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

"Most paths into the physical therapy aide field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

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

"Yes. Mississippi requires state-level licensing or registration for physical therapy aides, administered by the MS State Board of Physical Therapy. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In Mississippi, apprenticeships are typically registered through state apprenticeship agencies and trade union locals. See the apprenticeship section above for current contact information."

How to Become A Physical Therapy Aide in Mississippi

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in Mississippi earned a median annual wage of approximately $27,370. Employment concentration in Mississippi is roughly 0.74 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 Mississippi?"

"Mississippi currently employs approximately 270 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

Mississippi physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $27,370 ($13.16/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 270 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -22.3% below the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $27,370 ($13.16/hr)
25th percentile: $24,510 per year
75th percentile: $32,110 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $36,880 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $23,450 per year
Workers employed in Mississippi: 270
Versus national median: -22.3% below the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.74 - this occupation is less concentrated in Mississippi than the national average

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

Mississippi employs approximately 270 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $27,370 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 Mississippi, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in Mississippi

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

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Mississippi? Yes. Mississippi has licensing or registration requirements for physical therapy aides. The MS State Board of Physical Therapy oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do physical therapy aides earn in Mississippi? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Mississippi is $27,370 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $23,450 and experienced professionals can earn $36,880 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: MS State Board of Physical Therapy
Median wage (Mississippi): $27,370 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Both state and third-party exams required

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in Mississippi

The MS State Board of Physical Therapy oversees physical therapy aide licensing in Mississippi ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Physical Therapist	Physical therapist (PT) means a person licensed in this state to practice physical therapy as defined in these regulations, and whose license is in good standing.
Physical Therapist Assistant	Physical therapist assistant (PTA) means a person who is licensed in this state and who assists a physical therapist in the provision of physical therapy under the direct, on-site supervision of the p…

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: Both state and third-party exams required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Memphis	140	$32,780	$34,060	$28,210	$43,920
Gulfport-Biloxi	100	$27,370	$28,680	$24,070	$34,300
Jackson	50	$28,980	$28,970	$24,070	$34,060

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.

Top Metros for Physical therapy aides in Mississippi

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest physical therapy aide employment within Mississippi according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Gulfport-Biloxi	100	$27,370
Jackson	50	$28,980

Explore More Trades in Mississippi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Mississippi? Mississippi currently employs approximately 270 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 Mississippi with an out-of-state license? Contact the MS State Board of Physical Therapy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Mississippi compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Mississippi is $27,370, which is $7,150 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
MS State Board of Physical Therapy - Licensing Information: https://www.msbpt.ms.gov/secure/index.asp ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)