Physical Therapist Assistants Salary
The median pay for a physical therapist assistants in Washington is $66,450/year ($31.95/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $93K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $65,141 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 39.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $66K get you in Washington?
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What this looks like in Washington
Physical therapist assistants pay in Washington tracks closely to the national median, $66K locally vs. $68K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 39.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) 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, Washington
Entry-level physical therapist assistants (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $93K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapist Assistants salary by metro in Washington
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $74K | +12% | 80 |
| Yakima | $74K | +12% | 50 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $73K | +10% | 70 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $69K | +4% | 40 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $67K | +1% | 80 |
| Bellingham | $66K | +0% | 80 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $65K | -2% | 1,120 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $65K | -3% | 220 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $61K | -8% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track physical therapist assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 39.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical therapist assistants typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,197/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 83% 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 Washington?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $66K locally vs. $68K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Washington compare to the national average for physical therapist assistants?
Washington pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — below the national median.
How much do physical therapist assistants make in Washington?
The median is $66,450 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,610, and experienced physical therapist assistants can clear $93,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,594/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 39.8% 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 assistants salary go in Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (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 assistants salary is worth about $65,141 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.