Physical Therapist Assistant salary in California
Physical Therapist Assistants in California earn a median of $83,110 a year ($39.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,400 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,800 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $68,380. California ranks 1st of 51 states for physical therapist assistants pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.52 physical therapist assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $83,080, close to the median.
Pay range for physical therapist assistants in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,500 | $28.61 |
| 25th percentile | $75,900 | $36.49 |
| Median | $83,110 | $39.96 |
| 75th percentile | $94,940 | $45.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,800 | $49.42 |
| Average (mean) | $83,080 | $39.94 |
Half of physical therapist assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,925.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,462.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,196.54 |
| Weekly | $1,598.27 |
| Hourly | $39.96 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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Physical Therapist Assistant salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,190 | 400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $95,920 | 1,040 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $87,330 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $87,300 | 90 |
| Vallejo, CA | $86,630 | 50 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $85,150 | 100 |
| Salinas, CA | $84,850 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $84,290 | 570 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $84,100 | 150 |
| Modesto, CA | $83,450 | 150 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $82,160 | 870 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82,140 | 3,730 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $81,310 | 160 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $79,480 | 210 |
| Visalia, CA | $79,440 | 100 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $79,210 | 860 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $78,990 | 70 |
| Redding, CA | $77,740 | 60 |
| Fresno, CA | $77,000 | 220 |
| Chico, CA | $76,580 | 100 |
| Yuba City, CA | $73,580 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for physical therapist assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $83,110 |
| Massachusetts | $79,460 |
| New Jersey | $78,440 |
| Texas | $78,000 |
| Maryland | $77,670 |
| Alaska | $77,640 |
| Connecticut | $75,880 |
| Nevada | $75,520 |
| Delaware | $74,610 |
| Virginia | $73,760 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Aide | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $81,770 | $39.31 |
| Occupational Therapy Aide | $43,480 | $20.91 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Medical Assistant | $49,660 | $23.88 |
| Nursing Assistant | $47,630 | $22.90 |
| Dental Assistant | $50,110 | $24.09 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $49,130 | $23.62 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $46,260 | $22.24 |
| Massage Therapist | $45,970 | $22.10 |
| Phlebotomist | $56,040 | $26.94 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $61,370 | $29.50 |
| Pharmacy Aide | $42,200 | $20.29 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $45,050 | $21.66 |
More: Healthcare Support Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-2021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical therapist assistant make in California?
The median salary for physical therapist assistants in California is $83,110 a year, or $39.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physical therapist assistants make in California?
The top 10% of physical therapist assistants in California earn at least $102,800 a year. The top 25% earn $94,940 or more.
What is the starting pay for physical therapist assistants in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,500 a year, and a quarter of physical therapist assistants earn $75,900 or less.
How many physical therapist assistants work in California?
About 9,400 physical therapist assistants are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.