Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Gainesville, FL: $70,093 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Gainesville, FL earns a median $70,093/year (≈ $33.70/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Gainesville's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 96.7), that paycheck buys what $72,460 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.1% above the Florida state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With a median annual salary projected at $70,093 for physical therapist assistants in Gainesville, Florida, the compensation reflects a strong local job market relative to national standards. Operating within a salary range from $57,180 (P10) to $85,441 (P90), these figures are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. Such earnings are particularly significant considering the career pathway from PTA to Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), which can enhance lifetime earning potential. The local market's competitiveness is evident, as employment opportunities for 170 physical therapist assistants indicate a growing demand for this essential healthcare role in Gainesville.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $57,180 | $27.49 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $63,878 | $30.72 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $70,093 | $33.70 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $76,411 | $36.74 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $85,441 | $41.08 |
Median Salary Position
0.22% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Gainesville
In Gainesville, FL, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $28,261 (2026 est.). At $70,093, the local median is 0.22% below the national median of $70,247.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Gainesville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Gainesville Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Gainesville median: $70,093/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Gainesville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Average | $70,023 | +0.10% more |
| National Average | $70,247 | -0.22% less |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Gainesville, FL earn a median of $70,093 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.22% lower than the national median of $70,247 and 0.10% above the Florida state average of $70,023.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Gainesville has a cost of living 3.27% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Gainesville, FL has a cost-of-living index of 96.733 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $70,093 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $72,460 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.38% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$60,300
2025 BLS Actual
$68,230
2026 Current Est.
$70,093
2019–2027 Growth
+19.4%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Gainesville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $60,300 | Actual |
| 2020 | $60,540 | Actual |
| 2021 | $58,980 | Actual |
| 2022 | $61,840 | Actual |
| 2023 | $63,080 | Actual |
| 2024 | $64,160 | Actual |
| 2025 | $68,230 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $70,093 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $72,006 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Gainesville metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 13.2% from $60,300 (2019) to $68,230 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $72,006 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,706 (19.41%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Gainesville 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) | $57,180 – $63,878 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $63,878 – $70,093 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $70,093 – $76,411 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $76,411 – $85,441 |
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 Gainesville
The job market in Gainesville pays competitive wages amid a relatively low cost of living index of 96.733, suggesting that despite the PTA salary in Gainesville, FL being slightly below national averages, the purchasing power remains favorable. The area's highest-paying roles often reside in outpatient orthopedic clinics and hospital inpatient rehabilitation, with earnings influenced by factors such as productivity expectations and supervision requirements. The disparity between low and high pay can be attributed to work settings; for example, skilled nursing facilities have felt the pinch from the Medicare 15% cut, which has affected PTA income in those environments. To maximize earnings, physical therapist assistants in Gainesville may consider focusing on outpatient settings or pursue continuing education to transition into DPT programs, aligning with the evolving demands of the profession and enhancing their future earning capabilities.
More salary data for Gainesville, FL:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 $68,230 for physical therapist assistantsin the Gainesville 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