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Physical Therapist vs. Physical Therapist Assistant

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Home » Blog » PT vs. PT Assistant
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Written and reported by:
All Allied Health Schools Staff

Physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) perform many of the same basic responsibilities such as assisting patients in stretches and exercises, but some key characteristics set them apart.

PTs are mainly concerned with diagnosing patients and developing a rehabilitation program that is tailored to the patient’s prognosis. PTAs on the other hand have more focus on preparing patients to be diagnosed and assisting in executing the rehabilitation plan.

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The Key Differences

Here’s a breakdown of those and other key differences in these lucrative and rapidly expanding careers in physical therapy:

Job Duties


Physical Therapist

Physical Therapist Assistant

  • Diagnose and provide care to individuals suffering from injuries
  • Assist patients in exercises and stretches and instruct on how to use devices and equipment
  • Set up a rehabilitation plan for patients
  • Determine the severity of the patient’s injuries and report it to a physical therapist
  • Teach exercises, stretches, and hands-on therapy to help increase the patient’s ability to move
  • Educate patients on what to do after treatments

Education


Physical Therapist

Physical Therapist Assistant

  • Postgraduate professional degrees are required. Many receive a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), which typically requires 3 years of schooling after a bachelor’s degree. DPT degrees usually require prerequisites such as anatomy, biology, physiology, and chemistry.
  • Most states require an associate’s degree from an accredited physical therapy program. Programs usually involve academic coursework along with clinical experience.

Licensing and Certification


Physical Therapist

Physical Therapist Assistant

  • Every state requires a physical therapist license. To earn a license, the National Physical Therapy Examination or a state-administered exam must be passed. Many states also require continuing education in order to maintain licensure. Some physical therapists choose to become certified in a particular clinical specialty and do so by passing an exam.
  • To obtain a physical therapist assistant license most states require that you graduate from an accredited physical therapy assistant program and have passed the Physical National Physical Therapy Exam. Some states additionally require a state-administered exam.

Median Annual Salaries

Take a look at how PT and PT Assistant salaries compare, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Physical Therapists

National data

Median Salary: $97,720

Projected job growth: 15.1%

10th Percentile: $67,910

25th Percentile: $80,700

75th Percentile: $107,430

90th Percentile: $128,830

Projected job growth: 15.1%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $97,360 $61,160 $135,770
Alaska $102,270 $79,560 $130,660
Arizona $99,200 $76,140 $125,380
Arkansas $98,180 $64,340 $118,720
California $108,230 $80,880 $148,720
Colorado $96,920 $69,840 $126,980
Connecticut $103,290 $76,880 $136,130
Delaware $97,520 $72,030 $125,570
District of Columbia $97,180 $81,370 $123,260
Florida $95,000 $59,300 $125,250
Georgia $98,600 $73,760 $120,310
Hawaii $101,390 $81,750 $146,820
Idaho $85,870 $63,660 $105,970
Illinois $100,310 $61,420 $135,710
Indiana $95,110 $64,940 $114,400
Iowa $84,700 $66,600 $105,670
Kansas $90,850 $67,220 $111,510
Kentucky $85,710 $54,840 $114,380
Louisiana $97,960 $60,800 $128,690
Maine $83,160 $70,280 $103,510
Maryland $97,280 $76,770 $119,240
Massachusetts $99,550 $71,560 $121,050
Michigan $93,600 $61,770 $106,690
Minnesota $91,610 $75,720 $103,010
Mississippi $97,750 $69,300 $126,130
Missouri $88,900 $64,400 $115,520
Montana $82,170 $68,670 $103,380
Nebraska $90,670 $64,900 $112,320
Nevada $101,980 $45,900 $147,630
New Hampshire $93,520 $72,560 $107,430
New Jersey $103,050 $79,820 $136,610
New Mexico $94,260 $53,800 $123,010
New York $97,180 $69,440 $130,500
North Carolina $84,300 $67,190 $116,690
North Dakota $79,860 $66,990 $100,190
Ohio $97,730 $74,280 $121,190
Oklahoma $92,940 $63,660 $118,290
Oregon $98,050 $78,800 $116,500
Pennsylvania $97,510 $73,840 $124,430
Rhode Island $95,640 $67,870 $119,060
South Carolina $86,620 $61,210 $113,980
South Dakota $84,260 $68,860 $103,170
Tennessee $95,380 $66,210 $111,640
Texas $99,970 $69,160 $138,630
Utah $86,280 $61,620 $125,440
Vermont $83,390 $71,080 $108,790
Virginia $97,780 $67,690 $127,920
Washington $100,270 $77,480 $126,380
West Virginia $93,380 $65,100 $122,540
Wisconsin $95,080 $65,780 $118,130
Wyoming $84,820 $63,400 $123,580

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2022 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

Physical Therapist Assistants

National data

Median Salary: $62,770

Projected job growth: 26.1%

10th Percentile: $43,340

25th Percentile: $53,970

75th Percentile: $75,310

90th Percentile: $85,230

Projected job growth: 26.1%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $59,820 $31,700 $79,070
Alaska $58,400 $29,400 $86,320
Arizona $61,720 $40,380 $80,370
Arkansas $62,030 $36,400 $84,110
California $80,260 $51,420 $100,290
Colorado $60,940 $46,590 $78,720
Connecticut $71,650 $49,920 $85,130
Delaware $64,330 $35,040 $85,340
District of Columbia $64,170 $38,470 $82,720
Florida $64,360 $47,780 $85,280
Georgia $64,530 $30,180 $90,070
Hawaii $61,930 $51,790 $103,000
Idaho $56,680 $26,060 $77,120
Illinois $65,190 $48,190 $81,300
Indiana $61,000 $43,990 $73,060
Iowa $58,140 $45,690 $65,440
Kansas $60,720 $46,950 $75,480
Kentucky $60,730 $28,490 $78,380
Louisiana $60,350 $26,950 $79,890
Maine $58,800 $50,280 $68,870
Maryland $66,210 $29,130 $86,460
Massachusetts $71,490 $56,160 $84,920
Michigan $57,160 $35,100 $68,220
Minnesota $60,050 $45,960 $70,170
Mississippi $61,600 $33,100 $77,440
Missouri $62,310 $46,750 $94,330
Montana $57,480 $45,910 $66,970
Nebraska $57,740 $43,740 $74,310
Nevada $62,540 $24,780 $89,320
New Hampshire $64,110 $50,250 $78,890
New Jersey $75,030 $56,790 $84,230
New Mexico $55,650 $32,780 $76,520
New York $60,400 $46,460 $79,160
North Carolina $61,340 $47,230 $83,540
North Dakota $57,450 $39,620 $69,040
Ohio $62,150 $48,360 $84,660
Oklahoma $59,830 $32,870 $76,960
Oregon $60,010 $51,200 $79,340
Pennsylvania $58,190 $39,330 $73,670
Rhode Island $62,570 $52,340 $83,380
South Carolina $60,290 $48,720 $80,970
South Dakota $49,100 $37,760 $61,080
Tennessee $62,010 $47,040 $77,380
Texas $74,870 $46,660 $101,630
Utah $59,800 $48,070 $80,340
Vermont $63,180 $46,810 $77,540
Virginia $62,180 $27,580 $82,140
Washington $63,500 $41,600 $79,790
West Virginia $56,590 $43,340 $79,240
Wisconsin $59,520 $44,070 $73,180
Wyoming $55,090 $41,140 $75,680

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2022 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

Expected Job Growth: Much Faster than Average

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says the national average job growth for all jobs is 5% through 2032.

Physical Therapist projected job growth through 2032: 15.1%

Physical Therapist Assistant projected job growth through 2032: 26.1%

What’s Next?


  • Physical Therapist: After gaining experience in the field, physical therapists have the option of specializing and becoming certified in an area of interest.
  • Physical Therapist Assistant: Many continue formal education to move into management, education, or administration positions.