The average salary for a physical therapist assistant in California is around $83,110 per year.
Avg Salary
Physical therapist assistants earn an average yearly salary of $83,110.
Wages typically start from $59,500 and go up to $102,800.
2% above national average Updated in 2025
Physical therapist assistant earnings by seniority
Top-level physical therapist assistant earnings begin at:
$49.42 per hour
$102,800 per year
Senior-level physical therapist assistant earnings begin at:
$45.64 per hour
$94,940 per year
Mid-level physical therapist assistant earnings begin at:
$39.96 per hour
$83,110 per year
Junior-level physical therapist assistant earnings begin at:
$36.49 per hour
$75,900 per year
Starting level physical therapist assistant earnings begin at:
$28.61 per hour
$59,500 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Physical therapist assistant salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $83,110 |
| Massachusetts | $79,460 |
| New Jersey | $78,440 |
| Texas | $78,000 |
| Maryland | $77,670 |
| Alaska | $77,640 |
| Connecticut | $75,880 |
| Nevada | $75,520 |
| Delaware | $74,610 |
| Virginia | $73,760 |
| Oregon | $73,180 |
| Georgia | $72,800 |
| Florida | $72,530 |
| Vermont | $71,600 |
| New Hampshire | $71,440 |
| South Carolina | $70,500 |
| Rhode Island | $68,640 |
| North Carolina | $67,540 |
| Hawaii | $67,510 |
| Minnesota | $66,770 |
| Washington | $66,450 |
| Maine | $66,250 |
| Louisiana | $65,370 |
| Indiana | $65,280 |
| Illinois | $65,240 |
| Colorado | $64,810 |
| Arizona | $64,650 |
| Arkansas | $64,520 |
| Kansas | $64,500 |
| New York | $64,100 |
| Wisconsin | $64,080 |
| Ohio | $63,820 |
| Missouri | $63,770 |
| Wyoming | $63,550 |
| North Dakota | $63,520 |
| District of Columbia | $63,400 |
| Montana | $62,650 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,580 |
| Tennessee | $62,500 |
| New Mexico | $62,280 |
| Utah | $61,980 |
| Mississippi | $61,770 |
| Michigan | $61,670 |
| Kentucky | $61,480 |
| Alabama | $61,430 |
| Nebraska | $61,370 |
| Iowa | $61,030 |
| Idaho | $61,020 |
| West Virginia | $60,430 |
| Oklahoma | $59,480 |
| South Dakota | $49,310 |
| Puerto Rico | $20,150 |
How do physical therapist assistant salaries compare to similar careers?
Physical therapist assistants earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than nurse educators but more than hearing aid specialists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Nurse educator salary | $82K |
| Healthcare social worker salary | $90K |
| Cardiovascular technologist and technician salary | $78K |
| Orthotist and prosthetist salary | $92K |
| Occupational therapist assistant salary | $82K |
| Physical therapist assistant salary | $83K |
| Surgical technologist salary | $81K |
| Licensed practical nurse salary | $80K |
| Paramedic salary | $75K |
| Hearing aid specialist salary | $80K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)