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Hospitals & Health Systems
HCA Healthcare, Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente
Physical Therapist Aides
Physical therapist aides keep treatment rooms ready, help patients get set up for exercises and supportive devices, and handle the cleanup and organization that keeps a clinic moving. The work is hands-on and close to patients, but it is mostly support work rather than direct treatment, so the tradeoff is quick entry into healthcare with modest pay and limited advancement unless you train further.
Also known as Physical Therapy AidePT AideRehab AideRehabilitation AideTherapy Aide
Median Salary
$34,520
Mean $35,510
U.S. Workforce
~44K
6.6K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2.8%
45.6K to 46.9K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Physical Therapist Aides sits in the Healthcare category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~44K workers, with a median annual pay of $34,520 and roughly 6.6K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 45.6 K in 2024 to 46.9K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Entry-level healthcare aide and can progress toward Physical therapist assistant. High-value skills usually include Therapy Equipment Setup & Sanitization, Patient Transfer & Mobility Assistance, and Electronic Health Records (Epic/Cerner) Documentation, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Monitoring, and Service Orientation.
Core Responsibilities
- Set out therapy equipment, supplies, and treatment materials before patients arrive.
- Help patients get ready for therapy by assisting with braces, slings, and other supportive devices.
- Stay with patients while they practice exercises or walking drills, offering reminders and encouragement under a therapist's direction.
- Clean treatment rooms and disinfect equipment after each session.
Keep exploring: more Healthcare careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Set out therapy equipment, supplies, and treatment materials before patients arrive.
02 Help patients get ready for therapy by assisting with braces, slings, and other supportive devices.
03 Stay with patients while they practice exercises or walking drills, offering reminders and encouragement under a therapist's direction.
04 Clean treatment rooms and disinfect equipment after each session.
05 Change linens, restock supplies, and keep carts and work areas organized.
06 Check in with the physical therapy team about patient progress and make sure equipment is working properly.
Industries That Hire
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Outpatient Physical Therapy Clinics
ATI Physical Therapy, Select Medical, Athletico Physical Therapy
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Rehabilitation Hospitals
Encompass Health, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Brooks Rehabilitation
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Nursing & Assisted Living Facilities
Brookdale Senior Living, Genesis HealthCare, Life Care Centers of America
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Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Practices
Hospital for Special Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedics, OrthoCarolina
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field without a college degree; the typical requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent, plus short-term on-the-job training.
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The job offers steady demand, with 44,010 workers now and about 6.6 thousand annual openings.
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You work directly with patients, so the day-to-day feels more personal than many back-office healthcare jobs.
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The work gives you a clear view of how rehab clinics run if you want to move toward a licensed therapy career later.
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It can be a practical first step into healthcare for someone who wants hands-on work without years of schooling.
Challenges
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Pay is modest for the amount of physical work involved: the median is $34,520 and the mean is $35,510.
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The job is physically repetitive, with plenty of lifting, standing, cleaning, and moving supplies or equipment.
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Advancement is limited inside the role itself; better pay usually means going back to school for a higher-level therapy job.
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Growth is only 2.8% through 2034, so most of the 6.6 thousand annual openings are likely to come from turnover rather than fast expansion.
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Because the role is a support position, clinic budgets and staffing choices can flatten the career path and leave little control over how much work you are allowed to take on.
Career Progression
Entry-level healthcare aide
0-1 years
$28K-$31K
New workers usually handle setup, cleanup, and basic patient support while learning clinic routines and safety procedures.
Physical therapist aide
1-3 years
$33K-$38K
At this level, you spend most of your time helping patients with exercises, preparing treatment areas, and keeping sessions running smoothly.
Lead therapy aide THIS ROLE
3-6 years
$39K-$45K
Experienced aides may take on more responsibility for room flow, supply management, and coordinating with therapists and other support staff.
Physical therapist assistant
5+ years
$58K-$75K
This is a higher-skill clinical step that requires more schooling and lets you do more direct patient care under a therapist's supervision.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 34.41% of workers in this role.
Associate's degree in health science or a related field
A common alternative route, listed by 25.1% of workers in this occupation.
Post-secondary certificate in rehabilitation or medical assisting
A smaller share of workers enter this way, shown by 2.09% of workers in the occupation.
Key Skills
Technical
Therapy Equipment Setup & Sanitization 60%
Patient Transfer & Mobility Assistance 58%
Electronic Health Records (Epic/Cerner) Documentation 56%
Modalities Prep: Hot Packs, Ultrasound & TENS Support 55%
Assistive Device Fitting: Braces, Splints & Slings 54%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningMonitoringService OrientationCoordinationSocial PerceptivenessReading Comprehension Job Outlook and Trends
+2.8%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
6.6K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 45.6K to 46.9 K over the next decade, representing 2.8% growth. Around 6.6 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.