Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in St. Louis, MO: $67,617 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in St. Louis, MO earns a median $67,617/year (≈ $32.51/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in St. Louis's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 95.1), that paycheck buys what $71,110 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.0% above the Missouri state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, a physical therapist assistant salary in St. Louis is projected to reach a median annual figure of $67,617, positioning it slightly below the national median of $70,247. This salary reflects the local market expectations, influenced by the volume of therapy visits per day, which can significantly impact compensation. The salary ranges from $54,519 at the lower end (P10) to $81,568 at the high end (P90), based on official BLS OEWS data. As St. Louis continues to develop its healthcare infrastructure, those entering this field can expect both competitive earnings and varied opportunities that grow alongside the demand for physical therapy services in the area.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $54,519 | $26.21 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $62,799 | $30.19 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $67,617 | $32.51 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $76,719 | $36.88 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $81,568 | $39.21 |
Median Salary Position
3.74% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Louis
In St. Louis, MO, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $27,049 (2026 est.). At $67,617, the local median is 3.74% below the national median of $70,247.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in St. Louis: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How St. Louis Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
St. Louis median: $67,617/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Louis Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Average | $63,193 | +7.00% more |
| National Average | $70,247 | -3.74% less |
Physical Therapist Assistants in St. Louis, MO earn a median of $67,617 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.74% lower than the national median of $70,247 and 7.00% above the Missouri state average of $63,193.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Louis has a cost of living 4.91% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Louis, MO has a cost-of-living index of 95.088 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $67,617 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $71,110 in an average-cost city — an effective 5.17% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$51,720
2025 BLS Actual
$65,820
2026 Current Est.
$67,617
2019–2027 Growth
+34.3%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in St. Louis (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $51,720 | Actual |
| 2020 | $52,010 | Actual |
| 2021 | $58,190 | Actual |
| 2022 | $62,160 | Actual |
| 2023 | $61,790 | Actual |
| 2024 | $61,920 | Actual |
| 2025 | $65,820 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $67,617 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $69,463 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Louis metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 27.3% from $51,720 (2019) to $65,820 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $69,463 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,743 (34.31%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Louis 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) | $54,519 – $62,799 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $62,799 – $67,617 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $67,617 – $76,719 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $76,719 – $81,568 |
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 St. Louis
The job market in St. Louis employs around 1,100 physical therapist assistants, showcasing a stable and expanding field. With a cost-of-living index of 95.088, the overall affordability in the region provides a favorable backdrop for take-home pay despite salaries that may be lower than some national benchmarks. Employers that typically offer higher pay include outpatient orthopedic clinics and hospital inpatient rehab facilities, often paying above average due to higher productivity expectations and specialized patient care. The gap in earnings can largely be attributed to factors such as the setting, with hospital positions generally offering better pay than outpatient or skilled nursing facilities, especially after the Medicare reimbursement cuts. To maximize pay, professionals should seek employment in settings with higher reimbursement rates and consider additional certifications or skills that can enhance their marketability in the competitive St. Louis MO landscape.
More salary data for St. Louis, MO:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make in St. Louis, MO in 2026?
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Can physical therapist assistants make $100K in St. Louis?
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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 $65,820 for physical therapist assistantsin the St. Louis 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