Physical Therapist Aides · California

Physical Therapist Aides Salary in California

Physical Therapist Aides in California earn a median annual wage of $38,330 —8.8% above the national median of $35,240. That ranks CA #9 of 50 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$38,330
Median hourly
$18.43
Entry level (P10)
$34,690
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$60,200
90th percentile
Employment
7,330
0.4 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+8.8%
U.S. $35,240

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$34,690
$35,760
$38,330
$46,190
$34,690$38,330$60,200
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $38,330.

Employment is 1.30× as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for physical therapist aides

All 50 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Alaska$55,760$26.811101.05
2Minnesota$42,330$20.351500.16
3Colorado$41,970$20.183600.40
4New Hampshire$40,460$19.451300.63
5Maine$39,660$19.07900.43
6Washington$39,500$18.997600.69
7Montana$38,950$18.731100.68
8District of Columbia$38,950$18.72300.16
9California$38,330$18.437,3301.30
10North Dakota$37,680$18.111200.89

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$34,320$35,800
Nursing Assistants$47,630$42,260
Medical Assistants$49,660$45,690
Dental Assistants$50,110$48,070
Phlebotomists$56,040$45,230
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$46,260$38,150

Frequently asked questions

How much do physical therapist aides make in California?

The median annual wage for physical therapist aides in California is $38,330, or $18.43 per hour. That is 8.8% above the national median of $35,240.

What is the entry-level physical therapist aides salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $34,690 per year ($16.68/hour). The 25th percentile is $35,760.

How many people work as physical therapist aides in California?

About 7,330 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for physical therapist aides?

California ranks #9 of 50 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.30x as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays physical therapist aides the most?

Alaska has the highest median wage at $55,760 per year, followed by Minnesota ($42,330) and Colorado ($41,970).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes