How to Become a Physical Therapist Assistant
Work under the direction of physical therapists to help patients regain movement and manage pain after injury or illness. It typically requires an associate's degree (accredited pta program), with a median salary of $68,380 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$68,380/yr
Middle half
$59,820 to $78,680
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
19,800
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Therapeutic Exercise
- Patient Care
- Anatomy
- Documentation
- Communication
Helpful certifications
- NPTE-PTA (National Physical Therapy Exam for PTAs)
- State Licensure
- BLS Certification
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
5/100
Work-life balance
65/100
Stress level
40/100
Satisfaction
74/100
Related careers
- Psychiatrist$281,870 median
- Physician (Family Medicine)$244,180 median
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)$236,590 median
- Dentist$170,950 median
- Pharmacist$140,910 median
- Optometrist$136,570 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Physical Therapist Assistant make?
The median pay for a Physical Therapist Assistant is $68,380 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $59,820 and $78,680 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Physical Therapist Assistant?
The usual entry point is an associate's degree (accredited pta program). Common majors are Physical Therapist Assisting, Exercise Science, Kinesiology, and Health Sciences.
Is Physical Therapist Assistant a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 19,800 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Physical Therapist Assistant use most?
Common skills for this role are Therapeutic Exercise, Patient Care, Anatomy, Documentation, and Communication.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).