Physical Therapist Assistants pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $81,520 or more. The middle half of physical therapist assistants in Columbia earn between $58,740 and $76,700.
- $43K10th
- $59K25th
- $63KMedian
- $77K75th
- $82K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,480 | $5,457 | $31.48 |
| Median | $62,920 | $5,243 | $30.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,740 | $4,895 | $28.24 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,700 | $6,392 | $36.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapist Assistants pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Physical therapist assistants in Columbia earn 4% less than the South Carolina average ($68,260) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($68,730). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $68,380.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $65,480 | $62,920 | $43,150 | $81,520 | 300 |
| South Carolina | $68,260 | $70,500 | $47,510 | $88,070 | 1,870 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $65,480, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $52,768 a year, or $4,397 a month and $2,030 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 assistants? 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 $65,480 buys what about $69,911 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapist Assistants salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 6th of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Spartanburg pays the most ($79,480).
- Spartanburg$79,480
- Greenville$70,250
- Florence$67,540
- Myrtle Beach$67,140
- Charleston$66,220
- Columbia$65,480
- Hilton Head Island$60,200
All Physical Therapist Assistants salaries in South Carolina
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 Columbia: questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make an hour in Columbia?
$31.48 an hour on average, and $30.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapist assistants salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapist assistants take-home pay in Columbia?
About $52,768 a year ($4,397 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,480.
Do physical therapist assistants earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 1.05, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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