Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Los Angeles, CA: $84,382 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Los Angeles, CA earns a median $84,382/year (≈ $40.57/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Los Angeles's price level (14% above national, BEA RPP 113.6), that paycheck buys what $74,302 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, physical therapist assistants in Los Angeles are projected to earn a median annual salary of $84,382, significantly surpassing the national median of $70,247 by 20.12%. This salary reflects the wide range of compensation available for this role in the region, with figures spanning from $61,340 at the 10th percentile to $103,819 at the 90th percentile. These insights are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, illustrating how the PTA-to-DPT bridge can enhance lifetime earnings for those pursuing further education. Given Los Angeles's robust healthcare community, the job market for physical therapist assistants remains competitive, contributing to the high demand and salary growth in this profession.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $61,340 | $29.49 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $79,739 | $38.34 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $84,382 | $40.57 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $92,395 | $44.42 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $103,819 | $49.92 |
Median Salary Position
20.12% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, CA, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $42,479 (2026 est.). At $84,382, the local median is 20.12% above the national median of $70,247.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Los Angeles: You'd be above the median
How Los Angeles Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Los Angeles median: $84,382/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Los Angeles Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $70,247 | +20.12% more |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Los Angeles, CA earn a median of $84,382 per year (2026 est.), which is 20.12% higher than the national median of $70,247.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Los Angeles has a cost of living 13.57% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Los Angeles, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.566 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $84,382 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $74,302 — a 11.95% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$71,690
2025 BLS Actual
$82,140
2026 Current Est.
$84,382
2019–2027 Growth
+20.9%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Los Angeles (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $71,690 | Actual |
| 2020 | $76,610 | Actual |
| 2021 | $78,010 | Actual |
| 2022 | $80,590 | Actual |
| 2023 | $75,480 | Actual |
| 2024 | $76,130 | Actual |
| 2025 | $82,140 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $84,382 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $86,686 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 14.6% from $71,690 (2019) to $82,140 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $86,686 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,996 (20.92%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Los Angeles 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $61,340 – $79,739 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $79,739 – $84,382 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $84,382 – $92,395 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $92,395 – $103,819 |
PTA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Assistant Job Market in Los Angeles
The employment landscape in Los Angeles includes around 3,730 physical therapist assistants, bolstered by a relatively high cost of living index at 113.566, which directly affects purchasing power. While outpatient orthopedic clinics generally provide the most lucrative pay, settings such as skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies have seen compression in salaries due to Medicare's recent 15% reimbursement cuts, impacting how much do physical therapist assistants make in Los Angeles CA. Key factors influencing pay disparity include productivity demands and the supervision requirements under state law. To maximize earning potential, professionals should focus on seeking employment in high-paying settings, pursuing additional certifications, and exploring opportunities in specialized areas of therapy, which can lead to elevated compensation despite the current market challenges.
More salary data for Los Angeles, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make in Los Angeles, CA in 2026?
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a physical therapist assistant?
Can physical therapist assistants make $100K in Los Angeles?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physical therapist assistant salary in Los Angeles?
How much does a physical therapist assistant make per hour in Los Angeles?
Related Pages
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $82,140 for physical therapist assistantsin the Los Angeles metropolitan area. A 2.73% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). 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