Physical Therapist Assistants

SOC 31-2021 • View wages by state

The median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants is $64,080, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $65,860, and an estimated 104,000 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +7.2% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -8.9% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 22% between 2024 and 2034.

Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment

How the national median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.

National median wage trend for Physical Therapist Assistants, nominal and inflation-adjusted, BLS OEWS.
Year	Median (nominal)	In 2023 $ (real)	Employment
2023	$64,080	$64,080	104,000
2022	$62,770	$65,354	97,740
2021	$61,180	$68,796	93,660
2020	$59,770	$70,368	92,740

Nominal change

+7.2%

Inflation (CPI)

+17.7%

Real change

-8.9%

Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)

The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).

Projected Growth

+22%

Much faster than average

Employment 2024

111,500

Projected 2034

136,000

Annual Openings

19,800

Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.

Highest-Paying Areas (2023)

Where Physical Therapist Assistants earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $64,080. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.

Highest-paying areas for Physical Therapist Assistants, BLS OEWS 2023.
Area	Median Annual	vs National	Employment
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$80,770	+26%	70
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$80,200	+25.2%	40
California	$79,630	+24.3%	8,230
South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area	$78,990	+23.3%	110
Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area	$77,960	+21.7%	150
Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area	$77,240	+20.5%	40
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$77,020	+20.2%	30
North Georgia nonmetropolitan area	$76,500	+19.4%	80
Big Thicket Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area	$76,280	+19%	100
Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area	$76,070	+18.7%	160