Physical Therapy Aides Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Generally, a high school diploma is required to become a physical therapy aide. Vocational training from a community college or vocational school can also be beneficial.
Training and Education
Workers often find employers are looking for short-term on-the-job training. Employees, in 23% of cases, have bachelor's degree or higher. After high school, 65% of physical therapy aides pursued some additional career education. Workers, in 12% of cases, had only a high school education.
Job Overview
Physical therapy aides help physical therapists when they treat the patients. A physical therapy aide may help a patient exercise or train him/her to use crutches, while also ensuring therapy equipment is ready for use.
Job Requirements
Training is an essential requisite for a physical therapy aide. They are typically trained on the job by physical therapists.
Usually no licensure is required for a physical therapy aide. However, if they wish to advance in this field they should earn a formal education and as much experience as possible.
Physical therapy aides need to have a genuine desire to help others. They should also be well organized and have an eye for detail. As they interact with patients and therapists, good communication skills are helpful.
Nature of Work
Physical therapy aides are accountable for keeping the area of treatment clean and organized. They are also supposed to make all the necessary preparations for each patient’s therapy. When required, they move patients from one treatment area to another. If the need arises, they may apply hot and cold packs and keep a record of the condition of the patient by noting and reporting signs like those of anguish and fatigue. Routine physical therapy treatments are usually performed by physical therapy aides.
Physical therapy aides generally work in a team comprised of doctors, physical therapists and nurses. They work in health care facilities, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools for the physically challenged and physical therapy offices. Physical therapy aides need to have sufficient physical strength in order to assist patients with their treatment. Their work hours depend on the health care facility where they work. .
Area Job Conditions
Employees -of-a-feather seem to flock to Provo (Utah), Lawton (Oklahoma), and Pascagoula (Mississippi). They are less likely to be found around Rochester (New York), Atlanta (Georgia), and Charlotte (North Carolina).
Compensation of physical therapy aides is best in Colorado Springs (Colorado), Salinas (California), and Denver (Colorado), and much worse in Laredo (Texas), Parkersburg (West Virginia), and Provo (Utah).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Physical therapy aides employed part-time are 27% of the total.
Career Videos
Physical Therapy Aides by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $24,000 | 260 | +72% |
| Huntsville | $24,000 | 50 | -19% |
| Mobile | $23,000 | 40 | -23% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingman | $23,000 | 30 | +137% |
| Phoenix | $25,000 | 520 | -5% |
| Prescott | $25,000 | 40 | +172% |
| Tucson | $25,000 | 70 | -33% |
| Yuma | $26,000 | 30 | +98% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $22,000 | 50 | -18% |
| Little Rock | $21,000 | 170 | +61% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $23,000 | 130 | +65% |
| Chico | $23,000 | 100 | +416% |
| Fresno | $23,000 | 170 | +75% |
| Los Angeles | $29,000 | 1,720 | +37% |
| Merced | $22,000 | 40 | +158% |
| Modesto | $27,000 | 50 | +9% |
| Oakland | $30,000 | 190 | -38% |
| Oxnard | $28,000 | 300 | +233% |
| Redding | $26,000 | 90 | +447% |
| Riverside | $31,000 | 490 | +32% |
| Sacramento | $25,000 | 290 | +8% |
| Salinas | $31,000 | 60 | +27% |
| San Diego | $24,000 | 540 | +33% |
| San Francisco | $28,000 | 260 | -15% |
| San Jose | $34,000 | 330 | +19% |
| San Luis Obispo | $23,000 | 70 | +165% |
| Santa Ana | $27,000 | 600 | +33% |
| Santa Barbara | $24,000 | 110 | +122% |
| Santa Rosa | $28,000 | 60 | +16% |
| Stockton | $23,000 | 80 | +28% |
| Vallejo | $29,000 | 60 | +72% |
| Visalia | $20,000 | 50 | +27% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $29,000 | 350 | -9% |
| Fort Collins | $22,000 | 60 | +64% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $27,000 | 150 | +15% |
| Danbury | $32,000 | 60 | +217% |
| New Haven | $25,000 | 150 | +82% |
| Norwich | $27,000 | 50 | +40% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $25,000 | 80 | -19% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $27,000 | 470 | -38% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deltona | $27,000 | 40 | -12% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $25,000 | 180 | -16% |
| Gainesville | $23,000 | 90 | +155% |
| Jacksonville | $25,000 | 120 | -35% |
| Ocala | $23,000 | 40 | +61% |
| Orlando | $23,000 | 170 | -46% |
| Palm Bay | $23,000 | 50 | -15% |
| Pensacola | $21,000 | 40 | -9% |
| Sarasota | $23,000 | 50 | -33% |
| Tallahassee | $21,000 | 80 | +68% |
| Tampa | $24,000 | 240 | -32% |
| West Palm Beach | $32,000 | 80 | -50% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $23,000 | 30 | +76% |
| Athens | $19,000 | 40 | +102% |
| Atlanta | $24,000 | 190 | -73% |
| Augusta | $21,000 | 80 | +30% |
| Gainesville | $25,000 | 50 | +158% |
| Macon | $24,000 | 40 | +55% |
| Savannah | $24,000 | 70 | +59% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $29,000 | 70 | -48% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $25,000 | 180 | +128% |
| Idaho Falls | $20,000 | 40 | +219% |
| Lewiston | $22,000 | 40 | +593% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $24,000 | 1,480 | +27% |
| Rockford | $29,000 | 50 | +21% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $35,000 | 80 | +58% |
| Gary | $23,000 | 150 | +84% |
| Indianapolis | $23,000 | 150 | -46% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $23,000 | 50 | -50% |
| Iowa City | $21,000 | 40 | +103% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $25,000 | 70 | -20% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $25,000 | 150 | +107% |
| Louisville | $24,000 | 260 | +39% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | $24,000 | 40 | +125% |
| Baton Rouge | $21,000 | 220 | +93% |
| Houma | $24,000 | 60 | +121% |
| Lafayette | $18,000 | 90 | +114% |
| Lake Charles | $24,000 | 40 | +59% |
| New Orleans | $23,000 | 190 | +17% |
| Shreveport | $25,000 | 90 | +68% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $24,000 | 780 | +92% |
| Bethesda | $25,000 | 370 | +108% |
| Cumberland | $31,000 | 40 | +315% |
| Salisbury | $27,000 | 40 | +175% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $26,000 | 30 | +5% |
| Boston | $29,000 | 310 | -43% |
| Haverhill | $30,000 | 30 | +29% |
| Lawrence | $26,000 | 30 | +83% |
| Lowell | $29,000 | 40 | +14% |
| Peabody | $30,000 | 60 | +105% |
| Springfield | $28,000 | 90 | 0% |
| Worcester | $39,000 | 60 | -21% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $28,000 | 60 | +21% |
| Detroit | $22,000 | 80 | -61% |
| Flint | $22,000 | 30 | -21% |
| Grand Rapids | $24,000 | 120 | +4% |
| Warren | $25,000 | 390 | +17% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $24,000 | 220 | -60% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $25,000 | 60 | -22% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau | $28,000 | 50 | +321% |
| Kansas City | $25,000 | 130 | -59% |
| Springfield | $21,000 | 50 | -12% |
| St Louis | $25,000 | 360 | -13% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $20,000 | 130 | +174% |
| Omaha | $23,000 | 230 | +59% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $26,000 | 270 | +3% |
| Reno | $29,000 | 60 | +5% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $26,000 | 60 | +41% |
| Camden | $29,000 | 390 | +142% |
| Edison | $24,000 | 1,010 | +218% |
| Newark | $26,000 | 770 | +149% |
| Trenton | $24,000 | 90 | +32% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $28,000 | 180 | +53% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $26,000 | 40 | -71% |
| Buffalo | $29,000 | 150 | -12% |
| Nassau | $30,000 | 650 | +66% |
| New York | $25,000 | 2,000 | +24% |
| Poughkeepsie | $26,000 | 60 | -19% |
| Rochester | $27,000 | 80 | -49% |
| Syracuse | $28,000 | 80 | -16% |
| Utica | $28,000 | 60 | +65% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $25,000 | 80 | -70% |
| Durham | $28,000 | 40 | -52% |
| Greensboro | $23,000 | 60 | -45% |
| Raleigh | $24,000 | 50 | -69% |
| Winston Salem | $25,000 | 90 | +42% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | $23,000 | 50 | +176% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $24,000 | 50 | -49% |
| Canton | $25,000 | 30 | -39% |
| Cincinnati | $24,000 | 230 | -27% |
| Cleveland | $25,000 | 240 | -24% |
| Columbus | $21,000 | 110 | -61% |
| Dayton | $24,000 | 50 | -57% |
| Toledo | $26,000 | 70 | -22% |
| Youngstown | $27,000 | 100 | +47% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawton | $19,000 | 50 | +363% |
| Oklahoma City | $21,000 | 370 | +108% |
| Tulsa | $24,000 | 170 | +29% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $24,000 | 80 | +358% |
| Eugene | $24,000 | 40 | -3% |
| Medford | $22,000 | 50 | +129% |
| Portland | $26,000 | 380 | +20% |
| Salem | $28,000 | 40 | -9% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $26,000 | 100 | -5% |
| Erie | $24,000 | 40 | +7% |
| Harrisburg | $29,000 | 110 | +13% |
| Lancaster | $26,000 | 70 | -1% |
| Philadelphia | $29,000 | 760 | +28% |
| Pittsburgh | $30,000 | 400 | +13% |
| Reading | 50 | +1% | |
| Scranton | $24,000 | 100 | +26% |
| York | $27,000 | 60 | +14% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $25,000 | 110 | -36% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $23,000 | 160 | +50% |
| Spartanburg | 40 | +19% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City | $20,000 | 60 | +198% |
| Knoxville | $21,000 | 170 | +67% |
| Memphis | $21,000 | 120 | -37% |
| Nashville | $27,000 | 190 | -17% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene | $18,000 | 90 | +415% |
| Amarillo | $22,000 | 110 | +257% |
| Austin | $22,000 | 200 | -18% |
| Beaumont | $23,000 | 60 | +26% |
| Brownsville | $22,000 | 120 | +215% |
| College Station | $20,000 | 70 | +166% |
| Corpus Christi | $20,000 | 100 | +88% |
| Dallas | $26,000 | 500 | -23% |
| El Paso | $22,000 | 280 | +239% |
| Fort Worth | $28,000 | 160 | -40% |
| Houston | $25,000 | 560 | -32% |
| Laredo | $20,000 | 50 | +126% |
| Longview | $23,000 | 40 | +46% |
| Lubbock | $19,000 | 100 | +172% |
| Mcallen | $21,000 | 320 | +363% |
| Odessa | $21,000 | 40 | +158% |
| San Angelo | $20,000 | 60 | +446% |
| San Antonio | $23,000 | 410 | +52% |
| Sherman | $21,000 | 40 | +266% |
| Tyler | $25,000 | 100 | +288% |
| Waco | $21,000 | 40 | +39% |
| Wichita Falls | $19,000 | 100 | +560% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $20,000 | 210 | +252% |
| Provo | $21,000 | 170 | +236% |
| Salt Lake City | $23,000 | 340 | +81% |
| St George | $23,000 | 60 | +390% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $23,000 | 40 | +63% |
| Harrisonburg | $29,000 | 50 | +226% |
| Richmond | $24,000 | 110 | -42% |
| Virginia Beach | $22,000 | 260 | +11% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $24,000 | 30 | +45% |
| Bremerton | $26,000 | 40 | +70% |
| Mount Vernon | $28,000 | 40 | +239% |
| Olympia | $25,000 | 40 | +41% |
| Seattle | $28,000 | 430 | -1% |
| Spokane | $24,000 | 110 | +79% |
| Tacoma | $26,000 | 60 | -25% |
| Wenatchee | $26,000 | 40 | +291% |
| Yakima | 80 | +238% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington | $24,000 | 80 | +142% |
| Morgantown | $20,000 | 40 | +176% |
| Parkersburg | $24,000 | 40 | +111% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire | $27,000 | 50 | +141% |
| Madison | $28,000 | 50 | -52% |
| Milwaukee | $24,000 | 220 | -14% |