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

"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 New Jersey?"

"Yes. New Jersey requires state-level licensing or registration for physical therapy aides, administered by the Department of Education - Office of Licensing and Credentials. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for physical therapy aides in New Jersey?"

"In New Jersey, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - 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 New Jersey

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in New Jersey earned a median annual wage of approximately $34,430. Employment concentration in New Jersey is about 1.68 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"New Jersey currently employs approximately 2,230 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

New Jersey physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $34,430 ($16.55/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,230 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -2.3% below the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $34,430 ($16.55/hr)
25th percentile: $32,220 per year
75th percentile: $37,490 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $44,350 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $32,220 per year
Workers employed in New Jersey: 2,230
Versus national median: -2.3% below the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.68 - this occupation is more concentrated in New Jersey than the national average

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

New Jersey employs approximately 2,230 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $34,430 ¹. The state’s concentration of physical therapy aide jobs is 1.68x 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 New Jersey, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in New Jersey

How do I become a physical therapy aide in New Jersey? New Jersey requires credentials such as SCHOOL PHYSICAL THERAPIST, PHYSICAL THERAPIST/PHYS. THERAPIST ASSISTANT. The licensing authority is the Department of Education - Office of Licensing and Credentials 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 New Jersey? Yes. New Jersey has licensing or registration requirements for physical therapy aides. The Department of Education - Office of Licensing and Credentials oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do physical therapy aides earn in New Jersey? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in New Jersey is $34,430 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $32,220 and experienced professionals can earn $44,350 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: Department of Education - Office of Licensing and Credentials
Median wage (New Jersey): $34,430 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in New Jersey

The Department of Education - Office of Licensing and Credentials oversees physical therapy aide licensing in New Jersey ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
SCHOOL PHYSICAL THERAPIST
PHYSICAL THERAPIST/PHYS. THERAPIST ASSISTANT

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: State exam required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	6,030	$35,320	$38,670	$32,220	$50,960
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	990	$32,240	$33,660	$24,180	$43,100
Trenton-Princeton	60	$32,220	$34,140	$32,220	$37,410
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton	60	$36,070	$37,440	$31,970	$48,610
Atlantic City-Hammonton	50	$33,180	$38,050	$32,220	$65,260

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 New Jersey

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Trenton-Princeton	60	$32,220
Atlantic City-Hammonton	50	$33,180

Explore More Trades in New Jersey

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in New Jersey? New Jersey currently employs approximately 2,230 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 New Jersey with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Education - Office of Licensing and Credentials for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in New Jersey compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in New Jersey is $34,430, which is $90 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Education - Office of Licensing and Credentials - Licensing Information: https://www.nj.gov/education/license/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)