Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Albany, NY: $65,799 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Albany, NY earns a median $65,799/year (≈ $31.63/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Albany's price level (0% above national, BEA RPP 99.6), that paycheck buys what $66,086 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.0% above the New York state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Albany, New York, the projected median annual physical therapist assistant salary in Albany is $65,799 for 2026, which reflects a competitive pay scale compared to the national median of $70,247. With a salary range spanning from $59,737 at the lower tenth percentile to $74,500 at the upper end, this data is drawn from the 2025 BLS OEWS surveys. Productivity expectations heavily influence earnings, particularly within the outpatient orthopedic clinics and inpatient rehabilitation centers. As Albany's healthcare system continues to evolve, the role of physical therapist assistants remains vital, positioning them in sectors where they can effectively contribute to patient care.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $59,737 | $28.72 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $62,121 | $29.86 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $65,799 | $31.63 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $67,709 | $32.56 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $74,500 | $35.82 |
Median Salary Position
6.33% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Albany
In Albany, NY, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $14,763 (2026 est.). At $65,799, the local median is 6.33% below the national median of $70,247.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Albany: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Albany Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Albany median: $65,799/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Albany Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New York Average | $62,665 | +5.00% more |
| National Average | $70,247 | -6.33% less |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Albany, NY earn a median of $65,799 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.33% lower than the national median of $70,247 and 5.00% above the New York state average of $62,665.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Albany has a cost of living 0.43% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Albany, NY has a cost-of-living index of 99.566 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $65,799 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $66,086 in an average-cost city — an effective 0.44% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$52,490
2025 BLS Actual
$64,050
2026 Current Est.
$65,799
2019–2027 Growth
+28.8%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Albany (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $52,490 | Actual |
| 2020 | $53,390 | Actual |
| 2021 | $49,950 | Actual |
| 2022 | $51,850 | Actual |
| 2023 | $56,850 | Actual |
| 2024 | $62,380 | Actual |
| 2025 | $64,050 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $65,799 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $67,595 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Albany metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 22.0% from $52,490 (2019) to $64,050 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $67,595 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,105 (28.78%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Albany 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) | $59,737 – $62,121 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $62,121 – $65,799 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $65,799 – $67,709 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $67,709 – $74,500 |
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 Albany
The job market for physical therapist assistants in Albany is relatively robust, with approximately 120 professionals employed in the area. The cost of living index, sitting at 99.566, indicates that living expenses are slightly below the national average, which can enhance purchasing power for those in this field. Among local employers, outpatient orthopedic clinics typically offer the highest pay, reflecting their reliance on efficient patient throughput and productivity. Differences in pay can be attributed to various factors, including work settings, productivity demands, and growing supervision requirements. The impact of the Medicare 15% reimbursement cut on services provided by PTAs affects earnings, particularly in skilled nursing facilities and outpatient settings. Therefore, those seeking to optimize their compensation may find success through strategic choices on setting, focusing on outpatient environments where patient volume can bolster income.
More salary data for Albany, NY:
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 $64,050 for physical therapist assistantsin the Albany 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