Physical Therapist Assistants Salary
The median pay for a physical therapist assistants in Georgia is $72,800/year ($35/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $79,225 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,434/month, or 30% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in Georgia?
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What this looks like in Georgia
Physical therapist assistants pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $73K locally vs. $68K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,434/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level physical therapist assistants (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapist Assistants salary by metro in Georgia
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $75K | +3% | 1,370 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons | $73K | -0% | 30 |
| Rome | $72K | -2% | 80 |
| Valdosta | $68K | -6% | 30 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $68K | -6% | 50 |
| Dalton | $67K | -8% | 30 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $66K | -9% | 70 |
| Gainesville | $65K | -11% | 60 |
| Savannah | $64K | -13% | 70 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $63K | -14% | 150 |
| Columbus | $62K | -14% | 100 |
| Warner Robins | $62K | -14% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track physical therapist assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 30.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical therapist assistants in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical therapist assistants typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,604/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 55% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is physical therapist assistant a high-paying job in Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $73K locally vs. $68K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for physical therapist assistants?
Georgia pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physical therapist assistants make in Georgia?
The median is $72,800 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,400, and experienced physical therapist assistants can clear $89,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,671/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 30.7% 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 assistants salary go in Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 assistants salary is worth about $79,225 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physical therapist assistants 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.