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Physical Therapist Aides

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$34,520	6800	2.9%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$34,520

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

6800

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

2.9%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Up to and including 1 month

On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month

Detailed Work Activities

Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
Clean patient rooms or patient treatment rooms.
Clean medical equipment.
Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.
Engage patients in exercises or activities.
Encourage patients during therapeutic activities.
Hold patients to ensure proper positioning or safety.
Move patients to or from treatment areas.
Confer with other professionals to plan patient care.
Maintain medical records.
Perform clerical work in medical settings.
Inventory medical supplies or equipment.
Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use.
Administer therapy treatments to patients using hands or physical treatment aids.
Clean patient rooms or patient treatment rooms.
Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use.
Assist patients with daily activities.
Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment.
Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients.
Fit patients for assistive devices.
Assist patients with daily activities.
Administer basic health care or medical treatments.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.
Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist.
Change linens, such as bed sheets and pillow cases.
Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, or heat, light, sound, water, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
Transport patients to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or providing standing support.
Perform clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, or filling out forms.
Schedule patient appointments with physical therapists and coordinate therapists' schedules.
Arrange treatment supplies to keep them in order.
Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.
Maintain equipment or furniture to keep it in good working condition, including performing the assembly or disassembly of equipment or accessories.
Record treatment given and equipment used.
Measure patient's range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.
Train patients to use orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices.
Administer traction to relieve neck or back pain, using intermittent or static traction equipment.
Fit patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices, adjusting fit as needed.
Participate in patient care tasks, such as assisting with passing food trays, feeding residents, or bathing residents on bed rest.

Work Styles

Leadership

Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Achievement/Effort

Persistence

Initiative

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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