Physical Therapist Aides pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,000 or more. The middle half of physical therapist aides in Columbia earn between $30,440 and $36,160.
- $26K10th
- $30K25th
- $36KMedian
- $36K75th
- $43K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,080 | $2,923 | $16.87 |
| Median | $35,740 | $2,978 | $17.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,440 | $2,537 | $14.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,160 | $3,013 | $17.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapist Aides pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Physical therapist aides in Columbia earn 4% more than the South Carolina average ($33,670) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($36,430). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $35,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $35,080 | $35,740 | $25,700 | $43,000 | 70 |
| South Carolina | $33,670 | $33,280 | $22,830 | $45,290 | 370 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $35,080, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $29,967 a year, or $2,497 a month and $1,153 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for physical therapist aides? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $35,080 buys what about $37,454 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapist Aides salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 2nd of 3 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($35,580).
- Charleston$35,580
- Columbia$35,080
- Greenville$32,740
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Physical Therapist Aides salary in Columbia: questions
How much do physical therapist aides make an hour in Columbia?
$16.87 an hour on average, and $17.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapist aides salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapist aides take-home pay in Columbia?
About $29,967 a year ($2,497 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,080.
Do physical therapist aides earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.6%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.