Physical Therapist Assistant Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) physical therapist assistant in the US earns $32.88 an hour, or $68,380 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 112,430 jobs (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,820 and $78,680 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $89,510.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $56,935 a year ($4,745 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in Texas ($63,703 a year) and lowest in South Dakota ($41,809).
Physical Therapist Assistant pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $22.96 | $47,750 | $40,547 |
| 25th percentile | $28.76 | $59,820 | $50,245 |
| Median (half earn more) | $32.88 | $68,380 | $56,935 |
| 75th percentile | $37.83 | $78,680 | $64,181 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $43.04 | $89,510 | $71,800 |
The average (mean) is $68,730 a year ($33.04 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 31-2021. Source
Physical Therapist Assistant salary by state
The highest median pay for physical therapist assistants is in California ($83,120), Massachusetts ($79,460), New Jersey ($78,440), Texas ($78,000), Maryland ($77,670). The lowest is in South Dakota ($49,320), Oklahoma ($59,490), West Virginia ($60,420).
The most physical therapist assistants work in Texas (10,510), Florida (9,870), California (9,400).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in Texas ($63,703), Alaska ($63,069), California ($62,390), Nevada ($61,958), Massachusetts ($60,915). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $29.53 | $61,420 | $48,960 | 2,700 |
| Alaska | $37.33 | $77,650 | $63,069 | 110 |
| Arizona | $31.08 | $64,650 | $52,833 | 2,010 |
| Arkansas | $31.02 | $64,520 | $52,122 | 1,620 |
| California | $39.96 | $83,120 | $62,390 | 9,400 |
| Colorado | $31.16 | $64,810 | $51,360 | 1,350 |
| Connecticut | $36.48 | $75,880 | $58,309 | 980 |
| Delaware | $35.87 | $74,610 | $57,436 | 340 |
| District of Columbia | $30.48 | $63,400 | $53,122* | 40 |
| Florida | $34.87 | $72,530 | $59,855 | 9,870 |
| Georgia | $35.00 | $72,800 | $57,161 | 2,620 |
| Hawaii | $32.46 | $67,520 | $52,388 | 250 |
| Idaho | $29.34 | $61,030 | $48,826 | 560 |
| Illinois | $31.37 | $65,250 | $51,523 | 4,890 |
| Indiana | $31.39 | $65,290 | $51,445 | 2,830 |
| Iowa | $29.34 | $61,030 | $49,432 | 1,060 |
| Kansas | $31.01 | $64,500 | $51,206 | 1,300 |
| Kentucky | $29.56 | $61,480 | $49,545 | 2,580 |
| Louisiana | $31.43 | $65,370 | $53,083 | 1,670 |
| Maine | $31.85 | $66,250 | $52,091 | 410 |
| Maryland | $37.34 | $77,670 | $57,821 | 1,430 |
| Massachusetts | $38.20 | $79,460 | $60,915 | 2,640 |
| Michigan | $29.65 | $61,670 | $49,362 | 4,520 |
| Minnesota | $32.10 | $66,770 | $51,771 | 1,230 |
| Mississippi | $29.70 | $61,780 | $50,078 | 1,150 |
| Missouri | $30.66 | $63,770 | $51,365 | 2,490 |
| Montana | $30.12 | $62,650 | $50,335 | 250 |
| Nebraska | $29.50 | $61,360 | $49,298 | 980 |
| Nevada | $36.31 | $75,520 | $61,958 | 560 |
| New Hampshire | $34.35 | $71,450 | $59,095 | 500 |
| New Jersey | $37.71 | $78,440 | $60,172 | 1,810 |
| New Mexico | $29.94 | $62,280 | $50,082 | 700 |
| New York | $30.82 | $64,110 | $50,487 | 3,620 |
| North Carolina | $32.47 | $67,540 | $54,108 | 3,280 |
| North Dakota | $30.54 | $63,520 | $53,115 | 120 |
| Ohio | $30.68 | $63,810 | $51,925 | 7,040 |
| Oklahoma | $28.60 | $59,490 | $47,848 | 2,380 |
| Oregon | $35.19 | $73,200 | $54,882 | 890 |
| Pennsylvania | $30.09 | $62,590 | $50,506 | 4,270 |
| Rhode Island | $33.00 | $68,640 | $53,827 | 420 |
| South Carolina | $33.90 | $70,510 | $55,582 | 1,870 |
| South Dakota | $23.71 | $49,320 | $41,809 | 300 |
| Tennessee | $30.05 | $62,500 | $52,399 | 3,390 |
| Texas | $37.50 | $78,000 | $63,703 | 10,510 |
| Utah | $29.80 | $61,980 | $49,225 | 970 |
| Vermont | $34.42 | $71,590 | $56,655 | 100 |
| Virginia | $35.46 | $73,760 | $57,293 | 3,370 |
| Washington | $31.95 | $66,460 | $54,659 | 2,150 |
| West Virginia | $29.05 | $60,420 | $48,843 | 980 |
| Wisconsin | $30.81 | $64,080 | $50,661 | 1,650 |
| Wyoming | $30.56 | $63,560 | $53,250 | 240 |
Overtime and pay rules for physical therapist assistants
Physical therapist assistants who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. Hospitals and residential care facilities may instead use the "8 and 80" system: overtime after 8 hours in a day or 80 hours in a fixed 14-day period, agreed with the employee in advance. Source The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a physical therapist assistant's pay
On the median $68,380, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 16.7% of pay for a single filer: $6,213 of income tax and $5,231 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $52,280, so the top federal rate is 22%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 29.65% before state tax: 22% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($3,419 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $598, so it costs about $2,821 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed physical therapist assistants are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Forensic Science Technician | $72,060 | $34.65 |
| High School Teacher | $72,040 | — |
| Social Worker (Healthcare) | $67,880 | $32.63 |
| Surgical Tech | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | $64,400 | $30.96 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $33 an hour is how much a year.
Physical Therapist Assistant salary questions
How much does a physical therapist assistant make?
The median pay is $32.88 an hour, or $68,380 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $47,750 and the top 10% more than $89,510.
How much does a physical therapist assistant make after taxes?
About $56,935 a year, or $2,190 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In South Dakota, at that state's own median pay, it is about $41,809.
How much does a physical therapist assistant make a month?
About $5,698 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $4,745 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays physical therapist assistants the most?
California, with a median of $83,120 a year ($39.96 an hour). Next are Massachusetts ($79,460) and New Jersey ($78,440). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in Texas.
How much does a physical therapist assistant make an hour?
The median is $32.88 an hour. The middle half earn $28.76 to $37.83, and the top 10% more than $43.04.
Do physical therapist assistants get paid overtime?
Physical therapist assistants who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. Hospitals and residential care facilities may instead use the "8 and 80" system: overtime after 8 hours in a day or 80 hours in a fixed 14-day period, agreed with the employee in advance. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
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All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.