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

"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 South Carolina?"

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

"What apprenticeships are available for physical therapy aides in South Carolina?"

"In South Carolina, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Apprenticeship South Carolina, 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 South Carolina

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in South Carolina earned a median annual wage of approximately $33,280. Employment concentration in South Carolina is roughly 0.52 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 South Carolina?"

"South Carolina currently employs approximately 370 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

South Carolina physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $33,280 ($16.00/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 370 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -5.6% below the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $33,280 ($16.00/hr)
25th percentile: $26,120 per year
75th percentile: $37,250 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $45,290 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $22,830 per year
Workers employed in South Carolina: 370
Versus national median: -5.6% below the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.52 - this occupation is less concentrated in South Carolina than the national average

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

South Carolina employs approximately 370 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $33,280 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 South Carolina, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in South Carolina

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

What do physical therapy aides earn in South Carolina? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in South Carolina is $33,280 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $22,830 and experienced professionals can earn $45,290 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: SC Board of Physical Therapy
Median wage (South Carolina): $33,280 per year ¹

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in South Carolina

The SC Board of Physical Therapy oversees physical therapy aide licensing in South Carolina ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Physical Therapist	Contact licensing agency for more information.
Physical Therapist Provisional	Contact licensing agency for more information.
Physical Therapist Assistant	Contact licensing agency for more information.
Physical Therapist Assistant Provisional	Contact licensing agency for more information.

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia	170	$35,410	$39,300	$28,890	$46,880
Columbia	70	$35,740	$35,080	$25,700	$43,000
Augusta-Richmond County	60	$29,910	$33,170	$21,240	$65,840
Charleston-North Charleston	60	$34,110	$35,580	$26,120	$45,700
Greenville-Anderson-Greer	60	$31,200	$32,740	$18,430	$46,270

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 South Carolina

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Columbia	70	$35,740
Charleston-North Charleston	60	$34,110
Greenville-Anderson-Greer	60	$31,200

Explore More Trades in South Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in South Carolina? South Carolina currently employs approximately 370 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 South Carolina with an out-of-state license? Contact the SC Board of Physical Therapy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in South Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in South Carolina is $33,280, which is $1,240 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
SC Board of Physical Therapy - Licensing Information: http://www.llr.state.sc.us/POL/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)