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Links Healthcare
El Cajon, California

Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical Therapist AssistantFull-Time

Listed compensation

$74.9K - $87.4K

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 7mo ago

Job Description

Join Stillwater Post-Acute as a Physical Therapist Assistant and create a positive impact in a nurturing environment!

Additional Benefits

  • Paid Vacation Leaves
  • Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision)
  • 401(k)
  • Accident and Life Insurance
  • Continuing Education

Why Choose Stillwater POST-Acute?

Stillwater Post-Acute, located in El Cajon, is a premier post-acute care facility with 256 beds, dedicated to delivering exceptional, patient-centered care that promotes recovery and enhances residents' quality of life. Our mission is to empower individuals on their journey to independence while helping them achieve their health goals.

We offer a wide range of tailored services, including short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, and comprehensive therapy options such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

At Stillwater Post-Acute, we prioritize teamwork and leadership, ensuring that all department heads are accessible and supportive. We offer a variety of educational and hands-on training opportunities to promote your career growth in a collaborative environment that values your contributions. You’ll work alongside dedicated professionals committed to enhancing patient care, with plenty of chances for advancement and a great boss who truly cares about your success.

About the Role

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) at STILLWATER POST-ACUTE, plays a critical role in supporting licensed physical therapists in delivering high-quality rehabilitative care to patients.

This full-time position focuses on assisting patients with therapeutic exercises and treatments designed to improve mobility, reduce pain, and restore function.

The PTA will also manage essential administrative tasks, including handling multi-line phone systems and greeting clients, ensuring smooth communication and a welcoming environment. By combining clinical support with receptionist duties, the PTA helps maintain an efficient and patient-centered facility.

Ultimately, this role contributes significantly to patient recovery outcomes and overall satisfaction within the post-acute care setting.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Completion of an accredited Physical Therapist Assistant program.
  • Current state licensure or certification as a Physical Therapist Assistant.
  • Proficiency in handling multi-line phone systems and general office administrative duties.
  • Strong communication skills with professional phone etiquette.
  • Ability to perform physical tasks required for patient care and therapy assistance.
  • Minimum of two years experience in a skilled nursing facility (SNF)

Preferred Qualifications

  • Familiarity with electronic medical records (EMR) systems.
  • Additional training or certification in specialized therapy techniques.
  • Bilingual abilities to assist a diverse patient population.
  • Prior experience managing front desk operations in a clinical environment.

Responsibilities

  • Assist physical therapists in implementing treatment plans by guiding patients through prescribed exercises and therapeutic activities.
  • Monitor and document patient progress, reporting any changes or concerns to the supervising physical therapist.
  • Manage multi-line phone systems, answering calls promptly and directing inquiries to appropriate staff members.
  • Perform receptionist duties such as greeting patients and visitors, scheduling appointments, and maintaining patient records.
  • Operate office equipment including copy machines and manage general administrative tasks to support clinic operations.

Skills

The required skills such as multi-line phone management and receptionist duties are essential for maintaining effective communication channels and providing a welcoming atmosphere for patients and visitors.

Phone etiquette ensures that all interactions are professional and courteous, which is vital in a healthcare setting. General administrative skills, including operating copy machines and managing multiple phone lines, support the smooth daily operation of the clinic.

These skills enable the PTA to balance clinical responsibilities with front desk tasks efficiently. Preferred skills like familiarity with EMR systems and bilingual communication further enhance the ability to deliver comprehensive patient care and improve overall workflow.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related condition), age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (including transgender status), genetic predisposition or carrier status, military or veteran status, familial status, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other status protected by law.

Requirements

Candidates must have completed an accredited Physical Therapist Assistant program and possess current state licensure or certification. A minimum of two years of experience in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) is required, along with proficiency in handling multi-line phone systems and general office duties.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Mobility ImprovementPain ReductionFunction RestorationDocumentationOffice Equipment Operation

Physical Therapist Career Context

In California, the Physical Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$118k (1,189 salary observations; 4,756 listings), vs ~$94k nationally (12,162 salary observations; 66,743 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 ~$81k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $73k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Physical Therapy market look like in California?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score7.2 / 10 · top 25% in physical therapist assistantranked against 4,946 Physical Therapist Assistant listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$75k–$87kPhysical Therapy median $88k (middle half $79k–$96k)49 comparable listings, Nov 2026
California vs national$118k median in California$94k nationally (+25%)1,189 state / 12,162 national salary observations
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$73k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Physical Therapy listings in California1,799 active21,911 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedCalifornia physical therapist listings (all specialties): 19% state a sign-on bonus (median $10k) · 8% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Physical Therapy listings7,870 in the last 30 days4,345 the 30 days before (+81%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Physical Therapy pay trend+1.5% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (4,946 Physical Therapist Assistant listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Physical Therapist Assistant at Links Healthcare a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 25% in Physical Therapist Assistant — ranked against 4,946 active Physical Therapist Assistant listings on WeekdayDoc.

Top PTA Jobs

14 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

12 jobs · 7 employers
2
<$80k
7
$80k-85k
1
$87k
0
$90k-95k
2
$95k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

14 jobs · 7 employers
401k / retirement match
100% this job
CME allowance
36% this job
Sign-on bonus
7%
Relocation assistance
7%
Visa sponsorship
7%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Physical Therapist Assistant

Movement For Life · San Luis Obispo, California

$27-$51/hr
#2

Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Part-Time or Full-Time

EmpowerMe Wellness · Alameda, California

$38-$46/hr
#3

Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)

$34-$42/hr
#4

Physical Therapist Assistant

$27-$40/hr
+ 12 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 7.2
Better work-life than 80% of Physical Therapist Assistant listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 4,946 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Links Healthcare logo

About Links Healthcare

Hospitals and Health Care
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Paid Vacation
Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
401(k)
Accident Insurance
Life Insurance
Continuing Education

Living in El Cajon

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$783k
Typical market rent
$2,259/mo
Residents’ average commute
25 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.9
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.