Physical Therapist Assistants pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $116,850 or more. The middle half of physical therapist assistants in San Francisco earn between $81,790 and $101,310.
- $67K10th
- $82K25th
- $96KMedian
- $101K75th
- $117K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $93,600 | $7,800 | $45.00 |
| Median | $95,920 | $7,993 | $46.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,790 | $6,816 | $39.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $101,310 | $8,442 | $48.71 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapist Assistants pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Physical therapist assistants in San Francisco earn 13% more than the California average ($83,080) and 36% more than the U.S. average ($68,730). At the median the gap is +40% against the U.S. median of $68,380.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $93,600 | $95,920 | $66,600 | $116,850 | 1,040 |
| 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 San Francisco
On the average salary of $93,600, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $70,065 a year, or $5,839 a month and $2,695 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 Francisco a good place for physical therapist assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $93,600 buys what about $80,960 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 12.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapist Assistants salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd 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 San Francisco: questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make an hour in San Francisco?
$45.00 an hour on average, and $46.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapist assistants salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapist assistants take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $70,065 a year ($5,839 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $93,600. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physical therapist assistants earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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