Career
Physical therapist aides
Set up and support physical therapy sessions.
$35,240
Median pay
+4.0%
Job growth, 2025–35
6,400
Openings a year
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical education
None required
Typical time after high school
Here's what you actually need to know.
The work
What people in this job do
- Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
- Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
- Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.
- Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
- Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist.
The outlook
How the forecast changed this year
The deeper question
What kind of person does this path ask you to become?
What this work centers on
O*NET interest profile, scored 1–7.
The work
Do you want most of your days spent on people & care, then objects & tools?
Responsibility
Are you willing to be the one responsible for this?
“Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.”
Development
What would you need to build over the next 5–10 years?
Active Listening, Service Orientation, Monitoring, Coordination.
Trade-offs
What does it ask of you in exchange?
No degree beyond high school, though short-term on-the-job training is typical, for a median of $35,240 a year and 6,400 openings nationally each year.
Paths in
Degrees that lead here
- Rehabilitation AideCIP 51.2604
- Physical Therapy Technician/AideCIP 51.2605
Paths across
Careers that use similar skills
- Physical Therapist Assistants$68,380 · +23.0%
- Occupational Therapy Aides$39,160 · +3.6%
- Occupational Therapy Assistants$72,300 · +21.5%
- Psychiatric Technicians$45,130 · +22.3%
- Psychiatric Aides$44,910 · +1.9%
Ask anything about this career.
“Would this make sense if I don't want to sit at a desk all day?” Answers will come from the sources on this page, with citations. Coming soon.
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Sources
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2024–34 (archived), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk, NCES and BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-01.