Physical Therapist Aides pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,690 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,740 or more. The middle half of physical therapist aides in San Diego earn between $36,140 and $47,990.
- $36K10th
- $36K25th
- $38KMedian
- $48K75th
- $75K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,640 | $3,803 | $21.94 |
| Median | $37,850 | $3,154 | $18.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,140 | $3,012 | $17.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,990 | $3,999 | $23.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapist Aides pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Physical therapist aides in San Diego earn 5% more than the California average ($43,470) and 25% more than the U.S. average ($36,430). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $35,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $45,640 | $37,850 | $35,690 | $74,740 | 760 |
| 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 San Diego
On the average salary of $45,640, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $37,890 a year, or $3,158 a month and $1,457 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 San Diego a good place for physical therapist aides? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $45,640 buys what about $40,791 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 20.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapist Aides salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 4th 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
- Sacramento$41,040
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 San Diego: questions
How much do physical therapist aides make an hour in San Diego?
$21.94 an hour on average, and $18.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapist aides salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,690 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapist aides take-home pay in San Diego?
About $37,890 a year ($3,158 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,640. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physical therapist aides earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.1%.
- 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 1.61, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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