910 to $60,050 | 300 |
Questions
Do you need a degree to be a physical therapist assistant?
No. BLS lists "associate's degree" as the typical education for entry, and 84% of workers in the occupation report less than a bachelor's degree (O*NET). The usual credential is associate's degree from a CAPTE-accredited PTA program, NPTE-PTA exam.
How much does a physical therapist assistant make?
The median pay was $68,380 a year ($32.88 an hour) in May 2025, according to BLS. The middle half earned between $59,820 and $78,680, and the top 10 percent earned more than $89,510.
How long does it take to become a physical therapist assistant?
About 2 years. The typical cost is $8,000 to $30,000 depending on the school.
Is physical therapist assistant work growing?
BLS projects employment to grow 23.0% from 2025 to 2035 with about 18,500 openings a year from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation code 31-2021.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 (Table 1.2).
- O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), CC BY 4.0. The share without a bachelor’s degree is our summary of O*NET’s education distribution; USDOL/ETA has not approved or endorsed it.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile