SOC 31-2022 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physical Therapist Aides — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Physical Therapist Aides in California is $38,330 per year, 8.8% above the national median of $35,240.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Physical Therapist Aides in California is $38,330 per year, 8.8% above the national median of $35,240. Half of workers earn between $35,760 and $46,190. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $34,690 and the ninetieth at $60,200.
The area has 7,330 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.4 of every thousand jobs. California ranks number 9th out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, San Francisco records the highest median at $44,440. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 763rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,690 | −1.6% |
| 25th | $35,760 | +1.5% |
| Median (50th) | $38,330 | +8.8% |
| 75th | $46,190 | +31.1% |
| 90th | $60,200 | +70.8% |
| Mean | $43,470 | +23.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $44,440 | 680 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $43,300 | 330 | |
| 3 | Fresno | $40,350 | 240 | |
| 4 | Santa Cruz | $39,210 | 100 | |
| 5 | Sacramento | $38,980 | 330 | |
| 6 | Salinas | $38,810 | 60 | |
| 7 | Riverside | $38,440 | 740 | |
| 8 | Chico | $38,230 | 30 | |
| 9 | San Diego | $37,850 | 760 | |
| 10 | Visalia | $37,700 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $38,330 buys what $34,625 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 1.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,330as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,625US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,330 a year, 8.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,690 to $60,200 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 7,330 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 9th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $44,440.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physical Therapist Aides in California?
The median annual wage is $38,330, or $18.43 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,240, so pay in California is 8.8% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $60,200 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,690 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Francisco, at $44,440 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 7,330 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data