Physical Therapy Assistant Jobs in San Jose, CA
Licensed physical therapist assistants in the San Jose metro earn a median of about $46.73 an hour, well above the California median, and outpatient clinics from Los Gatos to Sunnyvale are posting $36 to $45 an hour plus sign-on bonuses. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get licensed.
Current physical therapist assistant Openings in San Jose, CA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Physical Therapy Assistant Work in San Jose
Many PTA jobs in the South Bay are in outpatient orthopedic clinics, with a second cluster in hospital rehab and skilled nursing therapy programs. Clinic chains are hiring across the West Valley: Select Physical Therapy and iMotion Physical Therapy both run Los Gatos clinics, HealthPRO Heritage runs an outpatient therapy program in Sunnyvale, and Good Samaritan Hospital in Cambrian staffs therapy and rehabilitation alongside its stroke and cardiac programs.
Pay reflects the cost of living. BLS 2025 data puts the San Jose metro PTA median at $46.73 an hour, or about $97,190 a year, against $39.96 an hour statewide. Employers are competing for licensed staff with sign-on bonuses, student loan help and new-grad mentoring, and a PTA who can cover clinics from Morgan Hill up to Sunnyvale along US 101 and SR 85 has plenty of choice.
Top San Jose Employers Hiring Physical Therapy Assistants
These South Bay employers are hiring licensed PTAs now or recruit them for local therapy departments:
- Select Physical Therapy - the outpatient chain is hiring a PTA for its Los Gatos clinic on Dardanelli Lane at $40 to $45 an hour, with up to a $10,000 sign-on bonus, and has also posted for Morgan Hill.
- iMotion Physical Therapy - the Bay Area clinic group, with sites in San Jose, Los Gatos and Fremont, is hiring a full-time PTA in Los Gatos at $36 to $45 an hour.
- HealthPRO Heritage - the therapy contractor is hiring a part-time PTA for an outpatient program in Sunnyvale at $40 to $44 an hour.
- Good Samaritan Hospital - the HCA hospital on Samaritan Drive recruits for its Therapy and Rehabilitation job family.
Physical Therapy Assistant Salaries in San Jose
- Entry level: about $33 to $40 an hour for newly licensed PTAs.
- Experienced: roughly $40 to $50 an hour, the range most current San Jose area postings fall in.
- Senior: $50 to $57 or more an hour for experienced PTAs in high-volume or specialty settings.
These are estimates based on BLS 2025 wage data for the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro and current local postings. Pay moves with setting, schedule and experience: full-time roles add benefits, and outpatient chains such as Select are offering sign-on bonuses and student loan repayment to land new graduates.
How to Become a Physical Therapy Assistant in San Jose
California requires a license. The Physical Therapy Board of California licenses PTAs, and the standard route is to graduate from a CAPTE-accredited physical therapist assistant program, then pass the national PTA exam (the NPTE-PTA, 180 questions in four hours) and the board's California law exam, the CAL-JAM, which is taken online. The board also requires fingerprints for a background check.
A nearby community college option is Ohlone College in Fremont, up I-880 from North San Jose. It is a CAPTE-accredited Associate in Science degree that runs two calendar years and prepares graduates for the national licensing exam. Some local employers, including Select Physical Therapy, welcome new graduates and offer exam prep and mentoring.
What the Job Involves
PTAs carry out treatment plans written by a licensed physical therapist. A typical day means guiding patients through therapeutic exercise, gait and balance training, and post-surgical rehab, applying treatments such as heat, ice and electrical stimulation, setting up equipment, tracking progress and documenting each visit in the electronic record. PTAs report changes to the supervising therapist, who handles evaluations and changes to the plan.
Skills Employers Look For
- Current California PTA license, or eligibility for one
- Associate degree from a CAPTE-accredited PTA program
- Current CPR certification
- Therapeutic exercise and manual techniques for orthopedic patients
- Clear, encouraging communication with patients
- Accurate documentation in an electronic health record
- Physical stamina for a full day on your feet
Career Path and Advancement
Many San Jose PTAs start in an outpatient orthopedic clinic, then branch into hospital rehab, skilled nursing or home health. Experienced PTAs move into lead or clinic coordinator roles, pick up specialties such as sports or neurologic rehab, or go back to school to become a physical therapist.
Related Careers in San Jose
If physical therapy interests you, these San Jose healthcare guides are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a physical therapy assistant in San Jose?
Yes. California requires PTAs to be licensed by the Physical Therapy Board of California. You need to finish a CAPTE-accredited PTA program, pass the NPTE-PTA national exam and the CAL-JAM California law exam, and complete fingerprinting.
How much do physical therapy assistants make in San Jose?
BLS 2025 data puts the San Jose metro median at about $46.73 an hour, or roughly $97,000 a year. Current postings in Los Gatos and Sunnyvale run from $36 to $45 an hour, and the top 10 percent earn about $57 an hour or more.
How long does it take to become a PTA?
Plan on about two years. Ohlone College's CAPTE-accredited program runs two calendar years, and you can sit for the national exam within 90 days of graduation, then wait for the board to issue your license.
Where can I train as a PTA near San Jose?
Ohlone College in Fremont runs a community college PTA program, a short drive up I-880 from North San Jose. It awards an Associate in Science degree and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
Can new graduates get hired as PTAs in San Jose?
Yes. Select Physical Therapy says new graduates are welcome and offers an NPTE prep course and one-on-one mentoring. You can apply before your license is issued, since HealthPRO Heritage, for example, accepts candidates eligible to obtain one.
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