Healthcare
Physical Therapist Assistants
Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.
Median salary
$65,510
Typical range
$46k – $88k
Job outlook
+22% (much faster than average)
AI exposure
Plan a path to Physical Therapist Assistants
Education
Typical entry: Associate degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Physical Therapist Assistants
Entry / Junior
$46,020
~2 yrs to advance
Physical Therapist Assistants
Established
$65,510
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Physical Therapist Assistants
Senior
$76,570
Key skills
A typical day
- •Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.
- •Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.
- •Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes.
- •Instruct patients in proper body mechanics and in ways to improve functional mobility, such as aquatic exercise.
- •Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Healthcare
Explore all- Johns Hopkins University7% admit · $93,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- University of Michigan18% admit · $87,000 grad pay
- Duke University6% admit · $105,000 grad pay
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill19% admit · $73,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.