Physical Therapy Assistants Job Overview
Physical therapy assistants help physical therapists provide treatment to accident victims or those suffering from lower-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, bone fractures, head injuries and cerebral palsy to improve their mobility, relieve pain or lessen physical disabilities. They help patients exercise or learn to use crutches.
Their work also involves exercises, massages, electrical stimulation, paraffin baths, traction, and ultrasound. They must be supervised by a physical therapist.
Physical Therapy Assistants Schools and Degrees
Physical therapy assistants usually earn an associate’s degree from an accredited physical therapist assistant program. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, there were 233 accredited physical therapist assistant programs in the United States in 2006.
Accredited programs usually last for 2 years and culminate in an associate’s degree. Programs provide academic study and hands-on clinical experience. The academic study includes algebra, anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry and psychology course.
Clinical work includes certifications in CPR and other first aid and field experience in treatment centers.
Job Requirements
Physical therapy assistants are required to have an associate’s degree in many states.
In some states they are required to possess a license or registration. States that require licensure stipulate specific educational and examination criteria. Additional requirements may include certification in CPR and some hours of clinical experience.
They should be well-organized, detail oriented and caring. They must also have strong interpersonal skills and a desire to help people in need.
Nature of Work
Physical therapy assistants undergo a considerable amount of physical exertion while assisting patients and also may need to lift patients in certain cases, so they should possess a moderate degree of strength. Work hours vary in every office.
About 23 percent of physical therapy assistants work part time. Under the directions of physical therapists, assistants make plans for patient treatment and then implement them. They teach patients how to do exercises to strengthen muscles or improve mobility.
Physical Therapy Assistants Jobs and Outlook
According to research in 2006, physical therapy assistants held about 60,000 jobs in the U.S. That number is expected to grow by 32% during the next ten years. Employment is the highest in the following industries:
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
- Home Health Care Services
- Nursing Care Facilities
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners
- Offices of Physicians
The mean hourly wage for physical therapy assistants in the US is about $21.32, while the mean annual salary is around $44,340.
Job Numbers and Growth About 60,000 physical therapy assistants are employed nationally. Workers can expect a very low level of unemployment, if history can be used as a guide. In 2008, 2% of employees could not find jobs. Area Job Conditions Popular locations for employees include Gadsden (Alabama), Bay City (Michigan), and Canton (Ohio). Fewer are found in San Jose (California), San Francisco (California), and Stockton (California). Physical therapy assistants looking for high salaries should look at Oxnard (California), San Francisco (California), and Virginia Beach (Virginia), and should avoid Bethesda (Maryland), Lafayette (Louisiana), and Lake Charles (Louisiana). Training and Education Workers often obtain an associate degree before starting. The percentage of employees with college degrees is 23%. Physical therapy assistants with some college (less than a bachelor's degree) represent about 65% of the total. Some workers, about 12%, had a high-school education. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career. Part-Time Work and Self-Employment Part-time physical therapy assistants are 27% of all surveyed.
Physical Therapy Assistants 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 |
|---|
| Anniston | $37,000 | 30 | +72% | | Birmingham | $48,000 | 350 | +59% | | Decatur | $42,000 | 50 | +147% | | Dothan | $48,000 | 50 | +122% | | Gadsden | $53,000 | 80 | +565% | | Huntsville | $34,000 | 80 | -6% | | Mobile | $42,000 | 90 | +20% | | Montgomery | $45,000 | 110 | +58% | | Tuscaloosa | $39,000 | 90 | +157% |
Arizona | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Phoenix | $39,000 | 600 | -25% | | Tucson | $40,000 | 160 | +3% |
Arkansas | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Fayetteville | $41,000 | 50 | -38% | | Fort Smith | $50,000 | 100 | +114% | | Little Rock | $43,000 | 140 | -2% |
California | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Bakersfield | $53,000 | 60 | -46% | | Chico | | 40 | +51% | | Fresno | $52,000 | 80 | -43% | | Modesto | $53,000 | 60 | -10% | | Oakland | $55,000 | 250 | -43% | | Oxnard | $68,000 | 140 | +13% | | Riverside | $56,000 | 420 | -23% | | Sacramento | $57,000 | 280 | -26% | | San Diego | $58,000 | 390 | -32% | | San Francisco | $61,000 | 160 | -62% | | San Jose | $51,000 | 170 | -57% | | Santa Ana | $55,000 | 420 | -36% | | Santa Rosa | $48,000 | 40 | -47% | | Stockton | $50,000 | 30 | -66% | | Visalia | $39,000 | 40 | -26% |
Colorado | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Boulder | $39,000 | 40 | -39% | | Colorado Springs | $40,000 | 60 | -42% | | Denver | $39,000 | 270 | -49% | | Fort Collins | $36,000 | 40 | -17% | | Pueblo | $38,000 | 60 | +200% |
Connecticut | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Bridgeport | $48,000 | 100 | -46% | | Hartford | | 150 | -39% | | New Haven | $46,000 | 90 | -23% | | Waterbury | $45,000 | 80 | +208% |
Delaware | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Wilmington | $47,000 | 160 | +16% |
District of Columbia | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Washington | $45,000 | 450 | -54% |
Florida | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Cape Coral | $49,000 | 90 | +4% | | Deltona | $48,000 | 70 | +11% | | Fort Lauderdale | $53,000 | 450 | +44% | | Gainesville | $44,000 | 60 | +32% | | Jacksonville | $51,000 | 220 | -14% | | Lakeland | $48,000 | 40 | -50% | | Miami | $46,000 | 530 | +26% | | Naples | $56,000 | 50 | +4% | | Ocala | $45,000 | 110 | +197% | | Orlando | $52,000 | 230 | -48% | | Palm Bay | $47,000 | 90 | +12% | | Panama City | $44,000 | 60 | +128% | | Pensacola | $39,000 | 60 | 0% | | Port St Lucie | $57,000 | 60 | +18% | | Punta Gorda | $42,000 | 30 | +110% | | Sarasota | $50,000 | 80 | -27% | | Sebastian | $51,000 | 50 | +182% | | Tallahassee | $57,000 | 30 | -55% | | Tampa | $56,000 | 670 | +29% | | West Palm Beach | $46,000 | 240 | +6% |
Georgia | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Albany | $46,000 | 40 | +74% | | Athens | $29,000 | 50 | +73% | | Atlanta | $48,000 | 440 | -57% | | Augusta | $50,000 | 80 | -5% | | Brunswick | $55,000 | 80 | +419% | | Columbus | $43,000 | 30 | -31% | | Gainesville | $43,000 | 30 | +12% | | Macon | $50,000 | 40 | +2% |
Hawaii | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Honolulu | $36,000 | 220 | +20% |
Illinois | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Bloomington | $44,000 | 80 | +197% | | Champaign | $57,000 | 60 | +63% | | Chicago | $52,000 | 1,470 | -10% | | Peoria | $47,000 | 50 | -28% | | Rockford | $45,000 | 130 | +111% |
Indiana | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Anderson | $56,000 | 30 | +109% | | Evansville | $44,000 | 160 | +126% | | Fort Wayne | $46,000 | 150 | +72% | | Gary | $47,000 | 180 | +55% | | Indianapolis | $53,000 | 350 | -8% | | South Bend | $40,000 | 60 | +10% | | Terre Haute | $52,000 | 40 | +51% |
Iowa | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Davenport | $44,000 | 50 | -33% | | Des Moines | $44,000 | 100 | -27% | | Iowa City | $45,000 | 50 | +82% | | Sioux City | $36,000 | 30 | +10% | | Waterloo | $34,000 | 60 | +81% |
Kansas | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Topeka | $42,000 | 130 | +197% | | Wichita | $43,000 | 110 | -14% |
Kentucky | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Lexington | $36,000 | 240 | +139% | | Louisville | $50,000 | 280 | +7% | | Owensboro | $44,000 | 50 | +181% |
Louisiana | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Baton Rouge | $42,000 | 100 | -35% | | Lafayette | $31,000 | 60 | +3% | | Lake Charles | $33,000 | 40 | +19% | | New Orleans | $47,000 | 260 | +21% | | Shreveport | $46,000 | 90 | +26% |
Maine | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Portland | $44,000 | 40 | -52% |
Maryland | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Baltimore | $46,000 | 680 | +22% | | Bethesda | $36,000 | 360 | +49% | | Cumberland | $39,000 | 30 | +137% | | Hagerstown | $44,000 | 40 | +3% | | Salisbury | $37,000 | 40 | +105% |
Massachusetts | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Barnstable Town | $53,000 | 80 | +102% | | Boston | $46,000 | 1,160 | +58% | | Brockton | $50,000 | 90 | +159% | | Framingham | $52,000 | 50 | -24% | | Haverhill | $46,000 | 90 | +203% | | Leominster | $46,000 | 60 | +225% | | Lowell | $44,000 | 40 | -17% | | New Bedford | $50,000 | 90 | +267% | | Springfield | $47,000 | 220 | +76% | | Worcester | $50,000 | 110 | +7% |
Michigan | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Ann Arbor | $33,000 | 60 | -11% | | Battle Creek | $50,000 | 60 | +235% | | Bay City | $44,000 | 70 | +466% | | Detroit | $47,000 | 260 | -14% | | Flint | $42,000 | 150 | +173% | | Grand Rapids | $43,000 | 210 | +32% | | Holland | $36,000 | 40 | +0% | | Kalamazoo | $46,000 | 50 | -9% | | Lansing | $42,000 | 60 | -24% | | Muskegon | $40,000 | 40 | +76% | | Niles | $43,000 | 40 | +71% | | Saginaw | $40,000 | 70 | +139% | | Warren | $39,000 | 980 | +99% |
Minnesota | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Duluth | $42,000 | 90 | +77% | | Minneapolis | $44,000 | 470 | -39% | | Rochester | $43,000 | 50 | +38% | | St Cloud | $42,000 | 50 | +24% |
Mississippi | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Gulfport | $32,000 | 60 | +39% | | Hattiesburg | $39,000 | 40 | +88% | | Jackson | $39,000 | 150 | +42% | | Pascagoula | $49,000 | 40 | +132% |
Missouri | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Joplin | $34,000 | 40 | +29% | | Kansas City | $46,000 | 460 | +5% | | Springfield | $38,000 | 120 | +50% | | St Louis | $43,000 | 860 | +49% |
Nebraska | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Lincoln | $44,000 | 30 | -55% | | Omaha | $40,000 | 150 | -23% |
Nevada | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Las Vegas | $56,000 | 330 | -16% | | Reno | $48,000 | 40 | -53% |
New Hampshire | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Manchester | $45,000 | 50 | +21% | | Rochester | $44,000 | 50 | +135% |
New Jersey | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Atlantic City | $48,000 | 50 | -16% | | Camden | $50,000 | 160 | -29% | | Edison | $51,000 | 330 | -25% | | Newark | $38,000 | 310 | -28% | | Trenton | $49,000 | 40 | -55% |
New Mexico | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Albuquerque | $48,000 | 120 | -27% | | Farmington | $45,000 | 40 | +106% | | Las Cruces | $41,000 | 30 | +30% |
New York | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Albany | $38,000 | 170 | -8% | | Binghamton | $37,000 | 70 | +67% | | Buffalo | $38,000 | 250 | +10% | | Glens Falls | $36,000 | 40 | +105% | | Kingston | $46,000 | 40 | +79% | | Nassau | $48,000 | 810 | +51% | | New York | $46,000 | 1,560 | -29% | | Poughkeepsie | $47,000 | 160 | +62% | | Rochester | $34,000 | 210 | -1% | | Syracuse | $38,000 | 160 | +24% | | Utica | $36,000 | 70 | +37% |
North Carolina | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Asheville | $45,000 | 120 | +65% | | Charlotte | $51,000 | 330 | -13% | | Durham | $54,000 | 100 | -12% | | Fayetteville | $50,000 | 160 | +229% | | Greensboro | $50,000 | 200 | +28% | | Greenville | $49,000 | 60 | +120% | | Hickory | $47,000 | 70 | +6% | | Raleigh | $45,000 | 230 | +6% | | Rocky Mount | $51,000 | 110 | +402% | | Wilmington | $52,000 | 100 | +72% | | Winston Salem | $52,000 | 70 | -21% |
Ohio | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Akron | $52,000 | 220 | +56% | | Canton | $48,000 | 380 | +437% | | Cincinnati | $53,000 | 770 | +74% | | Cleveland | $51,000 | 880 | +94% | | Columbus | $48,000 | 450 | +13% | | Dayton | $49,000 | 230 | +40% | | Lima | $46,000 | 40 | +106% | | Mansfield | $41,000 | 50 | +160% | | Springfield | $46,000 | 40 | +131% | | Toledo | $52,000 | 370 | +184% | | Youngstown | $48,000 | 470 | +386% |
Oklahoma | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Lawton | $46,000 | 40 | +203% | | Oklahoma City | $42,000 | 420 | +75% | | Tulsa | $33,000 | 420 | +128% |
Oregon | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Bend | $47,000 | 40 | +53% | | Portland | $48,000 | 360 | -19% | | Salem | $44,000 | 40 | -34% |
Pennsylvania | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Altoona | $41,000 | 40 | +79% | | Erie | $31,000 | 160 | +219% | | Harrisburg | $40,000 | 140 | +6% | | Lancaster | $41,000 | 90 | -8% | | Philadelphia | $45,000 | 1,120 | +39% | | Pittsburgh | $39,000 | 800 | +65% | | Reading | $46,000 | 210 | +214% | | Scranton | $38,000 | 130 | +22% | | York | $39,000 | 150 | +104% |
Rhode Island | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Providence | $49,000 | 450 | +88% |
South Carolina | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Anderson | $47,000 | 50 | +121% | | Charleston | $47,000 | 90 | -26% | | Columbia | $51,000 | 150 | +2% | | Florence | $56,000 | 90 | +177% | | Greenville | $47,000 | 70 | -45% | | Myrtle Beach | $47,000 | 30 | -36% | | Spartanburg | $48,000 | 40 | -18% |
South Dakota | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Sioux Falls | $30,000 | 110 | +98% |
Tennessee | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Chattanooga | $46,000 | 190 | +97% | | Kingsport | $47,000 | 130 | +187% | | Knoxville | $45,000 | 240 | +71% | | Memphis | $45,000 | 210 | -20% | | Nashville | $57,000 | 320 | -2% |
Texas | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Amarillo | $45,000 | 70 | +78% | | Austin | $42,000 | 160 | -51% | | Corpus Christi | $64,000 | 100 | +39% | | Dallas | $52,000 | 560 | -38% | | El Paso | $47,000 | 170 | +55% | | Fort Worth | $51,000 | 320 | -13% | | Houston | $51,000 | 790 | -28% | | Laredo | $59,000 | 120 | +275% | | Longview | $49,000 | 30 | -18% | | Lubbock | $45,000 | 60 | +24% | | Mcallen | $65,000 | 190 | +111% | | San Antonio | $60,000 | 350 | -2% | | Sherman | $62,000 | 30 | +112% | | Texarkana | $64,000 | 40 | +98% | | Tyler | $56,000 | 110 | +212% | | Victoria | $57,000 | 60 | +253% | | Waco | $49,000 | 40 | +6% |
Utah | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Provo | $34,000 | 50 | -26% | | Salt Lake City | $35,000 | 210 | -21% |
Virginia | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Blacksburg | $39,000 | 40 | +74% | | Charlottesville | $41,000 | 40 | +10% | | Danville | $55,000 | 60 | +388% | | Lynchburg | $60,000 | 140 | +255% | | Richmond | $40,000 | 310 | +22% | | Roanoke | $48,000 | 140 | +119% | | Virginia Beach | $57,000 | 310 | -3% | | Winchester | $49,000 | 40 | +106% |
Washington | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Bellingham | $41,000 | 40 | +30% | | Bremerton | $48,000 | 50 | +56% | | Mount Vernon | $44,000 | 40 | +146% | | Seattle | $49,000 | 390 | -36% | | Spokane | $44,000 | 100 | +16% | | Tacoma | $45,000 | 150 | +34% | | Yakima | $42,000 | 40 | +30% |
West Virginia | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Charleston | $33,000 | 110 | +88% | | Huntington | $44,000 | 110 | +145% | | Morgantown | $38,000 | 50 | +195% | | Parkersburg | $38,000 | 40 | +51% | | Weirton | $44,000 | 40 | +163% | | Wheeling | $43,000 | 30 | +25% |
Wisconsin | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Appleton | $45,000 | 40 | -12% | | Green Bay | $45,000 | 90 | +33% | | Janesville | $45,000 | 30 | +22% | | La Crosse | $42,000 | 40 | +53% | | Madison | $43,000 | 110 | -21% | | Milwaukee | $42,000 | 430 | +19% | | Oshkosh | $45,000 | 50 | +53% | | Racine | $41,000 | 60 | +103% |
Salary and employment data obtained from the United States Department of Labor. Individual salaries depend on location, education and career background. Thanks to CityTownInfo.com for this physical therapy assistant schools and jobs info.
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