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Physical Therapist Assistant Salary | PTA Job Overview and Education Requirements

Physical therapist assistants (usually referred to as PTAs) work under the direction and supervision of physical therapists. They are very “hands on” and help patients who are recovering from injuries and illnesses regain movement and manage (or minimize) pain.

In this article (and video), you’ll learn about the job duties, education requirements, likes and dislikes, and the detailed salary information for physical therapist assistants.

Physical Therapist Assistant Job Overview and Duties

Physical therapist assistants typically do the following tasks on the job:

  • They observe patients before, during, and after therapy, noting their status and reporting to a physical therapist
  • They help patients do specific exercises as part of the plan of care
  • They use a variety of techniques, such as massage and stretching, exercise, gait and balance training, and electrical stimulation to treat patients
  • They use devices and equipment, such as walkers, to help patients regain mobility
  • They educate patients and family members about what to do after treatment

Physical Therapist Assistant Education Requirements

What are the education requirements if you want to become a physical therapist assistant? Most states require physical therapist assistants to have an associate’s degree from an accredited physical therapist program. This requires approximately two years of schooling, as well as clinical work.

Once you complete all of the education requirements, you must then take a state licensing exam, which is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).

Education and Training
Most states require physical therapist assistants to have an associate’s degree from an accredited physical therapist assistant program. In 2012 the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education accredited 298 associate’s degree programs for physical therapist assistants.

Physical Therapist Assistant Job Outlook

Employment of physical therapist assistants is projected to grow 41 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Although some areas may have scarce jobs, this is an overall very positive job outlook. As of 2012, there were 76,910 jobs in U.S. for this occupation.

Physical Therapist Assistants Job Likes and Dislikes

Here are some of the likes of this profession:

  • It can be very rewarding helping others and seeing a direct impact of your skills. Seeing someone recover from an injury or illness and knowing you had an impact on that individual’s life can be extremely satisfying.
  • The education requirements are not extensive, yet the income is very reasonable.
  • PTAs are often treated with respect from patients because the patients know they are helping them improve their quality of life.
  • There are less documenting requirements as compared to other healthcare professions

Here are some of the dislikes of this profession:

  • PTAs have a limited scope of practice, and they have to rely on the physical therapist for many tasks.
  • Some patients can become aggressive or can be difficult to work with because they’ve had an accident or a stroke, or they are elderly.
  • It can be difficult to advance, and some PTAs try to move into research or go back to school. To become a physical therapist, it usually requires a master’s degree (a doctorate will be required in the future), so there can be a significant increase in education requirements to advance.

Physical Therapist Assistant Average Salary

The tables below contain average salaries for physical therapist assistants. According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, as of 2014, the average hourly wage was $26.12, and the average salary for PTAs was $54,330.

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment

Employment RSE Mean hourly wage Mean annual wage Wage RSE
76,910 1.5 % $26.12 $54,330 0.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50% (Median) 75% 90%
Hourly Wage $15.31 $20.81 $26.16 $31.59 $36.31
Annual Wage $31,840 $43,280 $54,410 $65,710 $75,530

Industries with the highest levels of employment for physical therapist assistants:

Industry Employment Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 34,060 4.40 $25.34 $52,700
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 15,460 0.29 $24.67 $51,320
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 8,630 0.52 $29.25 $60,840
Home Health Care Services 6,830 0.54 $30.20 $62,810
Offices of Physicians 4,290 0.17 $24.76 $51,500

Top paying industries for physical therapist assistants:

Industry Employment Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Home Health Care Services 6,830 0.54 $30.20 $62,810
Employment Services 690 0.02 $29.83 $62,040
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 8,630 0.52 $29.25 $60,840
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly 970 0.12 $27.79 $57,800
Outpatient Care Centers 960 0.14 $27.56 $57,330

Lowest paying states for physical therapist assistants:

Hawaii 16.62 34,570
South Dakota 16.71 34,760
Arizona 19.80 41,180

Top paying states for PTAs:

State Employment Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Texas 5,760 0.51 0.90 $33.35 $69,370
California 4,720 0.31 0.55 $31.18 $64,850
New Jersey 1,220 0.32 0.55 $29.63 $61,630
Alaska 50 0.16 0.29 $29.58 $61,520
Florida 4,940 0.64 1.13 $28.99 $60,290

Physical Therapist Assistant Salary Averages by State:

State Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Annual median wage
Alabama 25.29 52,600 53,470
Alaska 29.58 61,520 60,380
Arizona 19.80 41,180 39,420
Arkansas 24.23 50,400 52,190
California 31.18 64,850 67,400
Colorado 23.66 49,220 50,200
Connecticut 25.17 52,360 56,400
Delaware 27.19 56,550 55,110
District of Columbia 24.22 50,380 48,860
Florida 28.99 60,290 59,290
Georgia 27.13 56,440 57,900
Hawaii 16.62 34,570 31,110
Idaho 24.90 51,790 53,880
Illinois 24.60 51,160 52,650
Indiana 26.51 55,140 54,820
Iowa 22.66 47,140 46,640
Kansas 26.52 55,170 54,950
Kentucky 25.02 52,040 52,150
Louisiana 20.47 42,570 41,420
Maine 24.39 50,730 51,030
Maryland 27.07 56,310 57,640
Massachusetts 27.46 57,120 57,900
Michigan 21.13 43,950 43,740
Minnesota 23.71 49,320 50,590
Mississippi 22.25 46,270 49,330
Missouri 24.15 50,240 51,340
Montana 20.83 43,330 43,590
Nebraska 24.13 50,180 49,510
Nevada 27.26 56,710 56,960
New Hampshire 24.60 51,170 51,600
New Jersey 29.63 61,630 61,950
New Mexico 20.43 42,490 42,510
New York 25.25 52,510 53,120
North Carolina 27.67 57,550 58,280
North Dakota 26.33 54,770 53,270
Ohio 27.59 57,400 56,100
Oklahoma 25.92 53,900 55,060
Oregon 25.69 53,440 53,750
Pennsylvania 21.79 45,320 44,050
Puerto Rico 10.90 22,670 20,070
Rhode Island 24.00 49,920 49,460
South Carolina 27.20 56,570 54,490
South Dakota 16.71 34,760 34,700
Tennessee 25.70 53,450 54,320
Texas 33.35 69,370 68,420
Utah 23.57 49,030 49,460
Vermont 24.97 51,930 51,970
Virginia 25.69 53,420 54,530
Washington 26.66 55,450 55,820
West Virginia 22.03 45,830 45,520
Wisconsin 23.76 49,420 49,860
Wyoming 23.78 49,470 49,630

References:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Physical Therapy Assistants, on the Internet at bls.gov.

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