Physical Therapist Aides pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,500 a year or less, while the top 10% make $53,500 or more. The middle half of physical therapist aides in Merced earn between $35,640 and $43,420.
- $34K10th
- $36K25th
- $36KMedian
- $43K75th
- $54K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,940 | $3,328 | $19.20 |
| Median | $35,870 | $2,989 | $17.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,640 | $2,970 | $17.13 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,420 | $3,618 | $20.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapist Aides pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Physical therapist aides in Merced earn 8% less than the California average ($43,470) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($36,430). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $35,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $39,940 | $35,870 | $34,500 | $53,500 | 50 |
| California | $43,470 | $38,330 | $34,690 | $60,200 | 7,330 |
| United States | $36,430 | $35,240 | $25,360 | $47,780 | 48,150 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physical Therapist Aides salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $39,940, a single filer in Merced takes home about $33,538 a year, or $2,795 a month and $1,290 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Merced a good place for physical therapist aides? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Merced area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.3), so the average $39,940 buys what about $40,641 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 10.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapist Aides salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 16th of 21 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($51,380).
- San Jose$51,380
- Santa Cruz$50,620
- San Francisco$49,270
- San Diego$45,640
- Visalia$44,590
- Los Angeles$42,660
- Riverside$41,800
- Salinas$41,300
- Stockton$41,090
- Merced$39,940
Highest-paying cities for physical therapist aides
Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,940).
- Anchorage, AK$57,940
- San Jose, CA$51,380
- Santa Cruz, CA$50,620
- San Francisco, CA$49,270
- Seattle, WA$47,620
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Physical Therapist Aides salary in Merced: questions
How much do physical therapist aides make an hour in Merced?
$19.20 an hour on average, and $17.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapist aides salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,500 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapist aides take-home pay in Merced?
About $33,538 a year ($2,795 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,940. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physical therapist aides earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% more than the U.S. average for this job ($36,430).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 31-2022; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.97, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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