Is Physical Therapist Assistant A Good Job?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Job Satisfaction

A job with a

low stress level

, good work-life balance and solid prospects to improve, get promoted and earn a higher salary would make many employees happy. Here's how Physical Therapist Assistants job satisfaction is rated in terms of upward mobility, stress level and flexibility.

Is physical therapy assistant a stressful job?

Being a physical therapist assistant is

emotionally demanding sometimes

. Many patients are in pain and facing uncertainty about their health. … The job comes with frequent physical demands, as well. A PTA must be comfortable in physical contact with others, supporting patients as they complete exercises.

Is becoming a physical therapist assistant hard?

Like most medical programs, PTA

courses often require intense study

. Because individual skills vary so greatly, a class that one student finds quite easy may be a challenge for another student. However, some courses are well known for their difficulty.

Do physical therapist assistants make good money?

10 States Where Physical Therapist Assistants Earn the Most Money. The

national average annual wage of a physical therapist assistant is $58,520

, according to the latest data from the BLS. This is around $5,000 more than current average annual salary for all occupations, $53,490.

Is being a PTA a good job?

Job Satisfaction

A job with a

low stress level

, good work-life balance and solid prospects to improve, get promoted and earn a higher salary would make many employees happy. Here's how Physical Therapist Assistants job satisfaction is rated in terms of upward mobility, stress level and flexibility.

Are physical therapy assistants happy?

Physical therapist assistants are

about average in terms of happiness

. … As it turns out, physical therapist assistants rate their career happiness 3.2 out of 5 stars which puts them in the bottom 45% of careers.

How much does PTA school cost?

Start your Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant Career! For the academic year 2020-2021, the average tuition & fees of Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant vocational programs is

$13,350

.

Is it better to be a PTA or PT?


PTs

are mainly concerned with diagnosing patients and developing a rehabilitation program that is tailored to the patient's prognosis. PTAs on the other hand have more focus on preparing patients to be diagnosed and assisting in executing the rehabilitation plan.

How many hours a week does a PTA work?

Physical therapist assistants and aides typically work full-time

40 hour work weeks

. Those working with hospitals and physical therapy offices may be required to work irregular hours to accommodate the schedules of their patients.

What does physical therapist assistant do?

Physical therapist assistants help patients do

specific exercises as part of the plan of care

. … They help patients who are recovering from injuries and illnesses to regain movement and manage pain. Physical therapist assistants are involved in the direct care of patients.

How competitive is PTA school?

I know that the PTA program

is very competitive in its admissions

. … The PTA admissions information notes that a “C” or better is required for all prerequisite courses. The reality is that most students that are accepted into the program have much higher grades.

Who makes more money PTA or RN?


Physical

may earn higher salaries, but they spend a lot more time in school than registered nurses. Registered nurses can also go back to school at any time to pursue an advanced practice role that yields higher pay.

Are PTAs being phased out 2022?

The additional cuts are slated for

2022

for PTAs and OTAs, who will be paid out at 85% of the fee-schedule amount when they assist a patient “in whole or in part” without working in coordination with a physical therapist (PT) or occupational therapist (OT) — and when the assistant provides more than 10% of part of all …

Do OTA or PTA make more money?

No, they are in the same pay range, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median salary for

established OTAs is more than

$60,000. The median salary for established PTAs is $58,040. Because OTAs have a unique skill set, the demand for OTAs is estimated at more than 32% through 2028.

Can you make a living as a PTA?

Physical Therapist Assistant Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a physical therapist assistant is

$57,750 per year

(or $27.77 per hour). Salaries for physical therapist assistants cans also vary based on your location.

Where do PTA make the most money?

The top paying industry for PTA jobs is in

nursing care facilities

. There, you can expect to make, $64,030 on average. The lowest paying industry is in a physician's office, where you'll earn $52,210. Now, a traveling PTA salary is slightly higher.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.