Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Wildwood, FL: $72,404 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Wildwood, FL earns a median $72,404/year (≈ $34.82/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Wildwood's price level (15% below national, BEA RPP 85.4), that paycheck buys what $84,758 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.4% above the Florida state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, physical therapist assistants in Wildwood, Florida, can anticipate a median annual salary of $72,404, which represents a slight increase over national averages. The expected salary range for this profession is between $60,313 at the 10th percentile and $80,417 at the 90th percentile. This data is based on 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026. With the growing need for rehabilitation services, particularly as many physical therapist assistants (PTAs) consider pathways to transition to Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs, the potential for increased earnings over a career is significant. This upward trend in salary reflects the evolving nature of the healthcare landscape in Wildwood, where demand for skilled practitioners continues to rise.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $60,313 | $29.00 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $63,446 | $30.50 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $72,404 | $34.82 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $75,332 | $36.22 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $80,417 | $38.67 |
Median Salary Position
3.07% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Wildwood
In Wildwood, FL, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $20,104 (2026 est.). At $72,404, the local median is 3.07% above the national median of $70,247.
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At 40 hours/week in Wildwood: You'd be above the median
How Wildwood Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Wildwood median: $72,404/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Wildwood Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Average | $70,023 | +3.40% more |
| National Average | $70,247 | +3.07% more |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Wildwood, FL earn a median of $72,404 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.07% higher than the national median of $70,247 and 3.40% above the Florida state average of $70,023.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Wildwood has a cost of living 14.58% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Wildwood, FL has a cost-of-living index of 85.424 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $72,404 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $84,758 in an average-cost city — an effective 17.06% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$60,595
2025 BLS Actual
$70,480
2026 Current Est.
$72,404
2019–2027 Growth
+22.8%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Wildwood (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $60,595 | Actual |
| 2020 | $61,606 | Actual |
| 2021 | $63,059 | Actual |
| 2022 | $64,698 | Actual |
| 2023 | $66,048 | Actual |
| 2024 | $69,210 | Actual |
| 2025 | $70,480 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $72,404 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $74,381 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Wildwood metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 16.3% from $60,595 (2019) to $70,480 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $74,381 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,786 (22.75%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Wildwood 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) | $60,313 – $63,446 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $63,446 – $72,404 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $72,404 – $75,332 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $75,332 – $80,417 |
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 Wildwood
The job market for physical therapist assistants in Wildwood currently includes around 60 employed PTAs, pointing to a stable yet competitive environment. Given the area's cost of living index of 85.424, which is below the national average, many professionals find their take-home purchasing power advantageous. Leading employers in the region generally offer the highest pay, with outpatient orthopedic clinics and skilled nursing facilities typically surpassing home health and school therapy programs. Pay disparities often arise due to factors like the setting—where hospital roles frequently provide better compensation than outpatient positions—and performance expectations related to patient productivity. To enhance earnings in this market, PTAs should consider pursuing specializations or certifications, which can lead to higher pay rates, stable employment in acute hospital settings, and resilience against fluctuations driven by changes in Medicare reimbursement policies, such as the notable 15% cut impacting many settings after 2022.
More salary data for Wildwood, FL:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 $70,480 for physical therapist assistantsin the Wildwood 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, 2-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