Tacoma Physical Therapy Aide Jobs Overview
Physical therapy aides (also called PTAs) work under the supervision of licensed physical therapists to help patients recover from injuries and other pain and mobility issues. Additionally, they clean, help move patients, and assist physical therapists with clerical tasks. If you enjoy helping people, then you might consider looking into physical therapy aide jobs.
To be a physical therapy aide, you’ll need to be empathetic, a good communicator, and able to perform physical tasks.
The duties of a physical therapy aide include:
- observing patients before, during, and after physical therapy.
- reporting the status of patients to a physical therapist.
- assisting patients with treatments and exercises.
Most physical therapy aides work for physical therapy offices. However, some work for hospitals, nursing homes, physicians, and home healthcare services. It’s common to work a full-time schedule, but some physical therapy aides work part-time, nights, and weekends.
You can expand your search for healthcare support jobs by checking out these similar positions:
About Working in Tacoma, Washington
It's clear why Tacoma residents love their city. The "Mother of Waters" overlooks Puget Sound with a breathtaking view of Mt. Rainier. Point Defiance Park in Tacoma is the second-largest urban park in the U.S., right behind NYC's Central Park. Its 760 acres offer hiking, gardens, and even a zoo. It's only five miles from downtown, so people with Tacoma jobs can enjoy the park on their lunch break or after work.
There's another reason to keep your eye on Tacoma. The city has a love affair with glass. The Museum of Glass was built in 2002 to celebrate art glass and glassmaking and hosts more than 100,000 visitors each year. There's also a glassblowing studio, a bridge made of glass, and a botanical conservatory with a 12-sided dome made of 3,000 panes of glass.
Tacoma is on the list of the most livable areas in the U.S. by Livability.com. State Farm Insurance, Boeing, and Expedia must have seen the windows of opportunity in the city since they have a presence in Tacoma. If you're interested in looking at jobs in Tacoma, you can also check out the nearby cities of Lakewood, Federal Way, and Puyallup.
Update Your Tacoma Physical Therapy Aide Resume
Whether you’re applying for your first physical therapy aide job or looking for a new employer, it’s important to ensure that your resume is written, properly formatted, and up to date. Start with a brief and compelling career summary that proves your value to potential employers. The rest of your resume should contain a list of skills, employment history, education, and any credentials. Check out our resume samples to see how it’s done.
Don’t forget to send a cover letter when you apply. While it’s not always required, employers are often more interested in applicants who have a cover letter than those who don’t. If you’re not sure what to put in your cover letter, this cover letter checklist can put it into perspective. Plus, Monster has a ton of cover letter samples you can refer to as you write.
How Much Do Physical Therapy Aide Jobs Pay in Tacoma, Washington?
Got money on your mind? You should! Make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Our Salary Tools can help you understand what you can expect to make in physical therapy aide jobs in Tacoma, Washington, as well as the skills that can boost your value and what the next steps in your career might be. Right now, the median physical therapy aide pay in Tacoma is $14.29 per hour, which is 7% higher than the national average.
Find Your Next Tacoma Physical Therapy Aide Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
Are you prepared for a career in physical therapy aide? If so, set up your profile on Monster for free and begin clicking on those physical therapy aide jobs. When you sign up with us, you’ll receive custom job alerts and expert advice on how to negotiate your salary in Tacoma, how to nail your job interview, and more.