Physical Therapy Assistant | Salary & Job Information

Becoming a Physical Therapy Assistant via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Utica College, one of the highest ranking online schools, is a US school (accredited) offering physical therapy courses to train individuals to become top-notch physical therapists, PTs, exercise physiologists, physical therapy assistants, etc. Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 174,490 people employed as physical therapists alone in America, and their average annual salary is $76,220. Physical therapist assistants make on average $48,590 per year and there are about 63,750 of them employed today. Colleges and universities like Utica College that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a Physical Therapy Assistant
  • In-Home Care Facilities
  • Hospitals
  • Rehabilitation Clinics
  • Sports Medicine Facilities
  • Nursing Homes
  • Orthopedic Clinics
  • Universities
  • Geriatric Units
  • Acute Care Clinics
  • Physician's Offices
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Physical Therapy Assistant
  • Aid physical therapists in patient mobility
  • Relieve pain and prevent or lessen physical disabilities of patients
  • Well-paid profession
  • Aid in the overall fitness of patients
  • Opportunity to learn new skills on the job
  • Gaining knowledge on the job may lead to advancement
  • Freedom to work in a variety of settings
  • Increasing demand for physical therapy services
  • Aid therapists in easily advancing their clientele
  • State licensing and associates degree allows freedom to relocate
Potential Drawbacks
  • Limited to physical therapist duties
  • Competition in the job field
  • Requires working in an office everyday
  • Differing license requirements in different states
  • Constant organization is imperative
  • Communicating with difficult patients
  • Responsible for keeping the treatment ares clean at all times
  • Possibility of working long hours
  • Physically challenging at times
  • Evening and weekend hours are common
Related Professions to Consider
  • Physical Therapy Assistant
  • Physical Therapist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Rehab Director
  • Inpatient Coder
  • Athletic Trainers
  • Case Manager
  • Recreational Therapists
  • Social and Human Service Assistants
  • Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Physical Therapy Assistant
  • 'Why you are applying for this position?
  • What questions to ask at an optometry school interview?
  • What does it mean to be detailed oriented?
  • What were your expectations for the job and to what extent were they met?
  • What was the biggest accomplishment/ failure in your previous position?
  • How well do you work in a situation where deadlines and priorities change frequently and rapidly?
  • What exceptional skills are you able to bring to this job?
  • What did you like or dislike about your previous job?
  • Do you have the ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines?
  • What skills and knowledge and attributes are best suited for physical therapy?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Physical Therapist
  • Outpatient Surgery Assistant
  • Athletic Trainer
  • Recreational Therapist
  • Social and Human Service Assistant
  • Child, Family, and School Social Worker
  • Medical Assistant
  • Medical Office Assistant
  • Physical Therapist Aide
  • Clinical Assistant
Physical Therapy Assistant Training books Physical Therapy Assistant (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Kinesiology
  • Biology
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Orthopedic Physical Therapy
  • Geriatric Physical Therapy
  • Massage Therapy
  • Recreational Therapy
  • Sports Medicine

Physical Therapy Assistant Salary Information

Category: Physical therapist assistants

Total # Employed in the US 63,750
Average Hourly Wage: $23.36/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$14.62 $18.78 $23.22 $27.78 $31.95
Average Yearly Salary $48,590
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$30,400 $39,070 $48,290 $57,780 $66,460
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
2.6% 10.6% 15.9% 50.5% 16.1% 3.1% 1.1%
Physical therapist assistants — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Wyoming $29.67/hr $61,710
Colorado $27.32/hr $56,820
New York $26.98/hr $56,120
Delaware $26.51/hr $55,150
District of Columbia $25.52/hr $53,080
Hawaii $25.52/hr $53,080
North Dakota $24.9/hr $51,790
Oregon $24.69/hr $51,360
South Carolina $24.61/hr $51,180
Wisconsin $24.59/hr $51,150
Kentucky $24.57/hr $51,100
Iowa $24.27/hr $50,480
Missouri $24.23/hr $50,390
Washington $23.68/hr $49,260
Virginia $23.53/hr $48,940
Kansas $23.41/hr $48,690
Idaho $23.4/hr $48,680
Tennessee $23.13/hr $48,110
Maine $22.85/hr $47,520
Maryland $22.74/hr $47,300
Mississippi $22.59/hr $47,000
California $22.26/hr $46,300
North Carolina $22.16/hr $46,100
New Hampshire $22.13/hr $46,040
Puerto Rico $21.58/hr $44,880
Alabama $21.53/hr $44,790
Oklahoma $21.5/hr $44,730
Arkansas $21.02/hr $43,720
New Mexico $20.92/hr $43,500
South Dakota $20.74/hr $43,130
Nebraska $20.68/hr $43,020
Michigan $20.35/hr $42,320
Massachusetts $20.22/hr $42,050
Utah $20.21/hr $42,040
Ohio $19.96/hr $41,510
Montana $19.59/hr $40,740
Connecticut $19.35/hr $40,240
Nevada $19.2/hr $39,940
New Jersey $18.65/hr $38,790
Louisiana $18.58/hr $38,640
Pennsylvania $18.13/hr $37,710
Indiana $17.99/hr $37,430
West Virginia $15.83/hr $32,920
Guam $15.67/hr $32,590


Category: Physical therapist aides

Total # Employed in the US 44,160
Average Hourly Wage: $12.01/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$8.33 $9.66 $11.49 $13.89 $16.39
Average Yearly Salary $24,990
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$17,330 $20,090 $23,890 $28,880 $34,100
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
2.6% 10.6% 15.9% 50.5% 16.1% 3.1% 1.1%
Physical therapist aides — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Puerto Rico $15.49/hr $32,220
Indiana $15.05/hr $31,310
Missouri $14.29/hr $29,730
North Carolina $14.19/hr $29,520
Connecticut $13.49/hr $28,070
Delaware $13.34/hr $27,750
Florida $13.33/hr $27,720
Colorado $13.19/hr $27,430
Oklahoma $13.11/hr $27,270
Virginia $12.83/hr $26,700
Montana $12.74/hr $26,500
Utah $12.71/hr $26,430
Ohio $12.63/hr $26,260
Nebraska $12.47/hr $25,940
Mississippi $12.4/hr $25,790
North Dakota $12.39/hr $25,770
District of Columbia $12.34/hr $25,660
Louisiana $12.33/hr $25,660
Kansas $12.16/hr $25,280
Michigan $12.06/hr $25,080
Kentucky $12.06/hr $25,080
Tennessee $12.06/hr $25,090
Arkansas $12/hr $24,950
Pennsylvania $11.86/hr $24,670
New York $11.81/hr $24,550
South Carolina $11.69/hr $24,320
Oregon $11.68/hr $24,300
New Jersey $11.58/hr $24,090
Hawaii $11.34/hr $23,580
West Virginia $11.33/hr $23,560
New Hampshire $11.31/hr $23,520
Maine $11.29/hr $23,490
Idaho $11.24/hr $23,370
Maryland $11.02/hr $22,920
Iowa $11.01/hr $22,900
Wisconsin $10.89/hr $22,660
Washington $10.79/hr $22,450
Alabama $10.75/hr $22,360
Massachusetts $10.71/hr $22,270
Wyoming $10.66/hr $22,180
New Mexico $10.58/hr $22,020
South Dakota $10.47/hr $21,790
Nevada $10.18/hr $21,180
Guam $10.01/hr $20,810
California $9.73/hr $20,240


Physical Therapy Programs by State & City