How much money does a physical therapist make an hour

Frequently asked questions

What do physical therapist assistants do?

Physical therapy assistants (PTAs) provide physical therapy services while being directed and supervised by a licensed physical therapist. PTAs may assist patients of all ages who need physical rehab or have medical issues or health-related conditions that limit their ability to perform daily activities.

PTAs provide care focusing on patients’ mobility, strength, and coordination and may help patients with exercises geared toward strengthening these abilities. PTAs may train patients for activities such as walking with a mobility device including crutches, canes, or walkers. They may also fit or adjust supportive devices, such a leg braces or crutches. In addition, PTAs are also trained to conduct therapeutic exercises and provide therapeutic massage using ultrasound or electrical stimulation for treatment.

Working with physical therapists, PTAs can help measure changes in patients’ performance and assist with clerical duties, including documenting progress, completing forms, and ordering supplies.

PTAs work in a variety of settings including hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, sports facilities, schools, and more.

Read more about what physical therapist assistants do.

What is the difference between a PTA and Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA)?

Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) work under the direction of a physical therapist (PT) to help people return to daily activity which may encompass movement related recreational pursuits, work, or sports. PTAs also offer patients injury prevention strategies related to fitness and movement. They help implement plans established by a PT to promote movement, reduce pain, restore function and prevent disability.

Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) work under the direction of an occupational therapist (OT) to help people of all ages who have a disability, condition or injury which interferes with their ability to carry out daily self-care, school or work tasks. OT/OTAs work on cognition as well as the physical aspect of care.

* Salaries can vary based on location, education, and experience. This average is not entry level – recent graduates will need to earn experience and work their way up to earn a higher salary.

Both OTAs and PTAs may be able to increase their earning potential by earning a bachelor's degree in health science. Completing a bachelor's degree can help OTAs and PTAs qualify for more jobs within their field and advance their career.

Learn more about the primary difference between OTA and PTA.

How can I become a PTA?

To become a PTA, you’ll need to earn an associate's degree from a physical therapy assistant program. Generally, these programs take approximately 20 months to complete and focus on medical terminology, kinesiology, patient care, and anatomy/physiology. As a complement to online coursework, you’ll also participate in hands-on clinicals and lab work, which will help build your practical experience in physical therapy assisting.

Once you have graduated, it’s important to become certified. You can sit for the National Licensing Examination for Physical Therapy Assistants, which is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). Passing the exam and earning your PTA certification is a requirement for working as a PTA.

The field of physical therapy has increased in popularity over the years. The future of the occupation looks bright as well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, the employment of physical therapists is expected to grow 28% from 2016 to 2026, considered much faster than the average for all occupations.

According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics, as of 2018, the average annual wage of physical therapists is $88,880. However, physical therapy salaries aren’t this high in every state. In some states, the average annual income is as much as $10,000 less. Depending on where you live, your income as a physical therapy will vary in accordance. Below you’ll find the full breakdown below of where physical therapy incomes are the lowest, and where their incomes are the highest.

10 States Where Physical Therapists Earn the Most Money

Here’s a breakdown of the top-10 states in which physical therapists earn the most, based on the BLS’s mean annual wage data.

Geographically, the states are an interesting mix. Nevada, Alaska, New Mexico and California lay within the Census-designated West region. New Mexico is interesting because its median household income ($46,718) is much lower than the U.S. median ($57,652), yet is the fourth-highest paying state for physical therapist. The Northeast is represented by only New Jersey and Massachusetts.

10 States Where Physical Therapists Earn the Least Money

Here’s a breakdown of the top-10 states in which physical therapists earn the least. The states that pay the least tend to also be states with smaller populations, with the exception No. 9 Missouri and 10 Colorado, which have populations in excess of 5.5 million and 6 million, respectively.

By contrast, the No. 1 state Vermont has a population of only 626,299, No. 2 has 882,235, Maine and Idaho both less than 2 million, and North Dakota has 760,077 people, according to the Census Bureau.

How Much Physical therapists Make In Each State

Below are all 50 states and how much physical therapists earn a year on average, according to the BLS. Wisconsin physical therapist incomes have increased the most from 2017 to 2018, by 5.7%. Delaware came in second in this regard with 5.1% growth, New Mexico in third with 5% growth. Nevada physical therapists have the highest income currently, but average annual salaries there are actually on the low-end historically. In 2016, the mean annual wage was $120,820 for physical therapists, before declining by nearly 15% to $102,860 in 2017.

From 2013 to 2018, the state with the best average annual increase in physical therapy salaries is Illinois. From 2013 to 2018, physical therapist incomes averaged 3.3% growth year-to-year. No. 2 was North Dakota and No. 3 Montana, both states that fall in the lowest-paid list of states. New Mexico experienced average annual growth of 2.8%, seeing only one year of decline from 2014 to 2015.

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