How to become physical therapist assistantseducation, training, experience and the steps to enter
Median annual pay
$68,380
25th–75th pct. $59,820–$78,680
Top pay (est.)
$116,400
Top 10% $89,510
Pay in 5 years
$81,200est.
2031
Pay in 10 years
$96,500est.
$83,000–$112,000
Outlook score
81/100
★★★★☆ Excellent
AI replacement risk
15%
Very low
Job growth (10 yr)
+23.0%
18K openings / yr
How to become physical therapist assistants
Typical education
Associate's degree
BLS
Related experience
None
On-the-job training
None
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Skills, education and requirements for Physical Therapist Assistants
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Assisting and Caring for OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgePerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicDocumenting/Recording InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsPerforming General Physical Activities
Important abilities
Oral ExpressionOral ComprehensionNear VisionProblem SensitivityWritten ComprehensionSpeech Recognition
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 3 — medium preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
Career path and how to earn more as physical therapist assistants
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.
Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35; O*NET 31.0 Database by USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0), modified by Shigoto Zukan. Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.