Physical Therapist Aide salary in California
What physical therapist aides earn in California and its metro areas, compared with the rest of the country.
Median pay$38,330$18.43 per hour
vs U.S.+9%U.S. median $35,240
Middle half earn$35,760 – $46,190Top 10%: $60,200+
Jobs7,3301.30× the U.S. concentration
Physical Therapist Aide pay in California cities
Metro areas as BLS defines them. Click a column to sort.
| Metro area | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37,280 | $17.92 | 2,720 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $37,850 | $18.20 | 760 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $38,440 | $18.48 | 740 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $44,440 | $21.36 | 680 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38,980 | $18.74 | 330 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $43,300 | $20.82 | 330 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $36,240 | $17.43 | 290 |
| Fresno, CA | $40,350 | $19.40 | 240 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $36,790 | $17.69 | 120 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $39,210 | $18.85 | 100 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $36,380 | $17.49 | 100 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $35,220 | $16.93 | 90 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $35,880 | $17.25 | 90 |
| Modesto, CA | $36,640 | $17.62 | 80 |
| Redding, CA | $35,010 | $16.83 | 80 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,700 | $18.12 | 80 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,810 | $18.66 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $37,620 | $18.09 | 60 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $37,320 | $17.94 | 60 |
| Merced, CA | $35,870 | $17.25 | 50 |
| Chico, CA | $38,230 | $18.38 | 30 |
| Vallejo, CA | $37,270 | $17.92 | 30 |
Hospitals and jobs in California
Physical Therapist Aide pay in similar states
Maine · $39,660 Washington · $39,500 Montana · $38,950 North Dakota · $37,680 Massachusetts · $37,440 Ohio · $37,220
Other healthcare salaries in California
Home Health and Personal Care Aides · $34,320 Registered Nurses · $140,270 Medical Assistants · $49,660 Nursing Assistants · $47,630 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses · $79,750 Dental Assistants · $50,110 Pharmacy Technicians · $55,110 Pharmacists · $164,610 Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians · $76,010 Physical Therapists · $124,190 Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other · $60,390 Physicians, All Other · $281,590
Questions
How much does a physical therapist aide make in California?
Physical Therapist Aides in California earned a median of $38,330 a year ($18.43 an hour) in May 2025, 9% more than the national median of $35,240. The middle half earned $35,760 to $46,190.
Where in California do physical therapist aides earn the most?
Among areas in California, pay was highest in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $44,440.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Pay doesn't reflect cost of living, overtime or shift differentials.