Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Pittsburgh, PA: $57,549 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Pittsburgh, PA earns a median $57,549/year (≈ $27.67/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Pittsburgh's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 94.7), that paycheck buys what $60,788 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.2% below the Pennsylvania state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, physical therapist assistants in Pittsburgh, PA, can expect a median annual salary of $57,549. The salary range for this occupation spans from $50,964 for the bottom 10% to $76,595 for the top 90%. These figures have been derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys and reflect the productivity expectations connected to patient visits per day, which significantly influence compensation. While this salary is competitive within local parameters, it falls short compared to the national median of $70,247, indicating that the local job market is somewhat constrained relative to the broader trends in physical therapy.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $50,964 | $24.50 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $51,879 | $24.94 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $57,549 | $27.67 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $65,264 | $31.37 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $76,595 | $36.83 |
Median Salary Position
18.08% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Pittsburgh
In Pittsburgh, PA, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $25,631 (2026 est.). At $57,549, the local median is 18.08% below the national median of $70,247.
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At 40 hours/week in Pittsburgh: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Pittsburgh Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Pittsburgh median: $57,549/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Pittsburgh Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Average | $63,380 | -9.20% less |
| National Average | $70,247 | -18.08% less |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Pittsburgh, PA earn a median of $57,549 per year (2026 est.), which is 18.08% lower than the national median of $70,247 and 9.20% below the Pennsylvania state average of $63,380.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Pittsburgh has a cost of living 5.33% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Pittsburgh, PA has a cost-of-living index of 94.671 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $57,549 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $60,788 in an average-cost city — an effective 5.63% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$56,760
2025 BLS Actual
$56,020
2026 Current Est.
$57,549
2019–2027 Growth
+4.2%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Pittsburgh (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $56,760 | Actual |
| 2020 | $56,780 | Actual |
| 2021 | $49,640 | Actual |
| 2022 | $52,920 | Actual |
| 2023 | $53,650 | Actual |
| 2024 | $57,980 | Actual |
| 2025 | $56,020 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $57,549 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $59,120 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew -1.3% from $56,760 (2019) to $56,020 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $59,120 by 2027 — a total increase of $2,360 (4.16%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Pittsburgh 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) | $50,964 – $51,879 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $51,879 – $57,549 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $57,549 – $65,264 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $65,264 – $76,595 |
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 Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh area employs around 670 physical therapist assistants, contributing to a competitive job market. However, potential earnings can be impacted by the local cost of living index, which is currently at 94.671, well below the national average. This lower index suggests better take-home purchasing power compared to higher-cost regions, despite the comparatively lower pay scale. Outpatient orthopedic clinics tend to provide the most attractive salaries, often exceeding those at skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies. The spread between low and high pay may be attributed to various factors including workplace setting, productivity metrics, and pay premiums for weekend work or supervisory roles. With the Medicare reimbursement cuts applying pressure in heavily Medicare-reliant settings, those seeking to optimize their physical therapist assistant pay in Pittsburgh should consider affiliations with clinics that prioritize higher compensation strategies while also exploring PTA-to-DPT bridge pathways for career advancement.
More salary data for Pittsburgh, PA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make in Pittsburgh, PA in 2026?
Is Pittsburgh, PA a good place to work as a physical therapist assistant?
Can physical therapist assistants make $100K in Pittsburgh?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physical therapist assistant salary in Pittsburgh?
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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 $56,020 for physical therapist assistantsin the Pittsburgh 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, 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