Physical Therapist Assistant Degree Programs in New Hampshire (2026)

Quick answer: Physical Therapist Assistants in New Hampshire earn a median $71,440 per year, above the national median of $68,380 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 500 of them. Licensing runs through your state physical therapy board.

Physical Therapist Assistant Pay and Employment in New Hampshire at a Glance

MetricNew HampshireNationalSource
Median annual wage$71,440$68,380BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$59,540$47,750BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$62,730$59,820BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$74,960$78,680BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$80,940$89,510BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment500112,430BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient1.021.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state22.0%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How New Hampshire Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The New Hampshire median of $71,440 sits above the national median of $68,380 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 1.02 puts New Hampshire slightly above the national average, so the occupation is a little more common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in New Hampshire

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Manchester$71,440110

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies are all local employers, so metro demand tracks the local care network.

Physical Therapist Assistants Wages by Metro Area in New Hampshire

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), physical therapist assistants wages in New Hampshire vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Boston-Cambridge-Newton1,860$80,430$77,660$62,710$89,150
Manchester-Nashua110$71,440$74,310$60,660$95,660

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

All New Hampshire Metro Areas With Published Data

Manchester

Licensing and Credentials in New Hampshire

Physical therapist assistants are licensed in most states. The national framework is a CAPTE-accredited associate degree and the National Physical Therapy Examination for PTAs, administered through FSBPT. CAPTE accreditation is what makes a graduate eligible to sit the examination, so it is not optional.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state physical therapy board that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How We Rank Schools

We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%

Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

Durham, NH 33.4 miles away BOC Score 74.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 76.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 12
  • Annual completions: 322
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $71,253 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Plymouth State University

Plymouth, NH 40.4 miles away BOC Score 53.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 17
  • Annual completions: 165
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $57,351 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

River Valley Community College

Claremont, NH 40.5 miles away BOC Score 44.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 22
  • Annual completions: 196
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $54,465 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Franklin Pierce University

Rindge, NH 36.5 miles away BOC Score 41.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 49.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 5
  • Annual completions: 149
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $66,687 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do physical therapist assistants make in New Hampshire?

The median annual wage for physical therapist assistants in New Hampshire is $71,440, above the national median of $68,380 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $62,730 at the 25th percentile to $74,960 at the 75th.

How many physical therapist assistants work in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire holds about 500 physical therapist assistant jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 112,430, and BLS projects about 19,800 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).

Do I need a license to work as a physical therapist assistant in New Hampshire?

Physical therapist assistants are licensed in most states. The national framework is a CAPTE-accredited associate degree and the National Physical Therapy Examination for PTAs, administered through FSBPT. CAPTE accreditation is what makes a graduate eligible to sit the examination, so it is not optional. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state physical therapy board before you enroll in any program.

Can I earn a CAPTE-accredited associate degree online while working in New Hampshire?

Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state physical therapy board.

What is the highest-paying area of New Hampshire for physical therapist assistants?

Among New Hampshire metro areas with published data, Manchester reports the highest median at $71,440 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is New Hampshire a good state for physical therapist assistants?

On pay, the state median of $71,440 sits above the national $68,380 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.02 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Physical Therapist Assistants (SOC 31-2021), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.