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

"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."

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

"In Nebraska, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Nebraska Division of Employment and Training - Registered Apprenticeship, 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 Nebraska

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in Nebraska earned a median annual wage of approximately $28,080. Employment concentration in Nebraska is about 2.13 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "Do physical therapy aides need a license in Nebraska?"

"Yes. Nebraska requires state-level licensing or registration for physical therapy aides, administered by the Nebraska Dept. of Health \u0026 Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Rehabilitation \u0026 Community Services. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"Nebraska currently employs approximately 670 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

Nebraska physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $28,080 ($13.50/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 670 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -20.3% below the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $28,080 ($13.50/hr)
25th percentile: $28,080 per year
75th percentile: $36,940 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $41,590 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $28,080 per year
Workers employed in Nebraska: 670
Versus national median: -20.3% below the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 2.13 - this occupation is more concentrated in Nebraska than the national average

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

Nebraska employs approximately 670 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $28,080 ¹. The state’s concentration of physical therapy aide jobs is 2.13x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Nebraska, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in Nebraska

How do I become a physical therapy aide in Nebraska? Nebraska requires credentials such as Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant. The licensing authority is the Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Rehabilitation & Community Services 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 Nebraska? Yes. Nebraska has licensing or registration requirements for physical therapy aides. The Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Rehabilitation & Community Services oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do physical therapy aides earn in Nebraska? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Nebraska is $28,080 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $28,080 and experienced professionals can earn $41,590 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: Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Rehabilitation & Community Services
Median wage (Nebraska): $28,080 per year ¹

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in Nebraska

The Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Rehabilitation & Community Services oversees physical therapy aide licensing in Nebraska ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Physical Therapist	Occupational Description Physical Therapists provide physical therapy treatments.
Physical Therapist Assistant	Occupational Description Physical Therapist Assistants assist physical therapists in the practice of physical therapy.

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in Nebraska

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Nebraska

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Omaha	300	$31,000	$33,140	$28,080	$40,610
Lincoln	140	$28,080	$31,170	$28,080	$39,480

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 Nebraska

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Omaha	300	$31,000
Lincoln	140	$28,080

Explore More Trades in Nebraska

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Nebraska? Nebraska currently employs approximately 670 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 Nebraska with an out-of-state license? Contact the Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Rehabilitation & Community Services for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Nebraska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Nebraska is $28,080, which is $6,440 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Rehabilitation & Community Services - Licensing Information: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/pages/professions-and-occupations.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)