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Physical Therapist Assistants in Massachusetts

Physical Therapist Assistants in Massachusetts

Want to work as a Physical Therapist Assistants in Massachusetts? Below are the key facts. Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.

What do Physical Therapist Assistants Make in Massachusetts?

For a physical therapist assistants working in Massachusetts, the median annual wage is $77,780 per year (or roughly $37.39/hour).Pay can range from $61,440 at the 10th percentile to $88,800 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $61,440 $29.54
25th percentile $66,800 $32.11
Median (50th) $77,780 $37.39
75th percentile $80,790 $38.84
90th percentile $88,800 $42.69
Salary ranges for Physical Therapist Assistants in Massachusetts

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Massachusetts nationwide is 0.93.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, physical therapist assistants earn a median of $29,340 per year ($14.11/hour), exceeding the Massachusetts median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 407,606 physical therapist assistants in the U.S.. In Massachusetts alone, about 2,380 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 1,500 physical therapist assistants.

Forecasted number of jobs for Physical Therapist Assistants

Top Massachusetts Metros for Physical Therapist Assistants

These are the Massachusetts metros with the most physical therapist assistants in Massachusetts.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,590 $78,630
Worcester, MA 310 $75,630
Springfield, MA 190 $73,300
Barnstable Town, MA 90 $78,350
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA 40 $74,240
Pittsfield, MA 40 $72,250

Top States for Physical Therapist Assistants Employment

View the states that employ the most physical therapist assistants work.

State Number Employed
Texas 11,230
Florida 9,410
California 8,430
Ohio 6,530
Pennsylvania 4,410
Illinois 4,320
Michigan 4,060
New York 3,850
Virginia 3,340
Tennessee 3,140
North Carolina 3,080
Alabama 2,550
Kentucky 2,540
Georgia 2,460
Massachusetts 2,380
Washington 2,110
Missouri 2,080
Indiana 2,070
South Carolina 2,010
Wisconsin 2,000

Highest-Paying States for Physical Therapist Assistants

These states pay the most for physical therapist assistants.

State Annual Median Salary
California $79,410
Massachusetts $77,780
Alaska $76,310
Texas $76,250
New Jersey $74,780
Connecticut $74,120
Virginia $73,900
Nevada $73,080
Washington $72,950
Maryland $71,770

Skills

Key physical therapist assistants skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Active Listening  4.0 / 5
0
5
Speaking  3.8 / 5
0
5
Social Perceptiveness  3.8 / 5
0
5
Monitoring  3.8 / 5
0
5
Writing  3.2 / 5
0
5
Service Orientation  3.2 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Customer and Personal Service  4.5 / 5
0
5
Therapy and Counseling  4.2 / 5
0
5
English Language  4.2 / 5
0
5
Education and Training  3.9 / 5
0
5
Psychology  3.6 / 5
0
5
Medicine and Dentistry  3.5 / 5
0
5

Abilities

Key abilities for physical therapist assistants, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Oral Expression  4.1 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Speech Recognition  3.9 / 5
0
5
Speech Clarity  3.9 / 5
0
5
Written Comprehension  3.8 / 5
0
5
Near Vision  3.8 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Physical Therapist Assistants typically:

  • Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.
  • Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.
  • Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes.
  • Instruct patients in proper body mechanics and in ways to improve functional mobility, such as aquatic exercise.
  • Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
  • Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
  • Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or heat, light, sound, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
  • Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements.
  • Clean work area and check and store equipment after treatment.
  • Communicate with or instruct caregivers or family members on patient therapeutic activities or treatment plans.
  • Measure patients' range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.
  • Train patients in the use of orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices.

Work Activities

  • Assisting and Caring for Others
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Performing General Physical Activities
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  • Getting Information
  • Working with Computers
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: eClinicalWorks EHR software

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

  • Allied Health Services

Careers similar to physical therapist assistants include:

Also Known As

Assistant, Certified Physical Therapist Assistant (CPTA), Home Care Physical Therapy Assistant, Home Health Physical Therapist Assistant, Home Health Physical Therapy Assistant (Home Health PTA), Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (LPTA), Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant, Nursing Facility PTA (Nursing Facility Physical Therapy Assistant), Outpatient Physical Therapist Assistant, Per Diem Physical Therapist Assistant (Per Diem PTA), Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA), Physiotherapy Assistant, Rehabilitation Assistant (Rehab Assistant), SNF PTA (Skilled Nursing Facility Physical Therapy Assistant).

References

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