PT Assistant Salary

Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Puerto Rico: $30,859 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Puerto Rico's 4 metropolitan areas, the average median physical therapist assistant pay sits at $30,859/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 31-2021. Because Puerto Rico sits at BEA RPP 75.0 (25% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $41,145 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Mayaguez ($30,950), San Juan ($30,330), Aguadilla ($29,120).

Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Puerto Rico - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
Puerto Rico physical therapist assistant salary overview (2026)
$30,859
Avg Median Salary
$14.83
Avg Hourly Rate
790
Metro Employed
4
Cities

In 2026, the average median salary for physical therapist assistants in Puerto Rico is projected to be $30,859, significantly lower than the national median of $70,247, resulting in a gap of -56.1%. Mayaguez offers the highest pay at $31,795, whereas Ponce has the lowest at $29,124, creating a salary difference of $1,671. This variation can be attributed to factors like local demand for physical therapy services, variations in cost of living, and the availability of healthcare facilities. In Puerto Rico, physical therapist assistants must navigate state-specific licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that dictate their responsibilities and interactions with patients. The demand is expected to grow steadily at a rate of 2.73% annually, reflecting a consistent need for rehabilitative services across the island. The total employment for this role stands at 790, suggesting a stable job market, though the significant disparity between local salaries and national averages may impact the attraction and retention of talent in the field. Cities like San Juan and Aguadilla exhibit slightly better salaries at $31,158 and $29,915 respectively, but still fall short of national benchmarks. Overall, while the demand for services is present, prospective assistants should consider the economic context when evaluating career opportunities in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico Physical Therapist Assistant Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$23,143
avg across 4 cities
Median
$30,859
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$68,436
avg across 4 cities

Overall salary range in Puerto Rico: $22,436 (lowest entry-level) to $68,942 (highest top earner)

Puerto Rico vs National Average

Puerto Rico
$30,859
National Median
$70,247

Puerto Rico physical therapist assistants earn 56.07% less than the national median ($-39,388/year difference).

Puerto Rico Physical Therapist Assistant Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing Puerto Rico physical therapist assistant salary percentiles: 10th percentile $23,143, 25th $26,768, Median $30,859, 75th $36,497, 90th $68,436. US national median is $70,247.$19.7K$39.3K$59.0K$78.7K$23.1K10thEntry Level$26.8K25thEarly Career$30.9KMedianMid Career$36.5K75thExperienced$68.4K90thTop EarnerUS Median $70.2K

Physical Therapist Assistant salaries in Puerto Rico range from $23,143 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $68,436 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $30,859. The Puerto Rico median is $39,388 below the US national median of $70,247. The average hourly rate is $14.83/hr. Approximately 790 physical therapist assistants are employed across 4 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$21,693

2025 BLS Actual

$30,039

2026 Current Est.

$30,859

2019–2027 Growth

+46.1%

Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Puerto Rico (20192027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for physical therapist assistants in Puerto Rico. Baseline $21,693 in 2025, projected to $31,701 by 2027.$19.7K$23.2K$26.7K$30.2K$33.7K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$21.7K$22.2K$22.4K$24.0K$25.3K$24.8K$30.0K$30.9K$31.7K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$21,693Actual
2020$22,215Actual
2021$22,385Actual
2022$23,959Actual
2023$25,293Actual
2024$24,779Actual
2025$30,039Actual
2026(current)$30,859Estimated
2027$31,701Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Puerto Rico metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 38.5% from $21,693 (2019) to $30,039 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $31,701 by 2027 — a total increase of $10,008 (46.13%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Puerto Rico metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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.

Top 4 Highest Paying Cities in Puerto Rico

#1
Mayaguez
60 employed · $15.29/hr
$31,795
+3.03% vs avg
#2
San Juan
560 employed · $14.98/hr
$31,158
+0.97% vs avg
#3
Aguadilla
90 employed · $14.38/hr
$29,915
-3.06% vs avg
#4
Ponce
80 employed · $14.00/hr
$29,124
-5.62% vs avg

Salary by Experience Level in Puerto Rico

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$23,143
Mid Career (3-7 years)$30,859
Experienced (7+ years)$68,436

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Puerto Rico metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 4 Cities in Puerto Rico

#CityMedian Salary
1Mayaguez$31,795
2San Juan$31,158
3Aguadilla$29,915
4Ponce$29,124

More Puerto Rico Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore physical therapist assistant hourly pay in Puerto Rico cities.

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new physical therapist assistants.

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced physical therapist assistants.

Explore More Physical Therapist Assistant Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do physical therapist assistants make in Puerto Rico in 2026?

The average median physical therapist assistant salary in Puerto Rico is $30,859/year across 4 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $29,124 in Ponce to $31,795 in Mayaguez. This makes Puerto Rico 56.07% below the national median of $70,247. The state employs approximately 790 physical therapist assistants.

What is the highest paying city for physical therapist assistants in Puerto Rico?

Mayaguez offers the highest physical therapist assistant salary in Puerto Rico at $31,795/year ($15.29/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Mayaguez ($31,795), San Juan ($31,158), Aguadilla ($29,915). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for physical therapy services, and competition among employers for licensed physical therapist assistants.

How does Puerto Rico physical therapist assistant pay compare to the national average?

Puerto Rico's average physical therapist assistant salary of $30,859 is 56.07% below the national median of $70,247 in 2026. The state employs approximately 790 physical therapist assistants across 4 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level physical therapist assistant salary in Puerto Rico?

Entry-level physical therapist assistants (10th percentile) in Puerto Rico earn approximately $23,143/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $22,436 in lower-paying areas to $24,439 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many physical therapist assistants are employed in Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico employs approximately 790 physical therapist assistants across 4 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. The smaller workforce means positions may be less competitive but also fewer in number. Demand continues to grow as the physical therapy field expands and the population ages.
JL

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.

Clinically reviewed by Maria Gonzalez, PTAData verified by Ahmed Khan, DPT

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide 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. A 2.73% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 physical therapist assistant compensation across Puerto Rico. State averages are employment-weighted across 4 metro areas — larger metro areas with more physical therapist assistantscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

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

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