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Physical Therapist Assistants

Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed

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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.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $68,380/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$47,750$89,510

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +22% projected growth, 2024–2034 — much faster than average.

About 19,800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills
Active ListeningSocial PerceptivenessMonitoringSpeakingWritingCritical ThinkingActive LearningReading ComprehensionService OrientationCoordination
Top knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceTherapy and CounselingEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingPsychologyMedicine and DentistryComputers and ElectronicsBiology
Core tasks

• Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.

• Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.

• Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes.

• Instruct patients in proper body mechanics and in ways to improve functional mobility, such as aquatic exercise.

• Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.

• Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.

• Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or heat, light, sound, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.

• Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Physical Therapist Assistants?

The median pay for Physical Therapist Assistants is $68,380 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Physical Therapist Assistants?

Employment for Physical Therapist Assistants is projected to change +22% from 2024 to 2034 - much faster than average.

What education is typically required for Physical Therapist Assistants?

Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.

How many job openings are there each year for Physical Therapist Assistants?

About 19,800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.