What Does a Physical Therapy Aide Do?
The first patient of the day finds clean mats and warm hot packs because a physical therapy aide got to the clinic early. Aides keep outpatient clinics, hospital therapy gyms and nursing home rehab rooms running, restocking supplies, checking patients in and helping them move between treatment areas by wheelchair or on foot. Any other hands-on help follows a therapist's instructions.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Physical Therapist Aide (PTA), Physical Therapy Aide (PTA), PT Attendant (Physical Therapy Attendant), PT Tech (Physical Therapist Technician), PT Tech (Physical Therapy Technician), Rehabilitation Aide, Rehabilitation Attendant, Rehabilitation Technician (Rehabilitation Tech).
Physical Therapy Aide Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a physical therapy aide include:
- Clean treatment tables, mats and exercise equipment between patients.
- Set up hot packs, ice, weights and bands before each appointment.
- Help patients move to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or gait belts.
- Wash, fold and stock towels, linens and gowns.
- Answer phones, schedule appointments and check patients in at the front desk.
- Restock supplies and tell the office manager when items run low.
- Stay close to patients during exercises when a therapist asks for an extra spotter.
- Keep the waiting area and treatment rooms tidy and safe to walk through.
- File paperwork, scan documents and verify insurance details for new patients.
- Report equipment problems and patient concerns to the physical therapist on duty.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a physical therapy aide, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- CPR certification
- Safe patient handling and transfer technique
- Infection control and cleaning procedures
- Front desk and scheduling software
- Friendly, encouraging manner with patients in pain
- Stamina for lifting and hours on your feet
- Following directions exactly
- Interest in physical therapy as a future career
Education and Training
While many aides are hired straight out of high school, it is a good idea to earn CPR certification before you apply to show you are ready to help with patients. Training happens on the job. Experience as an aide could lead to a place in a PTA or physical therapy program, since admissions often ask for observation hours.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $30,410 - $38,810 per year, with a median of $35,240.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Physical Therapist Aides.
According to BLS, employment of physical therapist aides is projected to grow about 4 percent from 2025 to 2035. The occupation is small, with roughly 6,400 openings a year. Many aides move on to become assistants or therapists, which keeps positions opening for newcomers.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Physical therapist aides.
Physical Therapy Aide Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $25,360 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $30,410 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $35,240 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $38,810 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $47,780 |
Highest-Paying States for Physical Therapy Aides
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Alaska ($55,760), Minnesota ($42,330), Colorado ($41,970), New Hampshire ($40,460), Maine ($39,660). Pay is lowest in Alabama ($27,290), Kansas ($25,280), Louisiana ($22,460).
Median pay in all 50 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $27,290 |
| Alaska | $55,760 |
| Arizona | $35,260 |
| Arkansas | $29,450 |
| California | $38,330 |
| Colorado | $41,970 |
| Connecticut | $35,770 |
| Delaware | $34,060 |
| District of Columbia | $38,950 |
| Florida | $35,140 |
| Georgia | $30,550 |
| Hawaii | $33,810 |
| Idaho | $28,660 |
| Illinois | $36,650 |
| Indiana | $35,100 |
| Iowa | $29,120 |
| Kansas | $25,280 |
| Kentucky | $35,490 |
| Louisiana | $22,460 |
| Maine | $39,660 |
| Maryland | $34,780 |
| Massachusetts | $37,440 |
| Michigan | $29,350 |
| Minnesota | $42,330 |
| Mississippi | $27,370 |
| Missouri | $29,250 |
| Montana | $38,950 |
| Nebraska | $28,080 |
| Nevada | $31,970 |
| New Hampshire | $40,460 |
| New Jersey | $34,430 |
| New Mexico | $31,990 |
| New York | $35,380 |
| North Carolina | $34,760 |
| North Dakota | $37,680 |
| Ohio | $37,220 |
| Oklahoma | $27,630 |
| Oregon | $36,060 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,520 |
| Rhode Island | $31,200 |
| South Carolina | $33,280 |
| South Dakota | $31,330 |
| Tennessee | $30,320 |
| Texas | $31,590 |
| Utah | $29,150 |
| Virginia | $33,390 |
| Washington | $39,500 |
| West Virginia | $34,840 |
| Wisconsin | $36,820 |
| Wyoming | $30,470 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as physical therapist aides about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 100% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 78% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 77% spend more than half the workday on their feet
- 71% spend more than half the day walking or moving around
- 65% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 62% are exposed to disease or infection every day
- 56% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 34% |
| Associate's degree | 25% |
| Less than high school | 10% |
| Doctoral degree | 10% |
Tools and Software Physical Therapy Aides Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy helping, teaching or caring for people as well as hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Monitoring, Service Orientation, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination.
Knowledge areas used most: Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Computers and Electronics, Therapy and Counseling, Psychology.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 2 of 5, which means some preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Physical Therapy Aide Job
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 31-2022.00 (Physical Therapist Aides). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.