How Much Does An Physical Therapist Assistant Make?

In the career of physical therapy, the hierarchy of the job flows downward from the physical therapist to the assistant physical therapist and then on to the physical therapist aide. The physical therapist assistant provides assistance to the physical therapist as he or she performs the different physical therapy treatments that are required and might also assist with regular administrative tasks such as documenting the treatment progress of the patient. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is in the region of 63,750 physical therapist assistants working across the nation and this number is projected to grow by 33 percent when 2018 rolls around. Below is an outline on how much does an physical therapist assistant make and what factors contribute to it.

National Average:

As he or she works in conjunction with the physical therapist, the physical therapist assistant can look forward to earning on average $48,590 per year. Hourly, this is equivalent to $23.36. However, it is important to note that salaries widely vary. Physical therapist assistants who are positioned in the 75th percentile, meaning that 75 percent of every physical therapist assistant, earns $57,780 per year. Meanwhile, individuals in the lower 10th percentile bring in only $30,400 per year.

Employers By Employee Numbers:

Health practitioner offices are the top employers of therapist assistants and they are responsible for the employment of 39 per cent of all physical therapist assistants. In the health practitioner offices, physical therapist assistants can look forward to earning on average $46,910 per year. Hospitals are the second biggest employers where physical therapist assistants are concerned and they pay assistants on average, $47,000 per year. Nursing care facilities also employ a large number of employees, who earn $52,700 per year.

Employers By Salary:

Service providers of home health care are the most profitable employers where physical therapy assistants are concerned, which pay $60,360 on average. These home health care providers visit the homes of patients in order to provide medical services including physical therapy. Employment service companies pay their employees on average $55,150 per year.

States:

The state with the largest concentration of the physical therapist assistants is Ohio. The Buckeye State provides a salary for the physical therapist assistant which, on average, is $51,180 per year. The second biggest state by concentration is Kentucky, which pay employees an average of $47,300 per year and the third biggest state by concentration is West Virginia, doling out $41,310 per year. If the states are being categorized by salary, the three states which pay physical therapist assistants the highest on average are Texas, $61,710; California, $56,820 and Nevada physical therapist assistants are paid average salaries of $56,120 per year.

Again, how much does an physical therapist assistant make will depend mainly on the location of the employee and the experience they have accumulated so far.