Physical Therapist Aides
Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.
How to read this profile
BLS projects U.S. employment for Physical Therapist Aides to increase by 4.0% between 2024 and 2034, from 49,000 to 51,000 jobs. Its estimate of 6,400 annual openings includes replacement needs, so it does not represent current vacancies, contract postings, or freelance demand. The wage ($35,240), education (High school diploma or equivalent), and related experience (None) figures on this profile describe typical U.S. employees. O*NET skills describe the occupation; they do not assess an individual worker's proficiency.
Base employment (2024)
49,000
Projected employment (2034)
51,000
Projected change (2024–2034)
4%
Annual openings (projected average)
6,400
Pay & Preparation
$35,240
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Short-term on-the-job training
Essential Skills
Active Listening (3.62/5) • Monitoring (3.25/5) • Service Orientation (3.25/5) • Reading Comprehension (3.12/5) • Coordination (3.12/5) • Social Perceptiveness (3.12/5)
O*NET describes occupational requirements; these ratings do not measure current job-posting frequency or an individual worker’s proficiency.
BLS projections are long-term estimates; annual openings include growth and replacement needs and are not current vacancies.
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