Prevailing Wage for Physical Therapist Aides
Prevailing wage for Physical Therapist Aides (SOC 31-2022) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, which means the floor a Physical Therapist Aide (PTA) must meet depends on where the worksite sits. Whether your offer covers a Physical Therapy Aide (PTA) or a Rehabilitation Aide role, DOL assigns four experience levels, each with a distinct wage floor.
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Entry-level candidates with less than one year of supervised experience in a therapy setting. Typically recent hires performing basic patient preparation and treatment area setup under direct physical therapist oversight with minimal independent judgment.
Qualified aides with one to three years of experience handling routine delegated tasks with limited supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Physical Therapist Aides, reflecting the structured but skill-dependent nature of the role.
Experienced aides with three or more years performing a broader range of delegated therapy support tasks, requiring only general supervision. These workers handle varied patient populations and equipment with demonstrated competency across typical clinical situations.
Fully competent senior aides who may informally mentor newer staff, manage specialized equipment setups, or support multiple therapists simultaneously. This level reflects a depth of clinical support experience well above the standard aide scope.
Prevailing Wage for Physical Therapist Aides by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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Know which therapy setting drives your level
Hospital outpatient clinics and inpatient rehabilitation units typically file at L2 or L3 for experienced aides, while SNF and home health agency employers more often file at L1. Understanding your setting helps you assess whether an offer reflects the right wage level before you accept.
Watch for title aliasing between aide and assistant
PT Attendant and PT Tech job titles sometimes appear in postings for roles that employers file under Physical Therapist Assistant (SOC 31-2021) instead. A mismatched SOC code means the prevailing wage floor shifts entirely, so confirm which SOC your employer used on the LCA.
Compare your offer against the widest metro range
The prevailing wage floor for this occupation varies significantly by location, with coastal metros like San Jose and Barnstable Town setting considerably higher floors than Gulf Coast markets. Verify your specific worksite city using the OFLC Wage Search before evaluating any sponsorship offer.
Use Migrate Mate to identify PT aide sponsors
Migrate Mate shows which employers have a verified history of sponsoring Physical Therapist Aide roles, so you can prioritize outreach toward facilities and health systems that have already filed H-1B or green card petitions for this occupation rather than cold-applying.
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Find Jobs for Physical Therapist AidesPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 31-2022.00 alongside Physical Therapist Aides, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Physical Therapist Aide (PTA) Prevailing Wage
Physical Therapist Aide (PTA) Prevailing Wage
Physical Therapist Aide (PTA) positions fall under SOC 31-2022.00 (Physical Therapist Aides). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Physical Therapy Aide (PTA) Prevailing Wage
Physical Therapy Aide (PTA) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Physical Therapy Aide (PTA) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 31-2022.00 (Physical Therapist Aides). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
PT Attendant (Physical Therapy Attendant) Prevailing Wage
PT Attendant (Physical Therapy Attendant) Prevailing Wage
PT Attendant (Physical Therapy Attendant) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 31-2022.00 (Physical Therapist Aides). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
PT Tech (Physical Therapist Technician) Prevailing Wage
PT Tech (Physical Therapist Technician) Prevailing Wage
PT Tech (Physical Therapist Technician) positions fall under SOC 31-2022.00 (Physical Therapist Aides). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
PT Tech (Physical Therapy Technician) Prevailing Wage
PT Tech (Physical Therapy Technician) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a PT Tech (Physical Therapy Technician) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 31-2022.00 (Physical Therapist Aides). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Rehabilitation Aide Prevailing Wage
Rehabilitation Aide Prevailing Wage
Rehabilitation Aide is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 31-2022.00 (Physical Therapist Aides). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Rehabilitation Attendant Prevailing Wage
Rehabilitation Attendant Prevailing Wage
Rehabilitation Attendant positions fall under SOC 31-2022.00 (Physical Therapist Aides). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Rehabilitation Technician (Rehabilitation Tech) Prevailing Wage
Rehabilitation Technician (Rehabilitation Tech) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Rehabilitation Technician (Rehabilitation Tech) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 31-2022.00 (Physical Therapist Aides). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Restorative Aide (RA) Prevailing Wage
Restorative Aide (RA) Prevailing Wage
Restorative Aide (RA) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 31-2022.00 (Physical Therapist Aides). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Therapy Aide Prevailing Wage
Therapy Aide Prevailing Wage
Therapy Aide positions fall under SOC 31-2022.00 (Physical Therapist Aides). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Physical Therapist Aides?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For each metro area, BLS surveys employer-reported wages for Physical Therapist Aides and segments them into four wage levels based on experience and complexity. OFLC publishes these figures annually, and employers must meet the applicable level when filing an LCA for a sponsored position.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL assigns levels based on experience, supervision required, and complexity of duties. Level 1 covers entry-level aides under direct supervision with minimal independent work. Level 2 reflects routine qualified performance with limited supervision. Level 3 applies to experienced aides needing only general oversight. Level 4 covers fully competent workers with broad skills. Your level should match the actual duties and supervision structure in your job offer, not just years on paper.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same aide role vary so much between cities?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional OES surveys, so the floor reflects local labor market conditions rather than a national average. On an LCA, the employer must list the actual worksite address, and OFLC applies the wage rate for that specific metro. High cost-of-living markets with concentrated healthcare employers, like San Jose or Barnstable Town, produce higher survey wages, while markets with lower demand and cost structures, like Baton Rouge, produce lower floors.
What happens if an employer offers below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer filing an LCA must certify to DOL that the offered wage meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for the role and worksite. If the actual wage falls short, the LCA certification is invalid, and USCIS can deny the H-1B or other sponsored visa petition. Employers found to have underpaid sponsored workers can face back-wage liability and debarment from future sponsorship by DOL's Wage and Hour Division.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Physical Therapist Aides in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool published by DOL to look up current prevailing wages by SOC code 31-2022 and metro area. Enter the worksite city or county to retrieve the four-level wage figures that apply to your LCA. You can cross-reference occupation details through O*NET. Migrate Mate also filters Physical Therapist Aide job listings by employers with confirmed sponsorship history, helping you focus on offers likely to meet compliance requirements.
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