Physical Therapist Assistants vs. Home Health and Personal Care Aides: Who Earns More?
Physical Therapist Assistantss out-earn Home Health and Personal Care Aidess by $33K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Physical Therapist Assistantss land at $68,380 and Home Health and Personal Care Aidess at $35,800. The education gap is real: physical therapist assistant programs typically require postsecondary nondegree award, while home health and personal care aide programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Physical Therapist Assistantss is California ($83,110); for Home Health and Personal Care Aidess it's Washington ($47,730).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Physical Therapist Assistants median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Physical Therapist Assistantss or Home Health and Personal Care Aidess?
Physical Therapist Assistantss earn more nationally. The median is $68,380 for Physical Therapist Assistantss versus $35,800 for Home Health and Personal Care Aidess, a difference of $33K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Physical Therapist Assistants or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Physical Therapist Assistants has the better 10-year outlook at 22% projected growth, compared to 17% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Physical Therapist Assistants or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Physical Therapist Assistants typically requires postsecondary nondegree award. Home Health and Personal Care Aides requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Physical Therapist Assistantss get paid the most?
California is the top-paying state for Physical Therapist Assistantss at $83,110/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Physical Therapist Assistants vs. Home Health and Personal Care Aides pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Massachusetts, Physical Therapist Assistantss earn $79,460 vs. $40,910 for Home Health and Personal Care Aidess. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.