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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2018

31-2021 Physical Therapist Assistants

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.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
94,250 1.4 % $27.77 $57,750 0.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $16.24 $22.50 $27.91 $33.03 $38.37
Annual Wage (2) $33,780 $46,800 $58,040 $68,700 $79,810

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 44,060 4.84 $27.02 $56,210
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 18,520 0.33 $26.50 $55,120
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 9,520 0.59 $31.40 $65,320
Home Health Care Services 7,810 0.54 $31.06 $64,600
Offices of Physicians 4,650 0.18 $25.38 $52,800

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 44,060 4.84 $27.02 $56,210
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 9,520 0.59 $31.40 $65,320
Home Health Care Services 7,810 0.54 $31.06 $64,600
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 18,520 0.33 $26.50 $55,120
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals 460 0.19 $27.46 $57,120

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly 1,190 0.13 $32.08 $66,730
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 9,520 0.59 $31.40 $65,320
Child Day Care Services 40 (7) $31.27 $65,050
Home Health Care Services 7,810 0.54 $31.06 $64,600
Other Ambulatory Health Care Services 130 0.04 $30.19 $62,800

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 7,550 0.62 0.96 $33.60 $69,890
Florida 6,330 0.74 1.13 $29.64 $61,650
Ohio 5,990 1.11 1.70 $28.24 $58,740
Pennsylvania 5,300 0.91 1.39 $26.01 $54,100
California 5,150 0.30 0.46 $30.87 $64,210




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Tennessee 3,310 1.12 1.72 $27.32 $56,830
Ohio 5,990 1.11 1.70 $28.24 $58,740
West Virginia 660 0.95 1.45 $23.96 $49,830
Alabama 1,830 0.94 1.45 $27.60 $57,410
Pennsylvania 5,300 0.91 1.39 $26.01 $54,100




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 7,550 0.62 0.96 $33.60 $69,890
New Jersey 1,610 0.40 0.61 $32.69 $68,000
Connecticut 760 0.46 0.70 $31.64 $65,810
California 5,150 0.30 0.46 $30.87 $64,210
Massachusetts 2,630 0.74 1.13 $30.86 $64,180





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 4,120 0.43 0.67 $28.27 $58,790
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 2,970 0.64 0.98 $28.49 $59,260
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,380 0.67 1.02 $33.05 $68,750
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,890 0.31 0.47 $31.30 $65,100
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 1,830 0.64 0.99 $27.22 $56,610
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 1,750 0.85 1.31 $23.43 $48,740
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 1,700 0.61 0.94 $31.64 $65,810
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 1,630 0.83 1.27 $26.68 $55,500
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 1,590 0.62 0.95 $28.77 $59,850
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,300 0.41 0.64 $25.17 $52,360