Jobs Similar to Physical Therapist Aides
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to physical therapist aides, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Occupational Therapy Aides, Physical Therapist Assistants and Occupational Therapy Assistants.
Physical Therapist Aides: $35,240 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Physical Therapist Aides) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Occupational Therapy AidesSame group | 83% | $39,160+11% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Physical Therapist AssistantsSame group | 81% | $68,380+94% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Occupational Therapy AssistantsSame group | 81% | $72,300+105% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 80% | $64,400+83% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Nursing Assistants | 79% | $42,260+20% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Midwives | 78% | $65,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Athletic Trainers | 78% | $62,520+77% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Registered Nurses | 77% | $97,550+177% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | 77% | $33,580−5% | High school |
| 10 | Physical Therapists | 77% | $102,760+192% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Psychiatric Aides | 77% | $44,910+27% | High school |
| 12 | Orderlies | 77% | $38,290+9% | High school |
| 13 | Psychiatric Technicians | 77% | $45,130+28% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | 77% | $47,160+34% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Medical Assistants | 76% | $45,690+30% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Exercise Physiologists | 76% | $59,460+69% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Flight Attendants | 76% | $63,580+80% | High school |
| 18 | Dental Hygienists | 76% | $98,100+178% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Phlebotomists | 75% | $45,230+28% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 75% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
- 1Occupational Therapy Aides
83% similar · $39,160 (+11%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Physical Therapist Assistants
81% similar · $68,380 (+94%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Occupational Therapy Assistants
81% similar · $72,300 (+105%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 4Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
80% similar · $64,400 (+83%) · Training or associate
- 5Nursing Assistants
79% similar · $42,260 (+20%) · Training or associate
- 6Midwives
78% similar · $65,790 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 7Athletic Trainers
78% similar · $62,520 (+77%) · Graduate degree
- 8Registered Nurses
77% similar · $97,550 (+177%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
77% similar · $33,580 (−5%) · High school
- 10Physical Therapists
77% similar · $102,760 (+192%) · Graduate degree
- 11Psychiatric Aides
77% similar · $44,910 (+27%) · High school
- 12Orderlies
77% similar · $38,290 (+9%) · High school
- 13Psychiatric Technicians
77% similar · $45,130 (+28%) · Training or associate
- 14Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
77% similar · $47,160 (+34%) · Training or associate
- 15Medical Assistants
76% similar · $45,690 (+30%) · Training or associate
- 16Exercise Physiologists
76% similar · $59,460 (+69%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Flight Attendants
76% similar · $63,580 (+80%) · High school
- 18Dental Hygienists
76% similar · $98,100 (+178%) · Training or associate
- 19Phlebotomists
75% similar · $45,230 (+28%) · Training or associate
- 20Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
75% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than physical therapist aides.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for physical therapist aides also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where physical therapist aides is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Orderlies (87)
- Psychiatric Aides (80)
- Nursing Assistants (79)
- Shampooers (78)
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (77)
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (77)
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians (76)
- Psychiatric Technicians (76)
- Animal Caretakers (74)
- Childcare Workers (73)
Questions about jobs like physical therapist aides
What jobs are most similar to physical therapist aides?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Occupational Therapy Aides (83% similar), Physical Therapist Assistants (81% similar), Occupational Therapy Assistants (81% similar), Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (80% similar) and Nursing Assistants (79% similar).
Which jobs like physical therapist aides pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Physical Therapists ($102,760, +192%; usually a graduate degree), Dental Hygienists ($98,100, +178%; usually training or an associate degree) and Registered Nurses ($97,550, +177%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with physical therapist aides ($35,240). Without more preparation than physical therapist aides usually need: Flight Attendants, Psychiatric Aides and Orderlies.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.