Physical Therapist Aides pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,230 or more. The middle half of physical therapist aides in Santa Cruz earn between $36,720 and $57,820.
- $35K10th
- $37K25th
- $39KMedian
- $58K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,620 | $4,218 | $24.34 |
| Median | $39,210 | $3,268 | $18.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,720 | $3,060 | $17.65 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $57,820 | $4,818 | $27.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapist Aides pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Physical therapist aides in Santa Cruz earn 16% more than the California average ($43,470) and 39% more than the U.S. average ($36,430). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $35,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $50,620 | $39,210 | $35,340 | $97,230 | 100 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $50,620, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $41,623 a year, or $3,469 a month and $1,601 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 Santa Cruz a good place for physical therapist aides? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $50,620 buys what about $46,062 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 22.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapist Aides salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 2nd 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 Santa Cruz: questions
How much do physical therapist aides make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$24.34 an hour on average, and $18.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapist aides salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapist aides take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $41,623 a year ($3,469 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,620. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physical therapist aides earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 39% 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.6%.
- 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 3.22, this job is 3.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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