Physical Therapist Aide Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Physical Therapist Aides in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $37,280 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,169 take-home, or $2,597 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physical therapist aide salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,294
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,311
- Medicare (1.45%)$541
- California income tax$481
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$485
- Take-home pay$31,169
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Physical Therapist Aide pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,690 | $16.68 | $29,226 | $2,435 |
| 25th percentile | $35,050 | $16.85 | $29,496 | $2,458 |
| Median (50th) | $37,280 | $17.92 | $31,169 | $2,597 |
| 75th percentile | $46,230 | $22.23 | $37,886 | $3,157 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,450 | $29.06 | $48,289 | $4,024 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,280 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physical therapist aide's $31,169 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,446 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 1.4× the national concentration of physical therapist aide jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for physical therapist aides, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #1 of 2 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $37,280 | $31,169 | $27,446 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $35,320 | $29,249 | $25,985 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 2 metros →
About the job: physical therapist aides
Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.0% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical therapist aide make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median physical therapist aide salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $37,280 a year, or about $17.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,050 and $46,230.
What is a physical therapist aide’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $37,280 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $31,169 a year ($2,597 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $965 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a physical therapist aide?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $35,240. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,446 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #1 of 2 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physical therapist aide afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 86% of a median physical therapist aide’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
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- Phlebotomist — $52,940
- Healthcare Support Workers, All Other — $49,130
- Medical Assistant — $47,760
- Nursing Assistant — $47,380
- Dental Assistant — $46,900
- Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker — $46,070
- Massage Therapist — $43,530
- Pharmacy Aide — $39,770
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,320