Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Physical therapist aides support physical therapy services and work in a role that combines direct interaction with people and practical, hands-on tasks. The field employs 46,000 workers nationally, with a national median annual salary of $34,520. Projected employment growth of 2.8% and 7,000 annual openings suggest ongoing movement in and out of these jobs, creating opportunities for new entrants and career changers. The work benefits from strong interpersonal abilities, customer service skills, and physical strength and stamina, alongside reading, writing, and basic science knowledge. Skills in adaptability, computers and information technology, fine motor abilities, leadership, and mechanical understanding also contribute to success. With a typical education requirement of a high school diploma or equivalent, this occupation can be accessible for people who want to enter the healthcare environment without a lengthy academic path, while still building skills that can be useful for long-term career development.
Physical therapist aides earn a national median annual salary of $34,520, with pay differing by state and metro area. Several states stand out with higher median salaries, including Colorado at $41,970, Washington at $39,500, and California at $38,330. Massachusetts and New York follow with $37,440 and $35,380, respectively. Among metro areas, pay levels vary even more. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro has a median salary of $44,440, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA follows at $43,300. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV offers $34,780, while Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH provides $37,440. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro reports a median of $35,320. These differences show that location decisions can significantly influence earning potential, and higher-opportunity metros and states may offer stronger wage prospects for physical therapist aides.
Physical therapist aides have national employment of 46,000, with projected employment growth of 2.8%. This projected increase, combined with an estimated 7,000 annual openings, indicates a steady flow of opportunities over time. The 2.8% growth rate appears consistently across highlighted states and metro areas, including California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington, as well as major metros such as San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. This consistent projection suggests that demand for physical therapist aides is expected to continue, rather than vary widely by region. For job seekers, the combination of ongoing openings and modest growth may support entry into the field and provide room for movement between employers or locations. Individuals with strong interpersonal, physical, and customer service skills may find these labor-market dynamics favorable when planning near-term career steps.
Location plays a meaningful role in opportunity for physical therapist aides. Among states, California leads with a CareerGPS opportunity score of 67.38, a median salary of $38,330, and employment of 7,330. Massachusetts and New York also offer strong profiles, with opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78 and median salaries of $37,440 and $35,380, respectively. Colorado and Washington show higher median pay—$41,970 and $39,500—with opportunity scores of 56.97 and 56.29. At the metro level, opportunity is even more concentrated. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ have very high opportunity scores of 77.42 and 77.27. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA combines an opportunity score of 68.75 with the highest listed metro median salary of $44,440. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also rank strongly, with opportunity scores above 63. These patterns highlight specific states and metros where job prospects and compensation indicators are particularly favorable.
The typical education requirement for physical therapist aides is a high school diploma or equivalent, making this role accessible to those who want to enter the healthcare environment without completing a college degree. Even with this entry-level educational threshold, the occupation relies on a broad mix of skills. Interpersonal and customer service skills are central, supporting communication and interaction in a care-focused setting. Physical strength and stamina and fine motor abilities are important for the more hands-on aspects of the job. Foundational science knowledge, writing and reading, and comfort with computers and information technology help aides follow instructions and manage basic documentation or digital tools. Adaptability and leadership skills support working with different people and situations, while mechanical skills add value in environments that use equipment. Together, these skills provide a structured pathway for individuals with a high school education to grow professionally as physical therapist aides.
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