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San Diego, California

Physical Therapist Assistant - Home Health - Full Time - Central

Physical Therapist AssistantFull-Time

Listed compensation

$37-$42/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Job Description Summary

The physical therapy assistant provides physical therapy services under the direction of the physical therapist and according to the physician's plan of care.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities

1. Provides direct physical therapy according to directions of a qualified physical therapist and in accordance with the physician's plan of care and as defined in the state Physical Therapy Practice Act.

2. Treats patient to relieve pain, develop or restore function, and maintain maximum performance.

3. Directs and aids patients in active and passive therapeutic exercises, muscle reeducation, gait and functional training, transfer activities and prosthetic training.

4. Utilizes physical agents, including, but not be limited to heat, cold, water, light, electricity, ultrasound, and massage.

5. Observes and reports to the physical therapist and the Organization personnel the patient’s reaction to treatment and any changes in patient’s condition.

6. Instructs patients in care and use of wheelchairs, braces, crutches, canes, and prosthetic or orthotic devices.

7. Maintains necessary records; clinical notes and conference notes, which will be incorporated into the patient’s clinical record in prescribed time frames.

8. Participates in Organization Home Care Team Members meetings and Organization Inservice Education Program.

9. Performs other duties as assigned.

10. Must adhere to the company attendance and reliability guidelines, which are an essential function of the job to ensure quality, and consistent patient care.

The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbent(s) of this job. The incumbent(s) may be requested to perform job related tasks other than those stated in the description.

Position Qualifications

  • Graduate of an accredited physical therapy assistant program with either an Associate’s degree in science or applied science that is approved by American Physical Therapy Association, Inc.
  • Approved as a physical therapist assistant by the Physical Therapy Board of California
  • Demonstrates good verbal and written communication and organization skills.
  • Possess and maintain current CPR certification.
  • Must possess a valid California Driver’s License with automobile that is in good working order and insured in accordance with the organization requirements.

Physical Requirements

1. The ability to sit occasionally for 1-3 hours.

2. The ability to frequently stand for 3-6 hours.

3. The ability to occasionally drive/ operate foot control for 1-3 hours.

4. The ability to walk occasionally on level surface for 1-3 hours.

5. The ability to walk intermittently on unlevel surface for less than 1 hour.

6. The ability to intermittently bend or climb for less than 1 hour.

7. The ability to occasionally twist, kneel, crouch and crawl for 1-3 hours.

8. The ability to lift 50 pounds intermittently in less than 1 hour.

9. The ability to carry up to 50 pounds intermittently in less than 1 hour.

10. The ability to push up to 50 pounds intermittently in less than 1 hour.

11. The ability to pull up to 50 pounds intermittently in less than 1 hour.

12. Maintains current and valid Driver’s License and Automobile Insurance coverage at all times.

13. Must have a reliable form of transportation.

Key Responsibilities

The physical therapist assistant provides direct physical therapy services to patients in their homes under the direction of a physical therapist. Responsibilities include performing therapeutic exercises, gait training, and maintaining accurate clinical records in accordance with the physician's plan of care.

Requirements

Candidates must be graduates of an accredited physical therapy assistant program with an Associate's degree and hold approval from the Physical Therapy Board of California. A valid California Driver's License, reliable transportation, and current CPR certification are also required.

Qualifications

Education
Associate degree

Key Skills

Clinical documentationCommunication skills

Physical Therapist Career Context

In California, the Physical Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$117k (1,368 salary observations; 4,141 listings), vs ~$94k nationally (13,279 salary observations; 60,551 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-10-01; 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 ~$82k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $74k 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
Listed pay$77k–$87kPhysical Therapy median $84k (middle half $79k–$96k)54 comparable listings, Oct 2026
California vs national$117k median in California$94k nationally (+24%)1,368 state / 13,279 national salary observations
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$74k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Physical Therapy listings in California1,734 active21,899 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedCalifornia Physical Therapist listings: 19% state a sign-on bonus (median $10k) · 9% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top PTA Jobs

17 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

15 jobs · 7 employers
4
<$80k
7
$80k-85k
1
$87k
2
$94k
1
$100k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

17 jobs · 7 employers
401k / retirement match
94%
Sign-on bonus
41%
CME allowance
41%
Loan repayment
29%
Relocation assistance
24%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Physical Therapist Assistant

Select Physical Therapy · Watsonville, California

$40-$48/hr
#2

Physical Therapist AssistantContract

Select Physical Therapy · San Rafael, California

$40-$45/hr
#3

Physical Therapist Assistant / PTA (Home Health)

$40-$45/hr
#4

Physical Therapist Assistant

$40-$42/hr
+ 15 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Physical Therapist Assistant listings

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

Living in San Diego

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.00M
Typical market rent
$3,004/mo
Residents’ average commute
24 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.