Physical Therapist Aides Career, Salary and Skills
Physical Therapist Aides have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $35,240 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 48,150. Wage data is published for 232 locations.
Occupation description
Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.
O*NET code
31-2022.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
National salary and employment
Median annual
$35,240
Hourly median
$16.94
Employment
48,150
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.62 | 3.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Service Orientation | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.12 | 3.38 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Active Learning | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Writing | 3.00 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
- Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.
- Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
- Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist.
- Change linens, such as bed sheets and pillow cases.
- Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, or heat, light, sound, water, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
- Transport patients to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or providing standing support.
- Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
Technology
- Epic Systems
- Medical procedure coding software
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Patient record maintenance software
- Scheduling software
Physical Therapist Aides salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Physical Therapist Aides Salary in CAMedian $38,330 · Employment 7,330
- Physical Therapist Aides Salary in New York, NYMedian $35,320 · Employment 6,030
- Physical Therapist Aides Salary in TXMedian $31,590 · Employment 5,710
- Physical Therapist Aides Salary in NYMedian $35,380 · Employment 4,950
- Physical Therapist Aides Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $37,280 · Employment 2,720
- Physical Therapist Aides Salary in NJMedian $34,430 · Employment 2,230
- Physical Therapist Aides Salary in MIMedian $29,350 · Employment 1,810
- Physical Therapist Aides Salary in LAMedian $22,460 · Employment 1,380
- Physical Therapist Aides Salary in AZMedian $35,260 · Employment 1,340
- Physical Therapist Aides Salary in Houston, TXMedian $33,060 · Employment 1,280
- Physical Therapist Aides Salary in VAMedian $33,390 · Employment 1,260
- Physical Therapist Aides Salary in FLMedian $35,140 · Employment 1,210
Related careers
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric NursesNational median $97,550
- Emergency Medicine PhysiciansNational median $335,550
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesNational median $64,400
- Acute Care NursesNational median $97,550
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except PediatricNational median $358,550
- Home Health AidesNational median not published
- Radiation TherapistsNational median $105,310
- Recreational TherapistsNational median $61,960
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.