Careers / Physical Therapist Aides
Physical Therapist Aides — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$35,240
United States, 2025
Employment
48,150
United States, 2025
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Job Zone 2
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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
- Experience required
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Typical tasks
- Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
- 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$25,360
25th percentile
$30,410
75th percentile
$38,810
90th percentile
$47,780
Most important skills
- Active Listening3.6
- Service Orientation3.3
- Monitoring3.3
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Coordination3.1
- Active Learning3.0
- Writing3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Instructing3.0
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 12 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
12
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.6 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.3 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Writing | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 2.4 | Not selected | 2.4 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $97,550
Compare with Physical Therapist AidesSupplemental
National median $335,550
Compare with Physical Therapist AidesSupplemental
National median $64,400
Compare with Physical Therapist AidesSupplemental
National median $358,550
Compare with Physical Therapist AidesSupplemental
National median $265,930
Compare with Physical Therapist AidesHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | $55,760 | 110 | 2025 |
| Abilene, TX | $49,790 | 70 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $46,460 | 400 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $44,440 | 680 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | $43,300 | 330 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | $42,520 | 150 | 2025 |
| MN | $42,330 | 150 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $42,230 | 80 | 2025 |
| CO | $41,970 | 360 | 2025 |
| Manchester, NH | $40,460 | 50 | 2025 |
| NH | $40,460 | 130 | 2025 |
| Fresno, CA | $40,350 | 240 | 2025 |
| Toledo, OH | $40,160 | 30 | 2025 |
| Columbus, OH | $39,990 | 250 | 2025 |
| ME | $39,660 | 90 | 2025 |
| WA | $39,500 | 760 | 2025 |
| Madison, WI | $39,420 | 90 | 2025 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $39,210 | 100 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,980 | 330 | 2025 |
| DC | $38,950 | 30 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Physical Therapist Aides to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.