Physical Therapist Assistant is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country, projected to grow +23.0% through 2035. Median pay sits at $68,380 nationally, a strong return for the training investment.
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a physical therapist assistant: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Medical Assisting and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
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.
Also known as:
Most physical therapist assistants take home around $68,380 a year, about what a typical college graduate makes. Half earn somewhere between $59,820 and $78,680, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
Near the national median for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +23.0%, meaning it is growing faster than most occupations, so jobs should be easier to find over time. Around 18,500 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
Much faster than average.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
The five states below employ the most Physical Therapist Assistant professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $68,380 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 10,510 | $78,000 | +14.1% |
| 2 | Florida | 9,870 | $72,530 | +6.1% |
| 3 | California | 9,400 | $83,110 | +21.5% |
| 4 | Ohio | 7,040 | $63,820 | -6.7% |
| 5 | Illinois | 4,890 | $65,240 | -4.6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
To get hired here you will usually need a associate's degree. The program below is the most common route in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical Assisting | 79,189 | $68,559 | 1,600 |
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victor Valley College Victorville, CA | 90 | $1,947 | $36,119 |
| 2 | Turtle Mountain College Belcourt, ND | 88 | $3,428 | $32,079 |
| 3 | Pima Medical Institute-Tucson Tucson, AZ | 88 | — | $38,673 |
| 4 | Martinsburg College Cheyenne, WY | 87 | $11,956 | — |
| 5 | South Georgia Technical College Americus, GA | 86 | $1,164 | $30,364 |
| 6 | Institute of Medical Careers Pittsburgh, PA | 86 | $21,392 | — |
Once you've sized up Physical Therapist Assistant, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
See if the degree that leads to Physical Therapist Assistant pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
The data on Physical Therapist Assistant shows 3 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
The 25 careers with the steepest projected job growth pay a median of $87,220. Healthcare takes 15 of the 25 slots, and education splits the group in two.
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
Scout uses AI and can make mistakes. Verify important numbers on the page.
