Jobs Similar to Physical Therapist Assistants
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to physical therapist assistants, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Occupational Therapy Aides, Occupational Therapy Assistants and Athletic Trainers.
Physical Therapist Assistants: $68,380 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
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 Assistants) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Occupational Therapy AidesSame group | 82% | $39,160−43% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Occupational Therapy AssistantsSame group | 82% | $72,300+6% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Athletic Trainers | 82% | $62,520−9% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Physical Therapists | 81% | $102,760+50% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Physical Therapist AidesSame group | 81% | $35,240−48% | High school |
| 6 | Registered Nurses | 81% | $97,550+43% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Midwives | 81% | $65,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 80% | $64,400−6% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Acute Care Nurses | 79% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Critical Care Nurses | 79% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Exercise Physiologists | 79% | $59,460−13% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Nurse Midwives | 79% | $134,040+96% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Psychiatric Technicians | 78% | $45,130−34% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Chiropractors | 78% | $79,200+16% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Physician Assistants | 78% | $135,880+99% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Occupational Therapists | 78% | $100,330+47% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Nursing Assistants | 78% | $42,260−38% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | 77% | $335,550+391% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Orthoptists | 77% | $115,210Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Hospitalists | 77% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
- 1Occupational Therapy Aides
82% similar · $39,160 (−43%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Occupational Therapy Assistants
82% similar · $72,300 (+6%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Athletic Trainers
82% similar · $62,520 (−9%) · Graduate degree
- 4Physical Therapists
81% similar · $102,760 (+50%) · Graduate degree
- 5Physical Therapist Aides
81% similar · $35,240 (−48%) · High school · Same group
- 6Registered Nurses
81% similar · $97,550 (+43%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Midwives
81% similar · $65,790 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 8Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
80% similar · $64,400 (−6%) · Training or associate
- 9Acute Care Nurses
79% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Critical Care Nurses
79% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Exercise Physiologists
79% similar · $59,460 (−13%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Nurse Midwives
79% similar · $134,040 (+96%) · Graduate degree
- 13Psychiatric Technicians
78% similar · $45,130 (−34%) · Training or associate
- 14Chiropractors
78% similar · $79,200 (+16%) · Graduate degree
- 15Physician Assistants
78% similar · $135,880 (+99%) · Graduate degree
- 16Occupational Therapists
78% similar · $100,330 (+47%) · Graduate degree
- 17Nursing Assistants
78% similar · $42,260 (−38%) · Training or associate
- 18Emergency Medicine Physicians
77% similar · $335,550 (+391%) · Graduate degree
- 19Orthoptists
77% similar · $115,210 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 20Hospitalists
77% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
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 assistants.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for physical therapist assistants also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where physical therapist assistants is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Psychiatric Technicians (88)
- Exercise Physiologists (86)
- Massage Therapists (85)
- Athletic Trainers (84)
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (84)
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (82)
- Recreational Therapists (81)
- Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors (80)
- Respiratory Therapists (80)
- Nursing Assistants (78)
Questions about jobs like physical therapist assistants
What jobs are most similar to physical therapist assistants?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Occupational Therapy Aides (82% similar), Occupational Therapy Assistants (82% similar), Athletic Trainers (82% similar), Physical Therapists (81% similar) and Physical Therapist Aides (81% similar).
Which jobs like physical therapist assistants pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Emergency Medicine Physicians ($335,550, +391%; usually a graduate degree), Physician Assistants ($135,880, +99%; usually a graduate degree) and Nurse Midwives ($134,040, +96%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with physical therapist assistants ($68,380). Without more preparation than physical therapist assistants usually need: Occupational Therapy Assistants.
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.