Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Fort Worth, TX: $82,026 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Fort Worth, TX earns a median $82,026/year (≈ $39.44/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Fort Worth's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.0), that paycheck buys what $85,444 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.3% above the Texas state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Fort Worth, TX, physical therapist assistants can anticipate an annual median salary of $82,026 in 2026, reflecting a robust growth in compensation for this essential healthcare role. This salary is notably higher than the national median of $70,247, establishing a 16.77% advantage locally. The salary range for this profession is projected to span from $57,147 at the lower end to $113,919 at the upper echelon, indicating a diverse potential for earnings based on experience and setting. These figures derive from local estimates based on 2025 BLS data and are adjusted for the regional cost of living, which is slightly below the national average. With a growing demand for healthcare services, especially in outpatient settings, opportunities for physical therapist assistants in Fort Worth are expanding, hinting at positive future trends for job seekers in this field.
About the Fort Worth Market
Salary estimated from Texas average ($72,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $57,147 | $27.47 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $71,423 | $34.34 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $82,026 | $39.44 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $97,773 | $47.01 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $113,919 | $54.77 |
Median Salary Position
16.77% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fort Worth
In Fort Worth, TX, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $56,772 (2026 est.). At $82,026, the local median is 16.77% above the national median of $70,247.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Fort Worth: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Fort Worth Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Fort Worth median: $82,026/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fort Worth Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $77,897 | +5.30% more |
| National Average | $70,247 | +16.77% more |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Fort Worth, TX earn a median of $82,026 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.77% higher than the national median of $70,247 and 5.30% above the Texas state average of $77,897.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fort Worth has a cost of living 4.00% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fort Worth, TX has a cost-of-living index of 96 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $82,026 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $85,444 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.17% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$68,648
2025 BLS Actual
$79,846
2026 Current Est.
$82,026
2019–2027 Growth
+22.7%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Fort Worth (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $68,648 | Actual |
| 2020 | $69,792 | Actual |
| 2021 | $71,439 | Actual |
| 2022 | $73,295 | Actual |
| 2023 | $74,825 | Actual |
| 2024 | $74,163 | Actual |
| 2025 | $79,846 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $82,026 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $84,265 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fort Worth metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 16.3% from $68,648 (2019) to $79,846 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $84,265 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,617 (22.75%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fort Worth 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) | $57,147 – $71,423 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $71,423 – $82,026 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $82,026 – $97,773 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $97,773 – $113,919 |
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 Fort Worth
The job market for physical therapist assistants in Fort Worth is promising, with approximately 219 professionals currently employed in this area. The local cost of living index, at 96, suggests that while salaries are competitive, the purchasing power remains favorable when compared to other regions. Outpatient orthopedic clinics generally offer the highest pay among various employers, although skilled nursing facilities may provide increased pay for weekend or PRN shifts due to higher productivity expectations. Factors contributing to the pay disparity include the setting in which PTAs work, the complexity of patient care, and the ongoing impact of the Medicare reimbursement cuts. To maximize compensation, physical therapist assistants in Fort Worth should focus on enhancing their clinical skills, pursuing specialized certifications, and actively seeking employment in higher-paying settings like outpatient facilities or hospital rehabilitation units, where supervision and productivity demands define hourly and annual earnings.
More salary data for Fort Worth, TX:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can physical therapist assistants make $100K in Fort Worth?
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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 $79,846 for physical therapist assistantsin the Fort Worth 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
Salary data for Fort Worth is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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