Physical Therapy Assistant Salary

physical therapy assistant salaryAfter much research, you know what kind of work you want to do, but your next main question is, what is the physical therapy assistant salary? The good news is that employment is expected to grow much faster than average because of increasing demand for physical therapy services.

Job prospects for physical therapy assistants are expected to be very good for some time to come. As such, salaries will be robust reflecting the high demand for these types of services. The return on investment for a physical therapy assistant salary will prove profitable especially during the current economic crisis now affecting the US.

Physical Therapy Assistant Salary by State

It is important to know that as in real estate, three words hold the key to salary, location, location, location. According to the bureau of labor, the concentration of assistants is far greater in the eastern United States, than in the western region. In fact, the top four states with the highest concentration of jobs in this occupation are located east of the Mississippi river, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia and Kentucky.

In terms of salary for physical therapy assistant positions though, the states with highest hourly mean wage are all located on coastlines, such as California with a mean hourly wage of over $27.00, Texas with a mean hourly wage of over $30.00, North Carolina at over $25.00 and the New England region of states such as Delaware and Connecticut at over $25.00 and $27.00 respectively.

Physical Therapy Assistant Salary Florida

Another state that is enjoying an expansion in this occupation is Florida. Due to the high concentration of a senior population, coupled with a culture of health and physical fitness, the demand for physical therapy treatment has increased steadily. The mean hourly wage in Florida is over $26.00, just behind California. Top job websites list the average salary for physical therapy assistant as $93,000 annually. As you can see, this is certainly a lucrative opportunity for such a small commitment of time, two years.

Physical Therapy Assistant Salary & Geographical Considerations

The advantage of a career as a physical therapy assistant is that there is no season, and it is not constrained by day or time. There are no geographical limitations as this occupation is conducted in every state in America and in fact is performed all over the world. The occupation in Europe is conducted under the title of Physiotherapy Assistant.

For those just happy to engage in this occupation in the United States, there are advantages and disadvantages no matter where you ultimately decide to practice this vocation. It might be advantageous to consider salary and concentration upon completion of your training and education to ensure you can maximize your salary while working in a lower density or concentrated geographical region.

What this means is, that it is not enough to try to enter a market with a history of paying the highest wages, such as California and Texas, because the competition for those jobs will also be the highest. Conversely, if you consider only those states with the lowest concentration of practitioners, you could end up performing the same treatments for half of the amount paid in another state.

What it comes down to then, is quality of life. When you are ready to apply your skills and training, consider what kind of lifestyle suits you best. Are you an outdoorsy kind of person, or do you enjoy urban sophisticated pursuits such as the theater or fine dining. What kind of salary is necessary for each lifestyle? Armed with this knowledge, you can decide if a move is in order or if your current location is appropriate.

Overall the career of a PTA is very rewarding both professionally and in the flexibility it allows in ones life. There are many considerations, but none more important than understanding your goals in life and the physical therapy assistant salary is a huge benefit to making your goals a reality.

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