Physical Therapist Assistant Salary
Physical therapy improves mobility, relieves pain and overcomes physical disabilities of patients. Its main practitioners are physical therapists, who are helped by assistants who enable the therapist to treat many more patients than if he was working alone. Assistance can educate patients, provide exercise and apply therapeutic devices such as electrical stimulators and mechanical traction. Many assistants receive their training on the job, although some colleges and vocational schools offer an associate degree.
Basics
The PayScale Report reveals that as of May 2010, physical therapist assistants earn a base hourly rate of $18.85 to $26.10, with overtime of $27.35 to $39.02. Annual bonuses of $202.11 to $1,475 and profit-sharing of $483 to $2,479 produce a total yearly compensation of $39,150 to $55,178.
Experience
The greater the experience, the higher the salary, with new assistants receiving $30,608 to $40,849. At one to four years of experience, they get $33,926 to $45,488 and at five to nine years, they receive $39,095 to $52,358. At 10 to 19 years, they earn $41,210 to $58,578 and at 20 years or more, they make $42,447 to $64,357.
Employer
The type of employer affects pay, with those under contract showing the widest and highest range at $40,000 to $74,584. Those who are self-employed receive $38,058 to $55,958, while those who work for private companies earn $38,189 to $53,920. The federal government pays between $42,232 and $55,499, while state and local entities averaged between $38,043 and $44,740. Finally, assistants in hospitals get $34,434 to $49,233, while those in schools and school districts receive $25,434 to $41,379.
Location
The city of employment determines salary, with those in Jacksonville earning $43,525 to $62,637, which is followed by Dallas at $40,000 to $60,000. Fort Lauderdale pays $33,410 to $49,729, while Brooklyn offers $34,392 to $46,290. Finally, those in Baltimore get $40,121 to $44,219, while those in Houston make $39,419 $53,874. For states, Texas shows the highest income at $41,098 to $56,867, followed by Florida at $38,700 to $56,710. Californians earn $39,429 to $55,474, while New Yorkers get $32,610 to $45,792. Finally, workers in Pennsylvania receive $31,486 to $40,980, while those in Georgia are paid $36,667 and $49,355.
Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the outlook for physical therapist assistants will grow by 35 percent from 2008 through 2018, which is much faster than average for all professions. The growing number of elderly adults needing physical therapy will drive much of the increase. Job opportunities should be especially good from skilled nursing, orthopedic and hospital employers.
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