Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in California: $86,199 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 157 metropolitan areas, the average median physical therapist assistant pay sits at $86,199/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 31-2021. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $76,215 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sunnyvale ($99,472), Santa Clara ($98,819), Oakland ($98,103).

Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California physical therapist assistant salary overview (2026)

$86,199

Avg Median Salary

$41.44

Avg Hourly Rate

12,146

Metro Employed

157

Cities

In California, the projected average median salary for physical therapist assistants in 2026 is $86,199, significantly higher than the national median of $70,247, representing a 22.7% increase. The highest-paying city in the state is Sunnyvale, with a salary of $102,188, while Yuba City has the lowest at $75,589, resulting in a salary gap of $26,599. This disparity can be attributed to factors such as the cost of living, demand for services, and the concentration of healthcare facilities in certain metropolitan areas. California has specific state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that may contribute to the higher salaries. The demand for physical therapist assistants is driven by an aging population, increased focus on rehabilitation services, and a growing awareness of physical therapy's benefits. As of 2026, the job market for physical therapist assistants is projected to grow at an annual rate of 2.73%, reflecting stability and ongoing need in the healthcare sector. With 12,146 physical therapist assistants employed across 157 metro areas, cities like Santa Clara ($101,517), Oakland ($100,781), San Jose ($99,843), and Fremont ($98,558) highlight the diverse earning potential available in California, further influenced by regional economic conditions and healthcare demands.

California Physical Therapist Assistant Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$60,320

avg across 157 cities

Median

$86,199

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$108,666

avg across 157 cities

Overall salary range in California: $38,770 (lowest entry-level) to $139,443 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$86,199

National Median

$70,247

California physical therapist assistants earn 22.71% more than the national median (+$15,952/year difference).

California Physical Therapist Assistant Salary Distribution (2026)

Physical Therapist Assistant salaries in California range from $60,320 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $108,666 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $86,199. The California median is $15,952 above the US national median of $70,247. The average hourly rate is $41.44/hr. Approximately 12,146 physical therapist assistants are employed across 157 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$68,646

2025 BLS Actual

$83,908

2026 Current Est.

$86,199

2019–2027 Growth

+29.0%

Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$68,646	Actual
2020	$72,561	Actual
2021	$76,514	Actual
2022	$81,163	Actual
2023	$81,132	Actual
2024	$83,429	Actual
2025	$83,908	Actual
2026(current)	$86,199	Estimated
2027	$88,552	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 22.2% from $68,646 (2019) to $83,908 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $88,552 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,906 (29.00%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.73% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $49.13/hr

$102,188

+18.55% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $48.81/hr

$101,517

+17.77% vs avg

Oakland

78 employed · $48.45/hr

$100,781

+16.92% vs avg

San Jose

400 employed · $48.01/hr

$99,843

+15.83% vs avg

Fremont

43 employed · $47.38/hr

$98,558

+14.34% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Yuba City	$75,589	-12.31%	$36.35
Chico	$78,671	-8.73%	$37.83
Fresno	$79,102	-8.23%	$38.03
Redding	$79,862	-7.35%	$38.40
Brea	$80,079	-7.10%	$38.50

Best Value Cities for Physical Therapist Assistants in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for physical therapist assistants.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
San Jose	$99,843	110.423	$90,419
Sunnyvale	$102,188	113.1	$90,352
Santa Clara	$101,517	113.1	$89,759
Oakland	$100,781	113.1	$89,108
Fremont	$98,558	113.1	$87,142

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$60,320	$29.00	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$86,199	$41.44	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$108,666	$52.24	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 157 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Sunnyvale	$102,188	$49.13	$70,080	$137,499	26
2	Santa Clara	$101,517	$48.81	$68,551	$131,427	32
3	Oakland	$100,781	$48.45	$67,030	$139,443	78
4	San Jose	$99,843	$48.01	$71,182	$122,054	400
5	Fremont	$98,558	$47.38	$62,164	$138,270	43
6	San Francisco	$98,539	$47.38	$68,418	$120,040	1,040
7	Santa Cruz	$89,714	$43.14	$65,686	$115,684	60
8	Santa Rosa	$89,683	$43.12	$67,206	$112,253	90
9	Santa Ana	$89,427	$42.99	$57,528	$120,923	69
10	Vallejo	$88,995	$42.79	$63,693	$102,442	50
11	Petaluma	$88,825	$42.70	$64,545	$116,949	12
12	Fontana	$87,774	$42.20	$56,538	$118,731	32
13	Irvine	$87,677	$42.15	$60,185	$121,002	72
14	Santa Maria	$87,475	$42.06	$65,788	$105,247	100
15	Pomona	$87,249	$41.94	$59,485	$114,152	36
16	Simi Valley	$87,201	$41.92	$59,639	$117,006	23
17	Escondido	$87,181	$41.91	$59,680	$113,692	31
18	Folsom	$87,177	$41.91	$58,292	$112,086	17
19	Salinas	$87,166	$41.91	$66,096	$104,620	70
20	Fairfield	$87,024	$41.84	$59,233	$113,161	25
21	Fullerton	$86,703	$41.69	$58,243	$115,531	25
22	Daly City	$86,628	$41.65	$58,072	$112,053	20
23	El Monte	$86,600	$41.64	$58,359	$115,183	20
24	Sacramento	$86,591	$41.64	$65,747	$105,719	570
25	Vista	$86,553	$41.62	$58,251	$114,795	24
26	Concord	$86,533	$41.61	$58,204	$114,951	29
27	Clovis	$86,403	$41.54	$57,911	$111,071	19
28	Bakersfield	$86,396	$41.53	$65,295	$108,442	150
29	Garden Grove	$86,315	$41.49	$57,364	$114,211	37
30	Temecula	$86,294	$41.49	$57,664	$110,931	25
31	Santa Clarita	$86,236	$41.46	$59,543	$119,490	41
32	Roseville	$86,235	$41.46	$62,084	$116,526	35
33	Lancaster	$86,124	$41.41	$57,280	$119,145	40
34	Inglewood	$86,124	$41.41	$57,280	$119,145	21
35	Corona	$86,014	$41.35	$56,948	$118,488	24
36	Richmond	$86,000	$41.35	$56,659	$113,150	25
37	Rialto	$85,959	$41.33	$56,912	$113,011	17
38	Anaheim	$85,884	$41.29	$56,390	$117,647	51
39	Torrance	$85,850	$41.28	$56,323	$118,206	26
40	Modesto	$85,728	$41.22	$60,405	$131,125	150
41	Elk Grove	$85,687	$41.19	$56,216	$111,870	25
42	Oceanside	$85,667	$41.18	$56,171	$111,746	28
43	Whittier	$85,641	$41.17	$60,105	$109,878	22
44	San Rafael	$85,635	$41.17	$60,002	$109,802	11
45	Rancho Cucamonga	$85,558	$41.13	$55,927	$111,436	46
46	Hayward	$85,509	$41.11	$55,820	$116,815	23
47	Woodland	$85,488	$41.10	$59,658	$112,485	15
48	Buena Park	$85,474	$41.09	$59,715	$109,541	20
49	Encinitas	$85,467	$41.09	$59,698	$109,300	16
50	Downey	$85,462	$41.09	$55,457	$116,877	22
51	Dublin	$85,414	$41.06	$59,574	$109,341	14
52	Redlands	$85,387	$41.05	$59,511	$112,367	16
53	Chino	$85,341	$41.03	$59,315	$108,878	17
54	Westminster	$85,314	$41.02	$58,991	$112,121	21
55	Santa Monica	$85,307	$41.01	$59,237	$108,767	20
56	San Mateo	$85,298	$41.01	$55,351	$116,095	21
57	Tulare	$85,273	$41.00	$59,159	$108,655	17
58	San Buenaventura	$85,243	$40.98	$61,659	$116,132	19
59	Mission Viejo	$85,187	$40.96	$59,045	$108,587	23
60	Moreno Valley	$85,186	$40.96	$57,582	$115,875	53
61	Pleasanton	$85,173	$40.95	$59,013	$111,431	16
62	Pasadena	$85,052	$40.89	$59,129	$115,261	35
63	Santee	$84,993	$40.87	$58,594	$107,945	9
64	Glendale	$84,917	$40.82	$60,911	$115,022	36
65	Mountain View	$84,872	$40.80	$58,316	$107,548	13
66	Pittsburg	$84,866	$40.80	$57,953	$110,622	19
67	Novato	$84,840	$40.78	$58,152	$107,221	11
68	Costa Mesa	$84,807	$40.77	$58,576	$114,652	23
69	Berkeley	$84,718	$40.73	$60,461	$108,863	23
70	Huntington Beach	$84,698	$40.72	$60,669	$117,214	50
71	Long Beach	$84,663	$40.70	$53,803	$119,104	89
72	Jurupa Valley	$84,623	$40.68	$60,499	$113,809	24
73	Hemet	$84,598	$40.67	$57,684	$106,645	14
74	Union City	$84,592	$40.67	$57,669	$106,623	11
75	West Covina	$84,582	$40.66	$60,405	$113,616	25
76	Chino Hills	$84,558	$40.65	$57,505	$109,368	21
77	Chula Vista	$84,501	$40.63	$53,092	$113,083	51
78	Gilroy	$84,438	$40.60	$57,315	$114,562	10
79	San Diego	$84,403	$40.58	$43,198	$103,819	870
80	San Marcos	$84,392	$40.57	$56,862	$114,405	17
81	Los Angeles	$84,382	$40.57	$61,340	$103,819	3,730
82	Tustin	$84,318	$40.54	$56,694	$108,801	18
83	San Ramon	$84,311	$40.54	$57,023	$108,562	19
84	Eastvale	$84,230	$40.50	$56,839	$108,297	10
85	Murrieta	$84,227	$40.50	$59,687	$112,480	25
86	Vacaville	$84,227	$40.50	$59,687	$115,834	15
87	Brentwood	$84,190	$40.48	$56,748	$113,728	13
88	Hesperia	$84,150	$40.46	$56,657	$113,594	14
89	Lake Elsinore	$84,144	$40.46	$56,642	$113,356	18
90	Citrus Heights	$84,037	$40.40	$56,398	$107,875	19
91	El Cajon	$83,961	$40.36	$56,348	$111,809	18
92	San Clemente	$83,937	$40.35	$56,083	$112,660	10
93	Bellflower	$83,904	$40.34	$56,094	$112,764	11
94	Palmdale	$83,866	$40.32	$58,789	$114,392	29
95	La Mirada	$83,866	$40.32	$60,513	$104,281	10
96	Apple Valley	$83,849	$40.31	$55,971	$107,043	19
97	Menifee	$83,825	$40.30	$58,781	$111,354	20
98	Yucaipa	$83,790	$40.28	$55,835	$112,383	14
99	Norwalk	$83,785	$40.28	$58,605	$111,000	22
100	Rancho Cordova	$83,710	$40.25	$55,653	$111,901	20
101	Carlsbad	$83,697	$40.24	$59,448	$112,605	23
102	Montebello	$83,629	$40.21	$55,471	$111,846	16
103	Compton	$83,596	$40.19	$55,310	$106,210	25
104	Porterville	$83,536	$40.16	$55,259	$106,228	11
105	Stockton	$83,530	$40.16	$63,929	$105,925	160
106	Lompoc	$83,525	$40.16	$59,783	$103,183	8
107	Hawthorne	$83,395	$40.10	$54,942	$105,769	13
108	Antioch	$83,368	$40.09	$57,677	$112,720	17
109	Burbank	$83,361	$40.07	$55,025	$109,813	22
110	Napa	$83,208	$40.00	$61,178	$110,445	17
111	Alhambra	$83,168	$39.98	$61,084	$110,311	13
112	Livermore	$83,168	$39.98	$58,316	$110,311	21
113	Orange	$83,143	$39.97	$57,260	$109,092	21
114	South Gate	$83,141	$39.97	$60,682	$110,223	25
115	Victorville	$83,123	$39.96	$57,214	$108,808	30
116	West Sacramento	$83,094	$39.95	$60,573	$110,067	9
117	Poway	$83,073	$39.94	$58,702	$101,941	8
118	San Leandro	$82,961	$39.89	$60,517	$112,439	23
119	Indio	$82,867	$39.84	$60,046	$109,316	23
120	Lake Forest	$82,867	$39.84	$60,046	$109,316	14
121	Carson	$82,720	$39.77	$60,046	$111,848	21
122	Rocklin	$82,707	$39.77	$60,015	$111,804	10
123	Newport Beach	$82,566	$39.69	$59,690	$108,325	12
124	Redwood City	$82,560	$39.69	$59,592	$108,039	13
125	Turlock	$82,539	$39.68	$59,544	$111,036	17
126	Manteca	$82,513	$39.67	$59,568	$108,148	13
127	Perris	$82,507	$39.66	$59,215	$108,127	12
128	Ontario	$82,470	$39.65	$55,265	$109,285	42
129	Madera	$82,439	$39.63	$59,398	$107,695	8
130	Lodi	$82,377	$39.60	$59,217	$107,497	14
131	Baldwin Park	$82,292	$39.56	$58,976	$107,214	19
132	Palo Alto	$82,292	$39.56	$59,061	$110,427	15
133	Lakewood	$82,259	$39.55	$58,984	$107,316	19
134	Hanford	$82,092	$39.47	$58,517	$106,506	10
135	Beaumont	$82,019	$39.43	$58,098	$106,530	9
136	Merced	$82,005	$39.43	$56,010	$106,486	20
137	Tracy	$81,998	$39.42	$58,388	$106,254	14
138	Alameda	$81,971	$39.41	$58,327	$109,157	12
139	Laguna Niguel	$81,951	$39.40	$57,945	$109,301	16
140	Milpitas	$81,911	$39.38	$58,189	$108,959	16
141	Camarillo	$81,737	$39.29	$57,794	$105,615	13
142	Oakley	$81,704	$39.28	$55,482	$105,538	8
143	Davis	$81,684	$39.27	$57,589	$105,180	14
144	Oxnard	$81,650	$39.25	$62,768	$101,415	210
145	Upland	$81,624	$39.24	$57,202	$108,224	18
146	Visalia	$81,609	$39.23	$62,665	$97,707	100
147	La Habra	$81,503	$39.18	$57,180	$107,569	16
148	San Bernardino	$81,473	$39.17	$51,517	$114,260	33
149	Lynwood	$81,470	$39.17	$57,188	$104,749	16
150	Riverside	$81,372	$39.12	$63,795	$101,343	860
151	Thousand Oaks	$81,320	$39.10	$58,637	$110,123	32
152	San Luis Obispo	$81,146	$39.02	$60,395	$98,611	70
153	Brea	$80,079	$38.50	$58,278	$102,991	10
154	Redding	$79,862	$38.40	$57,498	$102,884	60
155	Fresno	$79,102	$38.03	$38,770	$102,350	220
156	Chico	$78,671	$37.83	$47,708	$99,915	100
157	Yuba City	$75,589	$36.35	$58,412	$92,210	30

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore physical therapist assistant hourly pay in California cities.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →Oakland →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new physical therapist assistants.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →Oakland →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced physical therapist assistants.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →Oakland →

Compare Cities in California

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View all comparisons →

Explore More Physical Therapist Assistant Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do physical therapist assistants make in California in 2026?

The average median physical therapist assistant salary in California is $86,199/year across 157 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $75,589 in Yuba City to $102,188 in Sunnyvale. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 22.71% above the national median of $70,247. The state employs approximately 12,146 physical therapist assistants.

What is the highest paying city for physical therapist assistants in California?

Sunnyvale offers the highest physical therapist assistant salary in California at $102,188/year ($49.13/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Sunnyvale ($102,188), Santa Clara ($101,517), Oakland ($100,781). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for physical therapy services, and competition among employers for licensed physical therapist assistants.

How does California physical therapist assistant pay compare to the national average?

California's average physical therapist assistant salary of $86,199 is 22.71% above the national median of $70,247 in 2026. The state employs approximately 12,146 physical therapist assistants across 157 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level physical therapist assistant salary in California?

Entry-level physical therapist assistants (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $60,320/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $38,770 in lower-paying areas to $71,182 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many physical therapist assistants are employed in California?

California employs approximately 12,146 physical therapist assistants across 157 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of physical therapist assistants nationally. Demand continues to grow as the physical therapy field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for physical therapist assistants?

When adjusted for cost of living, San Jose offers the highest purchasing power for physical therapist assistants in California, with an adjusted salary of $90,419 (nominal: $99,843, CoL index: 110.423). This means your dollar goes 9% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

Written by Jordan Lee, DPT

Career Analyst

Jordan has 10 years of experience in outpatient physical therapy. They specialize in orthopedic rehabilitation. Jordan works in a private practice setting.

Clinically reviewed by Maria Gonzalez, PTAData verified by Ahmed Khan, DPT

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.73% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 physical therapist assistant compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 157 metro areas — larger metro areas with more physical therapist assistantscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.73%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physical therapist assistants (SOC 31-2021).

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, DPT, a licensed physical therapist assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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