Physical Therapist Assistant (Full Time, Day Shift)
Listed compensation
$35.83-$49.15/hr
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
Central to all that California has to offer, Adventist Health Bakersfield has been providing an extraordinary team of world-class physicians, top-notch medical technology, caring professionals and award-winning quality since 1910.
We are comprised of a 254-bed acute care hospital and 20 primary and specialty care medical offices. As one of America's fastest growing cities, Bakersfield offers affordable housing on the West Coast, beautiful weather, high-quality education and it is just a few hours away from Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, the Central California Coast and Southern California's great sports, theaters, concerts and amusement parks.
Job Summary
Provides physical therapy treatments under the supervision of licensed physical therapists, including the use of modalities, manual techniques and common exercise techniques. Instructs and guides patients through functional activities, such as bed mobility, transfers, gait, and balance activities. Works under minimal supervision and may mentor and train staff on technical skills.
Job Requirements
Education and Work Experience
- High School Education/GED or equivalent: Required
- Associate’s/Technical Degree or equivalent combination of education/related experience: Required
- Two years' physical therapy or technical experience: Preferred
Licenses/Certifications
- Physical Therapy Assistant licensure in the state of practice: Required
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification or Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from approved vendor per AH policy: Required
Facility Specific License/Certifications
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from approved vendor per AH policy:
Required
Essential Functions
- Performs physical therapy treatments, including the use of modalities, manual techniques and common exercise techniques. Instructs and guides patients through functional activities, such as bed mobility, transfers and gait and balance activities.
- Observes and follows treatment precautions as identified by physical therapists, nurses or physicians. Observes for changes in patient responses and reports changes to nurses and physical therapists in charge.
- Provides daily and timely patient chart documentation of interventions and services provided in the acute care setting. Documents employee and out-patient treatments, as necessary.
- Provides education and training to patients and caregivers, while incorporating learning style preferences. Assesses education and training responses.
- Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
Organizational Requirements
Adventist Health is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our associates and patients. Therefore, we require that all associates receive all required vaccinations as a condition of employment and annually thereafter, where applicable. Medical and religious exemptions may apply.
Adventist Health participates in E-Verify. Visit
adventisthealth.org for more information about
E-Verify. By choosing to apply, you acknowledge that you have accessed and read the E-Verify Participation and Right to Work notices and understand the contents therein.
Adventist Health is a faith-based, nonprofit, integrated health system serving more than 100 communities on the West Coast and Hawaii with over 440 sites of care, including 27 acute care facilities.
Founded on Adventist heritage and values, Adventist Health provides care in hospitals, clinics, home care, and hospice agencies in both rural and urban communities.
Our compassionate and talented team of more than 38,000 includes employees, physicians, Medical Staff, and volunteers driven in pursuit of one mission: living God's love by inspiring health, wholeness and hope.
Key Responsibilities
Provides physical therapy treatments under the supervision of licensed therapists, including manual techniques and exercise guidance. Documents patient interventions and provides education to patients and caregivers in an acute care setting.
Requirements
Requires a high school diploma or GED, an associate's or technical degree, and current physical therapy assistant licensure. Candidates should possess BLS or CPR certification and have at least two years of relevant experience.
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Physical Therapist Career Context
In California, the Physical Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$117k (1,228 salary observations; 4,631 listings), vs ~$94k nationally (12,385 salary observations; 67,385 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.
The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$88k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $80k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 5.1 / 10 · above average in physical therapist assistant | ranked against 4,946 Physical Therapist Assistant listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | $75k–$102k | Physical Therapy median $86k (middle half $80k–$92k)36 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| California vs national | $117k median in California | $94k nationally (+24%)1,228 state / 12,385 national salary observations |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$80k in purchasing power | California index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Physical Therapy listings in California | 1,797 active | 21,946 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 51% remote · 8% no call · 28% no weekends39 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | California physical therapist listings (all specialties): 18% state a sign-on bonus (median $20k) · 9% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Physical Therapy listings | 7,906 in the last 30 days | 4,367 the 30 days before (+81%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Physical Therapy pay trend | +1.6% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
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