Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Cincinnati, OH: $66,949 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Cincinnati, OH earns a median $66,949/year (≈ $32.19/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Cincinnati's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 95.4), that paycheck buys what $70,199 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.4% above the Ohio state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, physical therapist assistants in Cincinnati, Ohio, can expect a median annual salary of $66,949, reflecting a competitive compensation structure within the field. The salary range varies significantly, from $52,464 at the lower end (10th percentile) to $90,279 at the high end (90th percentile). These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, highlight the opportunities for PTAs who effectively manage patient visits per day. The Cincinnati job market shows promise, with an employed base of approximately 930 physical therapist assistants, indicating a demand for skilled practitioners in various settings.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $52,464 | $25.23 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $62,388 | $30.00 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $66,949 | $32.19 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $79,451 | $38.20 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $90,279 | $43.40 |
Median Salary Position
4.69% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Cincinnati
In Cincinnati, OH, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $37,815 (2026 est.). At $66,949, the local median is 4.69% below the national median of $70,247.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Cincinnati: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Cincinnati Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Cincinnati median: $66,949/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Cincinnati Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio Average | $65,380 | +2.40% more |
| National Average | $70,247 | -4.69% less |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Cincinnati, OH earn a median of $66,949 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.69% lower than the national median of $70,247 and 2.40% above the Ohio state average of $65,380.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Cincinnati has a cost of living 4.63% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Cincinnati, OH has a cost-of-living index of 95.37 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $66,949 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $70,199 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.85% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$60,370
2025 BLS Actual
$65,170
2026 Current Est.
$66,949
2019–2027 Growth
+13.9%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Cincinnati (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $60,370 | Actual |
| 2020 | $61,910 | Actual |
| 2021 | $62,730 | Actual |
| 2022 | $63,360 | Actual |
| 2023 | $63,680 | Actual |
| 2024 | $64,950 | Actual |
| 2025 | $65,170 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $66,949 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $68,777 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Cincinnati metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 8.0% from $60,370 (2019) to $65,170 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $68,777 by 2027 — a total increase of $8,407 (13.93%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Cincinnati 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) | $52,464 – $62,388 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $62,388 – $66,949 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $66,949 – $79,451 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $79,451 – $90,279 |
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 Cincinnati
Working as a physical therapist assistant in Cincinnati presents distinct considerations regarding pay and job market conditions. The cost of living index stands at 95.37, suggesting that take-home earnings can stretch further compared to many parts of the country. Compensation can vary based on the setting, with outpatient orthopedic clinics generally offering some of the highest salaries, followed by skilled nursing facilities and hospitals, where productivity expectations and regulatory guidelines, like the 15% Medicare cut, come into play. Maximizing pay in this market often involves seeking positions in high-demand settings, maintaining a flexible schedule to capture weekend shifts, and considering further education for potential career advancement through PTA-to-DPT bridge pathways. Exploring these avenues can significantly impact how much do physical therapist assistants make in Cincinnati as they navigate their careers.
More salary data for Cincinnati, OH:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make in Cincinnati, OH in 2026?
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Can physical therapist assistants make $100K in Cincinnati?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physical therapist assistant salary in Cincinnati?
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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 $65,170 for physical therapist assistantsin the Cincinnati 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