Physical Therapist vs PTA: pay, jobs and what each takes

Physical therapists, by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025): a median of $49.40 an hour ($102,760 a year), against $32.88 ($68,380 a year) for physical therapist assistants, $16.52 an hour more. The open jobs on this board today post medians of $52.50 an hour for physical therapists and $35 for physical therapist assistants.

On this board today: 9,583 open physical therapist jobs and 3,859 physical therapist assistant jobs, read from each employer's own job board. BLS expects about 13,400 openings a year for physical therapists and 18,500 for physical therapist assistants, with employment changing +11.9% and +23.0% over 2025-2035.

Physical therapists help people move again after surgery, injury or illness, with exercise, hands-on treatment and training, in outpatient clinics, hospitals, rehab centers, home health and schools. Physical therapist assistants carry out the treatment plan a physical therapist writes: exercises, gait training and modalities, in clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and home health.

A Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, then the NPTE exam. (BLS: Doctoral or professional degree.) An associate degree from an accredited PTA program, then the NPTE-PTA exam. (BLS: Associate's degree.) Each occupation's page lists its credentials and who grants them: Physical therapists, Physical therapist assistants.