Physical Therapist Assistants Salary
The median pay for a physical therapist assistants in Missouri is $63,770/year ($30.66/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $71,676 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 26.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in Missouri?
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What this looks like in Missouri
Physical therapist assistants pay in Missouri tracks closely to the national median, $64K locally vs. $68K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Missouri
Entry-level physical therapist assistants (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapist Assistants salary by metro in Missouri
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $66K | +3% | 1,100 |
| Kansas City | $66K | +3% | 880 |
| Columbia | $64K | -0% | 110 |
| Cape Girardeau | $62K | -3% | 90 |
| St. Joseph | $62K | -4% | 50 |
| Springfield | $61K | -4% | 190 |
| Jefferson City | $61K | -4% | 50 |
| Joplin | $58K | -9% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track physical therapist assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 25.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical therapist assistants in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical therapist assistants typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,028/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Missouri?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $64K locally vs. $68K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for physical therapist assistants?
Missouri pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physical therapist assistants make in Missouri?
The median is $63,770 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,460, and experienced physical therapist assistants can clear $79,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,250/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 25.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physical therapist assistants salary go in Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $71,676 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.