SOC 31-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physical Therapist Assistants — Detroit
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Detroit, MI is $62,220 per year, 9.0% below the national median of $68,380.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Detroit, MI is $62,220 per year, 9.0% below the national median of $68,380. Pay ranges from under $29,230 at the tenth percentile to more than $80,490 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $39,310 to $64,800.
The area has 1,880 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.0 of every thousand jobs. Grand Rapids leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $68,700. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 318th of 671 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,230 | −57.3% |
| 25th | $39,310 | −42.5% |
| Median (50th) | $62,220 | −9.0% |
| 75th | $64,800 | −5.2% |
| 90th | $80,490 | +17.7% |
| Mean | $57,210 | −16.3% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Rapids | $68,700 | 700 | |
| 2 | Battle Creek | $66,310 | 100 | |
| 3 | Kalamazoo | $62,860 | 90 | |
| 4 | Traverse City | $61,290 | 130 | |
| 5 | Ann Arbor | $61,200 | 230 | |
| 6 | Jackson | $60,990 | — | |
| 7 | Muskegon | $60,940 | 110 | |
| 8 | Lansing | $60,740 | 120 | |
| 9 | Saginaw | $60,050 | 70 | |
| 10 | Flint | $59,210 | 130 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Detroit run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $62,220 goes as far as $64,678 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$62,220as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$64,678US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $62,220 a year, 9.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $29,230 to $80,490 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,880 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Grand Rapids, at $68,700.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Detroit, MI?
The median annual wage is $62,220, or $29.92 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 $68,380, so pay in Detroit, MI is 9.0% lower. 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 Detroit, MI earns more than $80,490 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $29,230 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 Grand Rapids, at $68,700 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,880 jobs in this occupation in Detroit, MI. 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