PT Assistant Salary

Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in San Juan, PR: $31,158 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in San Juan, PR earns a median $31,158/year (≈ $14.98/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Puerto Rico's price level (25% below national, BEA RPP 75.0), that paycheck buys what $41,544 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 40.9% below the Puerto Rico state average.

$31,158
Median Annual Salary
$14.98/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$23,073
Entry Level (P10)
$68,942
Top Earners (P90)

Official BLS data · View source

Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in San Juan, PR — 2026 est., based on 2025 BLS
San Juan, PR physical therapist assistant salary overview (2026 est., based on 2025 BLS)

In 2026, the physical therapist assistant salary in San Juan, PR is projected to reach a median annual figure of $31,158, a significant disparity when compared to the national median of $70,247. Full salaries for physical therapist assistants in this area range from $23,073 at the 10th percentile to as high as $68,942 at the 90th percentile. These insights are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, which predict a modest growth rate of 2.73% per year in this field. As many physical therapist assistants consider bridging to Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degrees, it’s important to recognize that pursuing this educational pathway can greatly enhance lifetime earning potential and job opportunities within the San Juan market.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$23,073$11.09
Lower Range (P25)$26,206$12.60
Median (P50)(typical)$31,158$14.98
Upper Range (P75)$37,024$17.80
Top Earners (P90)$68,942$33.14

Median Salary Position

$23,073$70,247
City Median: $31,158
National: $70,247
P10–P90 Range

55.65% below the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in San Juan

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for physical therapist assistants in San Juan. The median salary is $31,158, compared to the national median of $70,247.$20.8K$34.0K$47.3K$60.5K$73.8K$23.1K10th Pctl$26.2K25th Pctl$31.2KMedian$37.0K75th Pctl$68.9K90th PctlUS Median$70.2K

In San Juan, PR, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $45,869 (2026 est.). At $31,158, the local median is 55.65% below the national median of $70,247.

Source: BLS OEWS projected to 2026. Percentiles reflect the distribution of physical therapist assistant pay in the San Juan metro area.

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$599
per week
$2,596
per month
$31,154
per year

At 40 hours/week in San Juan: You'd be in the entry-level range

How San Juan Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares

San Juan median: $31,158/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalarySan Juan Pays
Puerto Rico Average$52,721-40.90% less
National Average$70,247-55.65% less
Horizontal bar chart comparing physical therapist assistant median salary in San Juan ($31,158) with Puerto Rico average ($52,721) and the US national median ($70,247).San Juan$31,158Puerto Rico Avg$52,721-40.90%US National$70,247-55.65%

Physical Therapist Assistants in San Juan, PR earn a median of $31,158 per year (2026 est.), which is 55.65% lower than the national median of $70,247 and 40.90% below the Puerto Rico state average of $52,721.

2019 BLS Actual

$22,040

2025 BLS Actual

$30,330

2026 Current Est.

$31,158

2019–2027 Growth

+45.2%

Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in San Juan (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 San Juan. Baseline $22,040 in 2025, projected to $32,009 by 2027.$20.0K$23.5K$27.0K$30.5K$34.0K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$22.0K$22.2K$23.2K$23.7K$25.6K$24.8K$30.3K$31.2K$32.0K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$22,040Actual
2020$22,210Actual
2021$23,160Actual
2022$23,730Actual
2023$25,650Actual
2024$24,760Actual
2025$30,330Actual
2026(current)$31,158Estimated
2027$32,009Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the San Juan metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 37.6% from $22,040 (2019) to $30,330 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $32,009 by 2027 — a total increase of $9,969 (45.23%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the San Juan 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.

Salary by Experience Level

ExperienceEstimated Salary Range
0-2 years (New Graduate)$23,073$26,206
3-5 years (Mid Career)$26,206$31,158
5+ years (Experienced)$31,158$37,024
10+ years (Top Earner)$37,024$68,942

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 San Juan

With approximately 560 physical therapist assistants employed in San Juan, the local job market demonstrates stability amidst varying salary expectations. However, the cost of living in the region inevitably influences the real earnings power for these professionals. Employers within outpatient orthopedic clinics and skilled nursing facilities generally offer the most competitive pay, reflecting differences in productivity expectations, job responsibilities, and reimbursement rates, particularly following the 15% Medicare cut. While hospital inpatient rehabilitation positions often yield higher salaries, outpatient and skilled nursing settings may provide varied compensation depending on the setting's reliance on Medicare. To maximize their pay in San Juan, physical therapist assistants are encouraged to seek employment in high-demand outpatient settings or pursue additional certifications that align with employers’ needs, positioning themselves effectively to navigate a competitive field.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do physical therapist assistants make in San Juan, PR in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median physical therapist assistant salary in San Juan is $31,158/year ($14.98/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 2.73% annual growth). Salaries range from $23,073 at entry level (10th percentile) to $68,942 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts San Juan at 55.6% below the national median. Full-time physical therapist assistants typically work 2,080 hours per year, though many positions offer part-time schedules with flexible hours across multiple practices.

Is San Juan, PR a good place to work as a physical therapist assistant?

San Juan physical therapist assistant salaries are 55.6% below the national average and 40.9% below the Puerto Rico state average. The metro area employs approximately 560 physical therapist assistants. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can physical therapist assistants make $100K in San Juan?

The median physical therapist assistant salary in San Juan is $31,158, and the 90th percentile earns $68,942. Reaching $100K in this market typically requires a combination of advanced certifications, working at multiple practices, or transitioning into education or consulting roles.

Do physical therapist assistants make good money in San Juan?

Yes. The median physical therapist assistant salary of $31,158 in San Juan is 55.6% lower than the national median. Physical Therapist Assistants typically earn more than twice the median U.S. household income of approximately $80,000. The profession also offers strong work-life balance with many part-time opportunities, manageable student debt relative to earnings, and consistent demand driven by ongoing preventive care needs.

How much does a physical therapist assistant make per hour in San Juan?

Physical Therapist Assistants in San Juan earn a median hourly rate of $14.98, which translates to approximately $31,158/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $11.09 for entry-level positions to $33.14 for the most experienced practitioners. Part-time and per diem physical therapist assistants sometimes command premium hourly rates because practices need flexible scheduling coverage.

Related Pages

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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

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 $30,330 for physical therapist assistantsin the San Juan 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

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