SOC 31-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physical Therapist Assistants — Michigan
Michigan · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Michigan is $61,670 per year, 9.8% 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 Michigan is $61,670 per year, 9.8% below the national median of $68,380. Pay ranges from under $35,700 at the tenth percentile to more than $78,600 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $52,450 to $68,700.
Employment stands at 4,520, or 1.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Michigan ranks 43rd by median wage. 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 348th of 774 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,700 | −47.8% |
| 25th | $52,450 | −23.3% |
| Median (50th) | $61,670 | −9.8% |
| 75th | $68,700 | +0.5% |
| 90th | $78,600 | +14.9% |
| Mean | $60,260 | −11.9% |
Highest-paying 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 | Detroit | $62,220 | 1,880 | |
| 5 | Traverse City | $61,290 | 130 | |
| 6 | Ann Arbor | $61,200 | 230 | |
| 7 | Jackson | $60,990 | — | |
| 8 | Muskegon | $60,940 | 110 | |
| 9 | Lansing | $60,740 | 120 | |
| 10 | Saginaw | $60,050 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Michigan run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $61,670 goes as far as $64,106 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,670as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$64,106US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,670 a year, 9.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,700 to $78,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 4,520 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 43rd of 51 states for 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 Michigan?
The median annual wage is $61,670, or $29.65 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 Michigan is 9.8% 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 Michigan earns more than $78,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,700 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 4,520 jobs in this occupation in Michigan. 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.
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