Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in El Cajon, CA: $83,961 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in El Cajon, CA earns a median $83,961/year (≈ $40.36/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in El Cajon's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $74,236 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.5% below the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Physical therapist assistants in El Cajon, California, can expect a median annual salary of $83,961 in 2026. This number exceeds the national median for the same role, which is projected at $70,247, reflecting a notable 19.52% premium for local professionals in this field. The salary range for physical therapist assistants in the area spans from $56,348 at the 10th percentile to $111,809 at the 90th percentile, providing a wide potential for earnings based on experience, work settings, and productivity. The estimates presented here are based on 2025 BLS data, adjusted for local cost-of-living factors, positioning El Cajon as a competitive market for PTAs against national trends.
About the El Cajon Market
Salary estimated from California average ($78,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $56,348 | $27.09 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $71,502 | $34.37 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $83,961 | $40.36 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $97,769 | $47.01 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $111,809 | $53.76 |
Median Salary Position
19.52% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in El Cajon
In El Cajon, CA, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $55,461 (2026 est.). At $83,961, the local median is 19.52% above the national median of $70,247.
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How El Cajon Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
El Cajon median: $83,961/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | El Cajon Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $84,383 | -0.50% less |
| National Average | $70,247 | +19.52% more |
Physical Therapist Assistants in El Cajon, CA earn a median of $83,961 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.52% higher than the national median of $70,247 and 0.50% below the California state average of $84,383.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
El Cajon has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
El Cajon, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $83,961 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $74,236 — a 11.58% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$70,268
2025 BLS Actual
$81,730
2026 Current Est.
$83,961
2019–2027 Growth
+22.7%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in El Cajon (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $70,268 | Actual |
| 2020 | $71,439 | Actual |
| 2021 | $73,124 | Actual |
| 2022 | $75,025 | Actual |
| 2023 | $76,591 | Actual |
| 2024 | $87,757 | Actual |
| 2025 | $81,730 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $83,961 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $86,253 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the El Cajon metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 16.3% from $70,268 (2019) to $81,730 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $86,253 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,985 (22.75%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the El Cajon 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) | $56,348 – $71,502 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $71,502 – $83,961 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $83,961 – $97,769 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $97,769 – $111,809 |
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 El Cajon
As of 2026, there are only 18 physical therapist assistants employed in El Cajon, underscoring the focused nature of this labor market. With a cost-of-living index of 113.1, living expenses can be higher than the national average, which directly affects take-home purchasing power. Employers that tend to provide the highest pay include outpatient orthopedic clinics and certain hospital inpatient rehabilitation facilities, due to higher expectations for productivity and supervision structures. The variance in pay is influenced by factors such as the settings in which PAs practice, with hospital roles generally offering higher salaries than outpatient or skilled nursing facilities, particularly after the 15% Medicare cut that has affected compensation in Medicare-reliant environments. For those looking to maximize their physical therapist assistant pay in El Cajon, pursuing positions in high-demand facilities and demonstrating strong clinical efficiency can be advantageous strategies to leverage existing market conditions.
More salary data for El Cajon, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make in El Cajon, CA in 2026?
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Can physical therapist assistants make $100K in El Cajon?
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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 $81,730 for physical therapist assistantsin the El Cajon 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 El Cajon 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