Do PTAs make good money?

Yes, PTAs make good money. The average physical therapy assistant (PTA) earns $58,790 annually. However, the range in pay can start as low as $36,000 to as high as $79,880 a year. Factors such as where the job is located account for some of the large variation in pay rate.

How do I become a PTA?

To become a PTA, you must graduate from a physical therapy assistant accredited program and pass a state-administered national exam to obtain licensure. Since physical therapist assistants (PTAs) work closely with patients (e.g., exercising), PTAs must have adequate training before they begin working.

How long does it take to be a physical therapist assistant?

It takes two years to become a physical therapy assistant. In most cases, students enroll in an associate's degree physical therapy assistant program. However, some PTAs also earn bachelor's degrees in physical therapy, increasing their earning potential.

Is PTA a stressful job?

Yes, PTA can be a stressful job. While physical therapy assistants (PTAs) do not have to meet sales quotas, meet deadlines, or work overtime, working as a PTA can be emotionally and physically stressful.

Is a PTA a good career?

Yes, being a PTA is a good career. Physical therapy assistants (PTAs) are ranked # 1 in Best Health Care Support Jobs. The amount of money a PTA can make relative to the school needed makes this an attractive job.

How To Become A Physical Therapist Assistant: What It Is and Career Path

What is a physical therapist assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A physical therapist assistant (PTA) works under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. PTAs help patients recover from injuries, illnesses, and surgeries by assisting with therapeutic activities. They work with patients of all ages and conditions, helping to improve their mobility, strength, flexibility, and overall function. PTAs also teach patients how to perform exercises at home and monitor their progress. They may work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, or private practices.

ScorePhysical Therapist AssistantUS Average

Salary

4.1

Avg. Salary $53,035

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

7.1

Growth Rate 24%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%

Asian 8.61%

Black or African American 7.01%

Hispanic or Latino 13.01%

Unknown 4.78%

White 66.17%

Gender

female 66.34%

male 33.66%

Age - 37

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 37

Stress Level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

6.3

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

8.1

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Physical Therapist Assistant?

Pros

Good job outlook with expected job growth
Competitive salary and benefits packages
Opportunities for advancement and specialization within the field
Ability to work flexible hours, including part-time or per diem positions
Collaborative work with other healthcare professionals, including physical therapists and doctors

Cons

Physically demanding job that may require heavy lifting or long periods of standing
May need to work weekends, evenings, or holidays to accommodate patient schedules
May require travel between different locations for work assignments
Limited opportunities for career advancement without further education or training
May experience burnout due to long hours, high workload, and emotional demands of the job.

Key steps to become a physical therapist assistant

Explore physical therapist assistant education requirements

Most common physical therapist assistant degrees

Associate

67.4 %

Bachelor's

23.9 %

High School Diploma

2.8 %

Start to develop specific physical therapist assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	26.14%
Rehabilitation	15.07%
Home Health	10.98%
PTA	7.47%
Physical Therapy Treatment	4.56%

Complete relevant physical therapist assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New physical therapist assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a physical therapist assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real physical therapist assistant resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed physical therapist assistant usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed physical therapist assistant in most of states. 40 states require physical therapist assistants to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License Url
Alabama	-	-	Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant
Arkansas	Specific course required	State exam required	Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)
California	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Physical Therapist Assistant
Connecticut	Specific course required	Third-party exam required	Physical Therapist Assistant
Delaware	Degree required	State exam required	Physical Therapist Assistant

Research physical therapist assistant duties and responsibilities

Manage a diverse caseload including, but not limit to CVA's, cardiac care, Alzheimer's and sub acute orthopedics
Provide patients at a SNF with ROM exercises, transfer and gait training as well as balance and bed mobility exercises.
Provide physical therapy treatment as directed by physical therapist as PRN PTA for inpatient orthopedic rehabilitation and community hospital settings.
Care of patients in acute and ICU settings.

Prepare your physical therapist assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your physical therapist assistant resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a physical therapist assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Physical Therapist Assistant Resume templates

Build a professional Physical Therapist Assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Physical Therapist Assistant resume.

Apply for physical therapist assistant jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a physical therapist assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average physical therapist assistant salary

The average Physical Therapist Assistant salary in the United States is $53,035 per year or $26 per hour. Physical therapist assistant salaries range between $40,000 and $70,000 per year.

Average Physical Therapist Assistant Salary

$53,035 Yearly

$25.50 hourly

How do physical therapist assistants rate their job?

4/5

Based On 3 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Physical Therapist Assistant reviews

4.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

Work schedule flexibility in the rehab and home health settings. I love problem-solving and finding solutions to improve the pts success at home. I love helping patients regain their PLOF or independence. I love meeting and working with a variety of people from differnt walks of life.

Cons

Inflexible or unrealistic patients or family members. So much paperwork. About every 7 years I just change careers for a while or take a break. Dynamic can be challenging when you work in Home Health because you work in a lot of assisted living facilities each with their own staff and policies which my differ from your own. It is a balancing act.

4.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

The relationship with the pts and seeing progress made for their return home

Cons

Cooperate money relations

4.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019

Pros

Rehabilitating impairments

Cons

Lifting patients who couldn’t able by themselves from bed

What is a physical therapist assistant and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being a Physical Therapist Assistant?

Physical Therapist Assistant career paths

Key steps to become a physical therapist assistant

Explore physical therapist assistant education requirements

Most common physical therapist assistant degrees

Start to develop specific physical therapist assistant skills

Complete relevant physical therapist assistant training and internships

Obtain the necessary licensing

Research physical therapist assistant duties and responsibilities

Prepare your physical therapist assistant resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Physical Therapist Assistant Resume templates

Apply for physical therapist assistant jobs

How Did You Land Your First Physical Therapist Assistant Job

Average physical therapist assistant salary

How do physical therapist assistants rate their job?

Physical Therapist Assistant reviews

Physical Therapist Assistant FAQs

Do PTAs make good money?

How do I become a PTA?

How long does it take to be a physical therapist assistant?

Is PTA a stressful job?

Is a PTA a good career?

Search for physical therapist assistant jobs

Physical Therapist Assistant jobs by state