Physical Therapist Aides Salary
The median pay for a physical therapist aides in New Jersey is $34,430/year ($16.55/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $44K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $34,659 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 87% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $34K get you in New Jersey?
About physical therapist aides
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in New Jersey
Physical therapist aides pay in New Jersey tracks closely to the national median, $34K locally vs. $35K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 85% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level physical therapist aides (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $44K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapist Aides salary by metro in New Jersey
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $33K | -4% | 50 |
| Trenton-Princeton | $32K | -6% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track physical therapist aides salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare Support
Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist aide afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 85% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical therapist aides typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,933/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 107% 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 New Jersey?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $34K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for physical therapist aides?
New Jersey pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $35K — below the national median.
How much do physical therapist aides make in New Jersey?
The median is $34,430 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,220, and experienced physical therapist aides can clear $44,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,431/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 85% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physical therapist aides salary is worth about $34,659 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.