Physical Therapy Assistant Salary
The salary of a physical therapy assistant salary depends on many factors including the normal ones for any job: experience, location, and work environment and type. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics report for May 2009, the average annual salary was $48,590 or $23.36 per hour. The median annual wage was $48,290 with the middle 50 percent making between $39,070 and $57,780 and the highest 10 percent making over $66,460.
Experienced physical therapy assistants can make more money if they have experience in several areas, especially the specialty areas that are not seen as frequently. An example is a physical therapy assistant who has experience in pediatric or sports may be selected in contracts for patients with those issues over another candidate who does not have that experience. This allows for different work environment and contracts depending on the employer which provides leverage for salary. By industry, the majority of physical therapist assistants were hired in offices of health practitioners and hospitals and the annual average salary was around $46,910 which was right at the national average. The highest paying industries were home health care, employment services, and nursing care facilities which all averaged over $50,000.
By state, California, Nevada, Texas, and Florida all had physical therapy assistant salaries over $50,000. The lowest paying states were Utah and South Dakota which all had average salaries under $35,000.
Physical Therapy Assistant Salary by State
Occupation: Physical Therapist Assistants (SOC code 312021)
Period: May 2009
| State | Employment(1) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage(2) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Alabama |
1240 | $21.53 | $44,790 |
|
Arizona |
870 | $21.02 | $43,720 |
|
Arkansas |
570 | $22.26 | $46,300 |
|
California |
4220 | $27.32 | $56,820 |
|
Colorado |
600 | $19.35 | $40,240 |
|
Connecticut |
420 | $26.51 | $55,150 |
|
Delaware |
180 | $25.52 | $53,080 |
|
D.C. |
60 | (8)- | (8)- |
|
Florida |
3550 | $25.52 | $53,080 |
|
Georgia |
1360 | $23.40 | $48,680 |
|
Hawaii |
240 | $17.99 | $37,430 |
|
Idaho |
170 | $24.27 | $50,480 |
|
Illinois |
3350 | $23.41 | $48,690 |
|
Indiana |
1680 | $24.57 | $51,100 |
|
Iowa |
720 | $18.58 | $38,640 |
|
Kansas |
1020 | $22.85 | $47,520 |
|
Kentucky |
1560 | $22.74 | $47,300 |
|
Louisiana |
900 | $20.22 | $42,050 |
|
Maine |
200 | $20.35 | $42,320 |
|
Maryland |
1240 | $22.59 | $47,000 |
|
Massachusetts |
2480 | $24.23 | $50,390 |
|
Michigan |
2780 | $19.59 | $40,740 |
|
Minnesota |
810 | $20.68 | $43,020 |
|
Mississippi |
570 | $19.20 | $39,940 |
|
Missouri |
1480 | $22.13 | $46,040 |
|
Montana |
110 | $18.65 | $38,790 |
|
Nebraska |
310 | $20.92 | $43,500 |
|
Nevada |
350 | $26.98 | $56,120 |
|
New Hampshire |
420 | $22.16 | $46,100 |
|
New Jersey |
1080 | $24.90 | $51,790 |
|
New Mexico |
310 | $19.96 | $41,510 |
|
New York |
3840 | $21.50 | $44,730 |
|
North Carolina |
2150 | $24.69 | $51,360 |
|
North Dakota |
100 | $18.13 | $37,710 |
|
Ohio |
4750 | $24.61 | $51,180 |
|
Oklahoma |
1220 | $20.74 | $43,130 |
|
Oregon |
510 | $23.13 | $48,110 |
|
Pennsylvania |
3860 | $20.21 | $42,040 |
|
Puerto Rico |
480 | $9.89 | $20,560 |
|
Rhode Island |
270 | $23.53 | $48,940 |
|
South Carolina |
810 | $23.68 | $49,260 |
|
South Dakota |
230 | $15.83 | $32,920 |
|
Tennessee |
1940 | $24.59 | $51,150 |
|
Texas |
3950 | $29.67 | $61,710 |
|
Utah |
400 | $15.67 | $32,590 |
|
Vermont |
80 | $21.58 | $44,880 |
|
Virginia |
1610 | $24.06 | $50,050 |
|
Washington |
1060 | $23.29 | $48,440 |
|
West Virginia |
600 | $19.86 | $41,310 |
|
Wisconsin |
1380 | $21.79 | $45,320 |
|
Wyoming |
120 | $17.95 | $37,330 |
|
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