Physical Therapist Assistants pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,490 or more. The middle half of physical therapist assistants in Detroit earn between $39,310 and $64,800.
- $29K10th
- $39K25th
- $62KMedian
- $65K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,210 | $4,768 | $27.50 |
| Median | $62,220 | $5,185 | $29.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,310 | $3,276 | $18.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,800 | $5,400 | $31.15 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapist Assistants pay in Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Physical therapist assistants in Detroit earn 5% less than the Michigan average ($60,260) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($68,730). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $68,380.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $57,210 | $62,220 | $29,230 | $80,490 | 1,880 |
| Michigan | $60,260 | $61,670 | $35,700 | $78,600 | 4,520 |
| 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 Detroit
On the average salary of $57,210, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $44,729 a year, or $3,727 a month and $1,720 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for physical therapist assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $57,210 buys what about $57,040 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapist Assistants salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 10th of 12 Michigan metro areas for this job; Battle Creek pays the most ($66,870).
- Battle Creek$66,870
- Jackson$65,380
- Grand Rapids$65,320
- Traverse City$63,840
- Saginaw$63,590
- Ann Arbor$63,320
- Muskegon$61,960
- Bay City$59,610
- Kalamazoo$59,410
- Detroit$57,210
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 Detroit: questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make an hour in Detroit?
$27.51 an hour on average, and $29.92 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapist assistants salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapist assistants take-home pay in Detroit?
About $44,729 a year ($3,727 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $57,210. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do physical therapist assistants earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- 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). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.36, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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