Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Scottsbluff, NE: $61,683 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Scottsbluff, NE earns a median $61,683/year (≈ $29.66/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Scottsbluff's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.5), that paycheck buys what $67,413 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.0% below the Nebraska state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, a physical therapist assistant in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, is projected to earn a median annual salary of $61,683. Comparatively, this figure is approximately 12.19% lower than the national median salary of $70,247. Local professionals can expect salaries ranging from $43,719 at the 10th percentile to $74,077 at the 90th percentile, influenced by multiple factors including workplace setting and experience level. These estimates derive from 2025 BLS data and are adjusted for regional price differentials. With only four physical therapist assistants currently employed in Scottsbluff, the market dynamics closely reflect the ongoing structural shifts in healthcare, particularly following the Medicare reimbursement cuts that have pressured pay in skilled nursing facilities compared to outpatient settings.
About the Scottsbluff Market
Salary estimated from Nebraska average ($60,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $43,719 | $21.02 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $57,468 | $27.62 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $61,683 | $29.66 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $67,949 | $32.67 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $74,077 | $35.62 |
Median Salary Position
12.19% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Scottsbluff
In Scottsbluff, NE, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $30,358 (2026 est.). At $61,683, the local median is 12.19% below the national median of $70,247.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Scottsbluff: You'd be above the median
How Scottsbluff Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Scottsbluff median: $61,683/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Scottsbluff Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Average | $64,253 | -4.00% less |
| National Average | $70,247 | -12.19% less |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Scottsbluff, NE earn a median of $61,683 per year (2026 est.), which is 12.19% lower than the national median of $70,247 and 4.00% below the Nebraska state average of $64,253.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Scottsbluff has a cost of living 8.50% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Scottsbluff, NE has a cost-of-living index of 91.5 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $61,683 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $67,413 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.29% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$51,623
2025 BLS Actual
$60,044
2026 Current Est.
$61,683
2019–2027 Growth
+22.7%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Scottsbluff (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $51,623 | Actual |
| 2020 | $52,484 | Actual |
| 2021 | $53,722 | Actual |
| 2022 | $55,118 | Actual |
| 2023 | $56,268 | Actual |
| 2024 | $52,686 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,044 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61,683 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $63,367 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Scottsbluff metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 16.3% from $51,623 (2019) to $60,044 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $63,367 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,744 (22.75%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Scottsbluff 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) | $43,719 – $57,468 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $57,468 – $61,683 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $61,683 – $67,949 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $67,949 – $74,077 |
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 Scottsbluff
Exploring the local job market further reveals that Scottsbluff's cost-of-living index stands at 91.5, indicating a lower-than-average expense for residents, which positively affects their purchasing power. Outpatient orthopedic clinics and hospital inpatient rehabilitation units typically offer the highest compensation in the area, while skilled nursing facilities have adjusted for the Medicare cuts, causing a significant pay gap within the field. Factors contributing to this compensation variance include expectations for productivity, weekend or PRN work premiums, and specific supervisory requirements in outpatient settings. For physical therapist assistants looking to maximize pay in Scottsbluff, pursuing opportunities in higher-paying environments and considering ongoing education or specialization might be effective strategies, especially as they contemplate pathways to transition from PTA to a DPT.
More salary data for Scottsbluff, NE:
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 $60,044 for physical therapist assistantsin the Scottsbluff 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 Scottsbluff 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