Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Michigan City, IN: $52,392 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Michigan City, IN earns a median $52,392/year (≈ $25.19/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Michigan City's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.7), that paycheck buys what $57,145 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 17.8% below the Indiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Michigan City, IN, physical therapist assistants can expect to earn a median annual salary of $52,392 in 2026, reflecting the ongoing adjustments in the healthcare landscape due to the 15% Medicare cut to PTA reimbursement rates. With salaries ranging from $34,209 at the 10th percentile to $75,445 at the 90th percentile, the pay structure illustrates significant disparities within the field, largely influenced by work settings. Insights drawn from official Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data indicate that after the cuts, outpatient therapy and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are significantly impacted, driving some practitioners towards more lucrative opportunities in outpatient orthopedic clinics and private practices, where demand remains robust despite the financing changes that have affected other facilities.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $34,209 | $16.45 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $43,167 | $20.75 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $52,392 | $25.19 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $65,716 | $31.60 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $75,445 | $36.27 |
Median Salary Position
25.42% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Michigan City
In Michigan City, IN, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $41,236 (2026 est.). At $52,392, the local median is 25.42% below the national median of $70,247.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Michigan City: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Michigan City Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Michigan City median: $52,392/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Michigan City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Average | $63,738 | -17.80% less |
| National Average | $70,247 | -25.42% less |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Michigan City, IN earn a median of $52,392 per year (2026 est.), which is 25.42% lower than the national median of $70,247 and 17.80% below the Indiana state average of $63,738.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Michigan City has a cost of living 8.32% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Michigan City, IN has a cost-of-living index of 91.682 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $52,392 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $57,145 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.07% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$43,847
2025 BLS Actual
$51,000
2026 Current Est.
$52,392
2019–2027 Growth
+22.8%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Michigan City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $43,847 | Actual |
| 2020 | $44,578 | Actual |
| 2021 | $45,630 | Actual |
| 2022 | $46,816 | Actual |
| 2023 | $47,793 | Actual |
| 2024 | $53,834 | Actual |
| 2025 | $51,000 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $52,392 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $53,823 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Michigan City metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 16.3% from $43,847 (2019) to $51,000 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $53,823 by 2027 — a total increase of $9,976 (22.75%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Michigan City 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) | $34,209 – $43,167 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $43,167 – $52,392 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $52,392 – $65,716 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $65,716 – $75,445 |
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 Michigan City
Exploring the local job market reveals that, with 30 physical therapist assistants employed in Michigan City, there are still opportunities for those looking to enter the field. The cost of living index stands at 91.682, suggesting a favorable purchasing power for PTAs in the area. Employers in outpatient orthopedic settings tend to offer the highest pay, while SNFs have been constrained by reduced reimbursement rates. The difference in earnings often comes down to the setting in which a PTA works, as hospital settings generally provide higher wages than outpatient clinics or SNFs due to productivity expectations and associated supervision requirements. Those looking to maximize their physical therapist assistant pay in Michigan City should consider routes such as continuing education, specializing in high-demand areas like pediatrics or sports rehabilitation, and potentially taking on supervisory roles where available, which may come with premium compensation.
More salary data for Michigan City, IN:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make in Michigan City, IN in 2026?
Is Michigan City, IN a good place to work as a physical therapist assistant?
Can physical therapist assistants make $100K in Michigan City?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physical therapist assistant salary in Michigan City?
How much does a physical therapist assistant make per hour in Michigan City?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Indiana
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 $51,000 for physical therapist assistantsin the Michigan City 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, 2-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