Physical Therapist Assistants pay range in Modesto
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $127,640 or more. The middle half of physical therapist assistants in Modesto earn between $73,930 and $100,050.
- $59K10th
- $74K25th
- $83KMedian
- $100K75th
- $128K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $85,950 | $7,162 | $41.32 |
| Median | $83,450 | $6,954 | $40.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $73,930 | $6,161 | $35.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $100,050 | $8,338 | $48.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapist Assistants pay in Modesto vs. California and the U.S.
Physical therapist assistants in Modesto earn 3% more than the California average ($83,080) and 25% more than the U.S. average ($68,730). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $68,380.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto | $85,950 | $83,450 | $58,800 | $127,640 | 150 |
| California | $83,080 | $83,110 | $59,500 | $102,800 | 9,400 |
| United States | $68,730 | $68,380 | $47,750 | $89,510 | 112,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physical Therapist Assistants salary after taxes in Modesto
On the average salary of $85,950, a single filer in Modesto takes home about $65,394 a year, or $5,450 a month and $2,515 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% 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 Modesto a good place for physical therapist assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Modesto area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.1), so the average $85,950 buys what about $82,558 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Modesto ($50,610). A typical home costs $468,302, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapist Assistants salary in other California cities
Modesto ranks 6th of 21 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($94,690).
- San Jose$94,690
- San Francisco$93,600
- Santa Cruz$89,020
- Bakersfield$87,150
- Santa Rosa$86,840
- Modesto$85,950
- Sacramento$85,440
- Salinas$84,930
- Santa Maria$84,710
- Vallejo$84,030
Highest-paying cities for physical therapist assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($94,690).
- San Jose, CA$94,690
- San Francisco, CA$93,600
- Santa Cruz, CA$89,020
- Bakersfield, CA$87,150
- Santa Rosa, CA$86,840
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Physical Therapist Assistants salary in Modesto: questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make an hour in Modesto?
$41.32 an hour on average, and $40.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapist assistants salary in Modesto?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $73,930, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapist assistants take-home pay in Modesto?
About $65,394 a year ($5,450 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $85,950. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physical therapist assistants earn more in Modesto than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% more than the U.S. average for this job ($68,730).
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 31-2021; area Modesto, CA (33700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.8%.
- 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 1.09, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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