Physical Therapist Assistant salary in Wisconsin
Physical Therapist Assistants in Wisconsin earn a median of $64,080 a year ($30.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,650 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,440 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $68,380. Wisconsin ranks 31st of 51 states for physical therapist assistants pay. There are 0.56 physical therapist assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $65,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physical therapist assistants in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,960 | $24.98 |
| 25th percentile | $59,790 | $28.75 |
| Median | $64,080 | $30.81 |
| 75th percentile | $73,210 | $35.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,440 | $37.23 |
| Average (mean) | $65,480 | $31.48 |
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 | $5,340 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,670 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,464.62 |
| Weekly | $1,232.31 |
| Hourly | $30.81 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $64,080 salary, see how much house you can afford in Wisconsin at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Physical Therapist Assistant salary in cities in Wisconsin
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $69,900 | 50 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $69,790 | 730 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $65,630 | 480 |
| Kenosha, WI | $64,940 | 50 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $64,900 | 90 |
| Appleton, WI | $64,240 | 50 |
| Green Bay, WI | $63,590 | 100 |
| Madison, WI | $63,380 | 180 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $63,180 | 80 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $61,270 | 40 |
| Wausau, WI | $60,250 | 40 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $60,210 | 50 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $58,950 | 80 |
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 Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $59,960 | $28.83 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $36,820 | $17.70 |
| Occupational Therapy Aide | $36,760 | $17.67 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Nursing Assistant | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| Medical Assistant | $48,680 | $23.41 |
| Dental Assistant | $47,520 | $22.85 |
| Phlebotomist | $46,470 | $22.34 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $36,850 | $17.71 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $44,850 | $21.56 |
| Massage Therapist | $58,070 | $27.92 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $47,570 | $22.87 |
| Orderly | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $49,150 | $23.63 |
More: Healthcare Support Occupations · all salaries in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for physical therapist assistants in Wisconsin is $64,080 a year, or $30.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physical therapist assistants make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of physical therapist assistants in Wisconsin earn at least $77,440 a year. The top 25% earn $73,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for physical therapist assistants in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,960 a year, and a quarter of physical therapist assistants earn $59,790 or less.
How many physical therapist assistants work in Wisconsin?
About 1,650 physical therapist assistants are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.