Physical Therapist Aides Salary
The median pay for a physical therapist aides in California is $38,330/year ($18.43/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $36,113 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 93.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in California?
About physical therapist aides
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in California
Physical therapist aides pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $38K locally vs. $35K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 92.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level physical therapist aides (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapist Aides salary by metro in California
21 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $44K | +16% | 680 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $43K | +13% | 330 |
| Fresno | $40K | +5% | 240 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $39K | +2% | 100 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $39K | +2% | 330 |
| Salinas | $39K | +1% | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $38K | +0% | 740 |
| Chico | $38K | -0% | 30 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $38K | -1% | 760 |
| Visalia | $38K | -2% | 80 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $38K | -2% | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $37K | -3% | 2,720 |
| Vallejo | $37K | -3% | 30 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $37K | -4% | 120 |
| Modesto | $37K | -4% | 80 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $36K | -5% | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $36K | -5% | 290 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $36K | -6% | 90 |
| Merced | $36K | -6% | 50 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $35K | -8% | 90 |
| Redding | $35K | -9% | 80 |
Showing 1–10 of 21 metros
Compare to other states
Track physical therapist aides salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare Support
Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist aide afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 92.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical therapist aides in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical therapist aides typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,081/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 119% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is physical therapist aide a high-paying job in California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $38K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for physical therapist aides?
California pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physical therapist aides make in California?
The median is $38,330 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,690, and experienced physical therapist aides can clear $60,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,677/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 92.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a physical therapist aides salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physical therapist aides salary is worth about $36,113 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physical therapist aides get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.