Physical therapist assistants in Ohio are currently in high demand. New clinics like the Urbana Chronic Care Clinic (opened in 2015) are quickly expanding due to a previous statewide lack of resources for patients with chronic illnesses. Physical therapy is a large part of treatment for many chronic patients, and the Urbana clinic and others like it are gradually upgrading their physical therapy departments to fit the needs of these patients. Clinics like this are a great place for Ohio’s physical therapist assistants to gain experience and earn competitive salaries.
Job Growth and Salary Expectations for Physical Therapist Assistants in Ohio
According to the Ohio Bureau of Labor Market Information, there were 5,130 licensed physical therapist assistants in Ohio as of 2012. This number is projected to grow by 31 percent to a total of 6,690 by the end of 2022. It is estimated that 270 PTA jobs will open up each year due to both normal job turnover and newly created positions.
Information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Ohio Bureau of Labor Market Information shows that Ohio PTA salaries are very competitive compared to national PTA salary averages:
National
- Experienced (U.S.): $75,500
- Mid-Career (U.S.): $54,400
- Entry-Level (U.S.): $31,800
Ohio
- Experienced (OH): $76,500
- Mid-Career (OH): $56,100
- Entry-Level (OH): $41,400
Salaries for Physical Therapist Assistants in Ohio’s Major Metro and Non-Metro Areas
The Ohio area with the most licensed physical therapist assistants is the Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor area with licensed 970 PTAs. The Cincinnati-Middletown area is home to approximately 660 physical therapist assistants, and Columbus has the third most with 530.
Areas with the highest average salaries include a few of Ohio’s mid-sized cities. Canton-Middletown area physical therapist assistants take home average annual salaries of $65,940, the highest in the state for this profession. Sandusky’s PTAs earn the second highest salaries in the state for this field, earning $65,540 per year. The PTAs working in Dayton receive average salaries of $62,560 annually.
For a more detailed analysis of Ohio’s physical therapist assistant salaries, see the table below (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2014):