Physical Therapist Aides
Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.
What it pays
Physical Therapist Aides earn a median of $16.94/hr — about $35,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $12.19/hr; the top 10% earn $22.97/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Physical Therapist Aides earn a median of $16.94/hr — about $35,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $12.19/hr; the top 10% earn $22.97/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
- Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
- Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.
- Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
- Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist.
- Change linens, such as bed sheets and pillow cases.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
The feel of the work
The work is mostly indoors; you're around people constantly. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 0.7% of physical therapist aides are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are people-focused, hands-on and organized and detail-focused.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
- Physical Therapist Assistants
- Occupational Therapy Assistants
- Pharmacy Aides
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
- Orderlies
- Occupational Therapy Aides
Quick questions
- How much does a physical therapist aide make?
- The median pay is $16.94 per hour — roughly $35,000 a year, with the real range running from about $12.19/hr (10th percentile) to $22.97/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a physical therapist aide?
- The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
- What does a physical therapist aide actually do all day?
- Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment. Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment. Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.