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

"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 Oregon?"

"Yes. Oregon requires state-level licensing or registration for physical therapy aides, administered by the Physical Therapist Licensing Board. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In Oregon, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Oregon Apprenticeship and Training Division, 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 Oregon

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in Oregon earned a median annual wage of approximately $36,060. Employment concentration in Oregon is about 1.79 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"Oregon currently employs approximately 1,090 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

Oregon physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $36,060 ($17.34/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,090 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 2.3% above the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $36,060 ($17.34/hr)
25th percentile: $35,230 per year
75th percentile: $37,390 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $44,490 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $31,430 per year
Workers employed in Oregon: 1,090
Versus national median: 2.3% above the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.79 - this occupation is more concentrated in Oregon than the national average

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

Oregon employs approximately 1,090 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $36,060 ¹. The state’s concentration of physical therapy aide jobs is 1.79x 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 Oregon, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in Oregon

How do I become a physical therapy aide in Oregon? Oregon requires credentials such as Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant. The licensing authority is the Physical Therapist Licensing Board 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 Oregon? Yes. Oregon has licensing or registration requirements for physical therapy aides. The Physical Therapist Licensing Board oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do physical therapy aides earn in Oregon? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Oregon is $36,060 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,430 and experienced professionals can earn $44,490 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: Physical Therapist Licensing Board
Median wage (Oregon): $36,060 per year ¹

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in Oregon

The Physical Therapist Licensing Board oversees physical therapy aide licensing in Oregon ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Physical Therapist	Physical Therapists are licensed pursuant to ORS 688.010 to 688.201 to practice physical therapy.
Physical Therapist Assistant	A Physical Therapist Assistant assists a physical therapist in the administration of selected components of physical therapy intervention.

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in Oregon

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Oregon

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	590	$36,200	$39,270	$35,980	$48,300
Salem	140	$35,430	$35,830	$31,260	$39,970
Bend	100	$35,730	$36,990	$31,770	$44,080
Eugene-Springfield	70	$34,160	$35,740	$31,100	$41,300
Medford	50	$34,870	$38,080	$30,820	$44,510
Corvallis	30	$34,230	$35,070	$31,330	$41,600

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 Oregon

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	590	$36,200
Salem	140	$35,430
Bend	100	$35,730
Eugene-Springfield	70	$34,160
Medford	50	$34,870

Explore More Trades in Oregon

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Oregon? Oregon currently employs approximately 1,090 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 Oregon with an out-of-state license? Contact the Physical Therapist Licensing Board for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Oregon compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Oregon is $36,060, which is $1,540 above 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Physical Therapist Licensing Board - Licensing Information: https://www.oregon.gov/OGEC/Pages/index.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)