Physical Therapist Assistants pay in California
$83,080avg. a year
$39.94 an hour · 9,400 employed
Physical Therapist Assistants in California earn an average of $83,080 a year. That is $14,350 (21%) more than the U.S. average of $68,730. The best-paying metro area is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $94,690.
$83,110Median pay
$39.94Average hourly
+18%Avg. pay since 2020
#1Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for physical therapist assistants by metro area. Swipe to see all 21.
1400 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$94,690
$45.53 an hour
21,040 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$93,600
$45.00 an hour
360 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$89,020
$42.80 an hour
4150 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$87,150
$41.90 an hour
590 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$86,840
$41.75 an hour
6150 jobs
Modesto, CA
$85,950
$41.32 an hour
7570 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$85,440
$41.08 an hour
870 jobs
Salinas, CA
$84,930
$40.83 an hour
9100 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$84,710
$40.73 an hour
1050 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$84,030
$40.40 an hour
113,730 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$81,680
$39.27 an hour
12160 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$81,120
$39.00 an hour
13860 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$79,760
$38.35 an hour
1460 jobs
Redding, CA
$79,340
$38.15 an hour
15100 jobs
Visalia, CA
$79,010
$37.99 an hour
16870 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$78,720
$37.85 an hour
17210 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$78,300
$37.64 an hour
1870 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$77,470
$37.25 an hour
19220 jobs
Fresno, CA
$75,530
$36.31 an hour
2030 jobs
Yuba City, CA
$74,830
$35.98 an hour
21100 jobs
Chico, CA
$70,460
$33.88 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Physical Therapist Assistants pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California physical therapist assistants work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $63k$63k–$66k$66k–$71k$71k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $68,730 | $33.04 |
| California | $83,080 | $39.94 |
| Nevada | $72,960 | $35.08 |
| Oregon | $70,490 | $33.89 |
| Arizona | $64,970 | $31.23 |
Related jobs in California
- Occupational Therapy Assistants$84,690
- Physical Therapist Aides$43,470
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides$36,420
- Nursing Assistants$50,190
- Medical Assistants$55,100
- Dental Assistants$54,710
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do physical therapist assistants make in California?
The average is $83,080 a year, and the median is $83,110. That is $14,350 (21%) more than the U.S. average of $68,730.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$39.94 an hour on average; the median is $39.96.
Where in California do they earn the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,690), followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($93,600). The lowest average among 21 metro areas with data is Chico, CA ($70,460).
How does California rank?
California ranks #1 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 31-2021. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national physical therapist assistants page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.