"How long does it take to become a physical therapy aide in Hawaii?"

"The primary Hawaii license requires approximately 18 years of qualifying experience."

"Do physical therapy aides need a license in Hawaii?"

"Yes. Hawaii requires state-level licensing or registration for physical therapy aides, administered by the Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce \u0026 Consumer Affairs - Board of Physical Therapy. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for physical therapy aides in Hawaii?"

"In Hawaii, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Hawaii Workforce Development Division - Apprenticeships, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Physical Therapy Aide in Hawaii

Q: "How much do physical therapy aides earn in Hawaii?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in Hawaii earned a median annual wage of approximately $33,810. Employment concentration in Hawaii is roughly 0.33 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Hawaii?"

"Hawaii currently employs approximately 60 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.8% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Hawaii physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $33,810 ($16.25/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 60 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -4.1% below the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $33,810 ($16.25/hr)
25th percentile: $33,570 per year
75th percentile: $38,550 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $46,480 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $31,050 per year
Workers employed in Hawaii: 60
Versus national median: -4.1% below the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.33 - this occupation is less concentrated in Hawaii than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Hawaii employs approximately 60 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $33,810 ¹. Nationally, physical therapy aide employment is projected to grow 2.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 6,600 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a physical therapy aide in Hawaii, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in Hawaii

How do I become a physical therapy aide in Hawaii? Hawaii requires credentials such as Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant. The licensing authority is the Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Physical Therapy ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Typical requirements include approximately 18 years of experience ³.

Do I need a license in Hawaii? Yes. Hawaii has licensing or registration requirements for physical therapy aides. The Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Physical Therapy oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do physical therapy aides earn in Hawaii? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Hawaii is $33,810 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,050 and experienced professionals can earn $46,480 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Physical Therapy
Median wage (Hawaii): $33,810 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in Hawaii

The Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Physical Therapy oversees physical therapy aide licensing in Hawaii ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Physical Therapist	DESCRIPTION OF OCCUPATION: A Physical Therapist examines, treats, and instructs human beings to detect, assess, prevent, correct, alleviate, and limit physical disability, bodily malfunction, pain fro…
Physical Therapist Assistant	DESCRIPTION OF OCCUPATION: A Physical Therapist Assistant assists physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures.

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in Hawaii

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Hawaii

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), physical therapist aides wages in Hawaii vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Urban Honolulu	N/A	$33,810	$37,920	$33,570	$47,830

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 2025.

Explore More Trades in Hawaii

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Hawaii? Hawaii currently employs approximately 60 physical therapy aides ¹. Nationally, physical therapy aide employment is projected to grow 2.8% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a physical therapy aide in Hawaii with an out-of-state license? Contact the Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Physical Therapy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Hawaii? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Hawaii.

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Hawaii compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Hawaii is $33,810, which is $710 below the national median of $34,520 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

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/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Physical Therapy - Licensing Information: http://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/physicaltherapy/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)