Senior Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in St. George, UT: $86,293 (2026)
Quick Answer:The top tier of physical therapist assistants working in St. George, UT — those at or above the 90th percentile — pull in $86,293/year or more for 2026, based on BLS OEWS 2025 estimates for SOC 31-2021. Strip back St. George's price premium (BEA RPP 97.3, 3% below national) and that top-decile pay carries the same buying power as $88,668 in average-cost America. The 39% spread above city median typically rewards 7+ years of practice or specialty credentials.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. George, UT, senior physical therapist assistants stand to earn substantial salaries, with projections for 2026 indicating that top performers (P90) can make up to $86,293 annually. This figure signals a considerable gap between the median annual salary of $61,998 and the upper echelon of compensation. To achieve such high earnings, experienced professionals often pursue specialized fields, hone their clinical skills, and establish strong relationships within their networks. The P75 salary of $70,925 also reflects the opportunity for seasoned practitioners to elevate their financial standing, which remains competitive even when juxtaposed with national averages. With the ability to command such rates, the landscape for experienced physical therapist assistant salaries in St. George signals a promising future for those dedicated to furthering their careers.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. George
Experienced physical therapist assistants at the top of the pay scale in St. George earn between $70,925 and $86,293 per year (2026 est.). This $51,909 range from 10th to 90th percentile reflects significant earnings potential growth over a career. The St. George median of $61,998 sits 11.74% below the US median.
Top PTA Salary Comparison
| Level | St. George | National |
|---|---|---|
| Median (P50) | $61,998 | $70,247 |
| 75th Percentile | $70,925 | $80,828 |
| 90th Percentile (Top 10%) | $86,293 | $91,954 |
In St. George, experienced physical therapist assistants (P90) earn 39.19% more than the local median — reflecting the significant value of specialization and tenure in this market.
What Drives Top Physical Therapist Assistant Pay in St. George
Advanced Certifications in Utah
UT physical therapist assistants with additional specialty certifications within the physical therapy field earn significantly above the $61,998 median. Expanded-scope credentials are increasingly valued by St. George employers.
Specialty Focus
Physical Therapist Assistants focusing on high-acuity or specialty areas within the physical therapy field in St. George command premium compensation, often reaching the $70,925–$86,293 range.
Large Health-System & Multi-Site Experience
Large hospital systems and multi-site employers in the St. George metro area often pay above-market rates for experienced physical therapist assistants who demonstrate efficiency and leadership.
Employer Loyalty & Patient Relationships
Long-tenured physical therapist assistants in St. George with established relationships have strong negotiating leverage. In this developing market, retention bonuses and annual raises are common for top performers.
Continuing Education & Leadership
Physical Therapist Assistants in Utah who pursue advanced degrees, mentor junior staff, or lead clinical education programs position themselves for the highest compensation tiers and management roles.
Physical Therapist Assistant Career & Wage Growth Path in St. George
Clinical Physical Therapist Assistant
0-5 yearsSenior/Lead Physical Therapist Assistant
5-10 yearsPhysical Therapist Assistant Department Manager
10+ yearsEducator / Specialty Leadership
AdvancedSt. George ranks #4 of 41 Utah cities for top earner physical therapist assistant salary (90th percentile: $86,293).
Top 10% physical therapist assistant compensation in St. George ($86,293) is 3.08% above the Utah average P90 ($83,716).
2019 BLS Actual
$82,300
2025 BLS Actual
$84,000
2026 Current Est.
$86,293
2019–2027 Growth
+7.7%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in St. George (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $82,300 | Actual |
| 2020 | $82,770 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,970 | Actual |
| 2022 | $82,670 | Actual |
| 2023 | $78,120 | Actual |
| 2024 | $81,610 | Actual |
| 2025 | $84,000 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $86,293 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $88,649 | Projected |
Top-earning physical therapist assistants (90th percentile) in St. George saw their compensation grow 2.1% from $82,300 in 2019 to $84,000 in 2025, based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for this metropolitan area. At a 2.73% annual growth rate, senior-level pay is projected to reach $88,649 by 2027, reflecting continued demand for clinical expertise and expanded-function credentials.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. George 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.
Maximizing Your Physical Therapist Assistant Earnings in St. George
For senior physical therapist assistants in St. George, specific areas of specialization can significantly impact earning potential. High-demand fields such as orthopedic rehabilitation, geriatric care, pediatric therapy, and sports medicine often correlate with premium salaries. Employment settings also play a vital role in compensation; for example, outpatient clinics typically offer different pay structures compared to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) or home health agencies. Many professionals find growth opportunities by moving into roles such as lead PTA or clinical educator, which may come with enhanced remuneration. Achieving these positions often requires advanced credentials, including those from APTA, and fulfilling the PTA-to-DPT bridge pathways. While financial compensation remains pivotal, non-salary factors, such as workplace culture and job satisfaction, alongside Medicare's 15% reimbursement cuts, influence the total compensation picture for experienced physical therapist assistants in the region.
More salary data for St. George, UT:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do experienced physical therapist assistants make in St. George in 2026?
What drives higher physical therapist assistant pay in St. George?
What certifications boost physical therapist assistant salary in St. George?
Can experienced physical therapist assistants make six figures in St. George?
How much does physical therapist assistant salary increase over time in St. George?
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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
Top-earner salary figures on this page are 2026 projections derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. BLS reported a 90th percentile salary of $84,000 for physical therapist assistants in the St. George metro area. A 2.73% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 senior-level compensation. Individual earnings depend on certifications, specialization, practice type, and years of clinical 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