Physical Therapist Aides Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
The median pay for a physical therapist aides in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is $35,740/year ($17.18/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 109.9), so that salary is closer to $32,520 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $4,214/month — about 170.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $36K get you in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Santa Cruz-Watsonville’s Regional Price Parity (109.9). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Entry-level physical therapist aides (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapist Aides pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $44K | +28% | 90 |
| Alaska | $42K | +23% | 130 |
| Massachusetts | $38K | +10% | 530 |
| District of Columbia | $38K | +10% | 30 |
| Washington | $38K | +9% | 740 |
| Hawaii | $36K | +6% | 110 |
| Iowa | $36K | +6% | 300 |
| Pennsylvania | $36K | +6% | 980 |
| North Dakota | $36K | +5% | 120 |
| California | $36K | +5% | 6,800 |
| New Jersey | $36K | +4% | 2,140 |
| Ohio | $36K | +4% | 870 |
| Oregon | $36K | +4% | 920 |
| Maine | $36K | +4% | 120 |
| New Mexico | $36K | +4% | 200 |
| Wisconsin | $36K | +3% | 670 |
| Connecticut | $35K | +2% | 630 |
| North Carolina | $35K | +2% | 780 |
| New York | $35K | +1% | 4,080 |
| Arizona | $35K | +1% | 1,840 |
| Montana | $35K | +1% | 110 |
| Illinois | $35K | +1% | 740 |
| South Dakota | $34K | -1% | 110 |
| New Hampshire | $34K | -1% | 140 |
| Florida | $34K | -3% | 1,260 |
| Rhode Island | $33K | -6% | 200 |
| Texas | $32K | -7% | 4,170 |
| Maryland | $31K | -9% | 1,030 |
| Georgia | $31K | -10% | 1,160 |
| South Carolina | $31K | -11% | 450 |
| Tennessee | $31K | -11% | 840 |
| Michigan | $30K | -13% | 1,560 |
| Delaware | $30K | -14% | 250 |
| Wyoming | $29K | -15% | 260 |
| Nevada | $29K | -15% | 640 |
| West Virginia | $29K | -15% | 160 |
| Indiana | $29K | -16% | 900 |
| Virginia | $29K | -16% | 1,050 |
| Kansas | $29K | -17% | 200 |
| Kentucky | $29K | -17% | 280 |
| Arkansas | $29K | -17% | 210 |
| Idaho | $29K | -17% | 610 |
| Missouri | $28K | -18% | 900 |
| Utah | $28K | -19% | 840 |
| Mississippi | $27K | -22% | 200 |
| Nebraska | $27K | -23% | 570 |
| Alabama | $25K | -27% | 730 |
| Oklahoma | $24K | -29% | 400 |
| Louisiana | $22K | -37% | 1,510 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track physical therapist aides salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Santa Cruz-Watsonville numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do physical therapist aides make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median is $35,740 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,910, and experienced physical therapist aides can clear $94,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,512/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $4,214/month, which eats 167.8% 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville has a Regional Price Parity of 109.9 (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 $32,520 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.