Physical Therapy Assistants

Overview

Introduction

Physical therapy assistants (PTAs) help to restore physical function in people with injury, congenital anomalies, or disease. They assist physical therapists with a variety of techniques, such as exercise, massage, heat, and water therapy.

Physical therapy assistants work directly under the supervision of physical therapists. They teach and help patients improve functional activities required in their daily lives, such as walking, climbing, and moving from one place to another. The assistants observe patients during treatment...

Quick Facts


Median Salary

$64,080

Employment Prospects

Excellent

Minimum Education Level

Associates Degree


Experience

Clinical experience through an accredited program required


Skills

Coaching/Physical Training|Interpersonal|Mechanical/Manual Dexter


Personality Traits

Hands On|Helpful|Outgoing

Earnings

Salaries for physical therapy assistants vary considerably depending on location, employer, and level of experience. Physical therapy assistants earned median annual salaries of $64,080 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The median annual salary for workers in all careers was $48,069. The lowest 10 percent of physical therapy assistants earned $42,110 or less; the highest 1...

Work Environment

Sixty-seven percent of PTAs work in the offices of physical, occupational, and speech therapists, and audiologists. Others work in hospitals, home health, schools, and rehab units. Physical therapy is generally administered in pleasant, clean, well-lighted, and well-ventilated surroundings. The space devoted to physical therapy services is often large to accommodate activities such as gait trai...

Outlook

Employment prospects are very good for physical therapy assistants. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment will grow much faster than the average for all careers through 2033. In fact, the career of PTA ranks in the top 10 fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. through 2033.

Many new positions for physical therapy assistants are expected to open up as hospital programs th...