Physical Therapist Assistant Salary In California
The average salary for a physical therapist assistant in California is $86,430 per year. This equates to an hourly wage of $44.08, which is slightly above the national average of $42.92 per hour. The highest-paid assistants make as much as $117,380 annually, while the lowest-paid make around $54,670.
Physical therapist assistants can find work in a variety of settings including hospitals and clinics. They work alongside physical therapists and help with their duties such as preparing equipment for use by patients and monitoring progress during treatment sessions. Assistants may also assist patients with moving around the facility or providing therapeutic exercises that promote healing after surgery or other procedures.
Job Outlook for Physical Therapist Assistants in California
The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that there are about 27,000 jobs for physical therapist assistants throughout California at present (as of May 2016). However, it projects that this number will increase by about 8 percent by 2024—which corresponds to an additional 2,300 jobs being added over that time frame. This would bring total employment levels up to 29,700 jobs statewide by 2024 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Physical Therapist Assistant Salary In California
How much does a PTA make in California?
As of Aug 14, 2022, the average annual pay for a PTA in California is $71,395 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $34.32 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,372/week or $5,949/month.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $111,219 and as low as $29,294, the majority of PTA salaries currently range between $53,126 (25th percentile) to $77,952 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $98,805 annually in California.
The average pay range for a PTA varies greatly (as much as $24,826), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.
Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the PTA job market in California is not very active as few companies are currently hiring.
California ranks number 3 out of 50 states nationwide for PTA salaries.
To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for PTA jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.
Find your next high paying job as a PTA on ZipRecruiter today.
What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for PTA Jobs in California
We’ve identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a PTA job is above the average in California. Topping the list is Pleasanton, with San Francisco and Bolinas close behind in second and third. Bolinas beats the California average by 10.9%, and Pleasanton furthers that trend with another $9,143 (12.8%) above the $71,395.
With these 10 cities paying on average above the average for California, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a PTA appears to be exceedingly fruitful.
Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 9% between Pleasanton and Hayward, reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a PTA role.
| City | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasanton | $80,538 | $6,711 | $1,548 | $38.72 |
| San Francisco | $79,552 | $6,629 | $1,529 | $38.25 |
| Bolinas | $79,158 | $6,596 | $1,522 | $38.06 |
| Los Angeles | $77,925 | $6,493 | $1,498 | $37.46 |
| San Jose | $75,567 | $6,297 | $1,453 | $36.33 |
| Sacramento | $75,350 | $6,279 | $1,449 | $36.23 |
| Oakland | $74,761 | $6,230 | $1,437 | $35.94 |
| Huntington Beach | $74,246 | $6,187 | $1,427 | $35.70 |
| Inverness | $73,614 | $6,134 | $1,415 | $35.39 |
| Hayward | $73,275 | $6,106 | $1,409 | $35.23 |
What are Top 5 Best Paying Related PTA Jobs in California
We found at least 5 jobs related to the PTA job category that pay more per year than a typical PTA salary in California. Top examples of these roles include: Physical Therapist Contract, HOME CARE Physical Therapist, and HOME Health Physical Therapist.
Importantly, all of these jobs are paid between $34,481 (48.3%) and $64,462 (90.3%) more than the average PTA salary of $71,395. If you’re qualified, getting hired for one of these related PTA jobs may help you make more money than that of the average PTA position.
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Contract | $135,857 | $11,321 | $2,612 | $65.32 |
| HOME CARE Physical Therapist | $122,641 | $10,220 | $2,358 | $58.96 |
| HOME Health Physical Therapist | $111,139 | $9,261 | $2,137 | $53.43 |
| Registered Physical Therapist | $109,623 | $9,135 | $2,108 | $52.70 |
| Physical Therapist Consultant | $105,876 | $8,823 | $2,036 | $50.90 |
