Per-visit rates for home health PTAs in El Paso
The standard per-visit rate for home health Physical Therapist Assistants in El Paso ranges from $45 to $50 per visit. This is the rate paid to 1099 contractor PTAs at Transmountain Therapy and is consistent with the broader El Paso home health market. Rates within the range depend on:
- Experience level — new grads start at the lower end; experienced PTAs with 3+ years of home health experience are at the higher end
- Partner agency — different agencies pay slightly different rates; the rate per visit is locked in during onboarding
- Visit complexity — some visit types may carry small rate adjustments
Unlike W2 employee PTA positions paid on an annual salary or hourly wage, 1099 PRN PTAs are paid only for visits completed. This generally results in higher effective hourly earnings because there is no unpaid time clocked at the clinic between patients.
Weekly earnings: light PRN to full-time PRN
One advantage of home health PRN is that PTAs choose their own weekly visit volume. Three common scenarios:
| Schedule | Visits / week | Weekly earnings (pre-tax) |
|---|---|---|
| Light PRN (side caseload around a clinic job) | 1–2 visits | $45–$100 |
| Part-time PRN | 5–10 visits | $225–$500 |
| Moderate full-time PRN | 15–20 visits | $675–$1,000 |
| Full-time PRN (most common) | 20–30 visits | $900–$1,500 |
| High-volume PRN | 30–40 visits | $1,350–$2,000 |
Most full-time PRN PTAs at Transmountain Therapy operate in the 20–30 visits per week range, which puts them in the $900–$1,500 per week earnings band before taxes.
Annual earnings for full-time PRN PTAs
Annual income depends primarily on visit volume and weeks worked (PRN contractors set their own time off). Estimated annual ranges:
| Visits / week | Weeks / year | Annual earnings (pre-tax) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 50 | $22,500–$25,000 |
| 15 | 50 | $33,750–$37,500 |
| 20 | 50 | $45,000–$50,000 |
| 25 | 50 | $56,250–$62,500 |
| 30 | 50 | $67,500–$75,000 |
| 35 | 50 | $78,750–$87,500 |
For most full-time PRN PTAs in El Paso, annual earnings land between $45,000 and $75,000 at the standard $45–$50 per-visit rate.
Note on taxes: These are pre-tax 1099 contractor earnings. A 1099 PTA is responsible for self-employment tax (approximately 15.3% combined for Social Security and Medicare) plus federal income tax. Working with an accountant or using software like QuickBooks Self-Employed is strongly recommended. Most business expenses — mileage between visits, professional licenses, BLS/CPR renewal, malpractice insurance, continuing education — are tax-deductible.
Home health PRN vs. W2 outpatient PTA jobs in El Paso
How does home health 1099 PRN compare to a traditional W2 outpatient clinic PTA position?
| Comparison | Home Health 1099 PRN | Outpatient W2 (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Pay structure | $45–$50 per visit | $25–$32 per hour |
| Annual range | $45K–$75K+ | $52K–$65K (40 hr/wk) |
| Schedule control | Full — pick your days, zones, volume | Fixed clinic hours, employer-set |
| Health insurance | Self-arranged (Marketplace, spouse, etc.) | Employer-subsidized |
| PTO / paid sick days | None — unpaid time off | Usually 2–4 weeks PTO + sick |
| Retirement | Self-funded (SEP-IRA, Solo 401k) | Usually 401(k) with employer match |
| Taxes | Self-paid quarterly (~15.3% SE tax + income tax) | Withheld by employer |
| Mileage | Pays you to drive (deductible miles) | No mileage (commute is not deductible) |
The home health 1099 model trades benefits and predictability for higher per-visit pay and total schedule control. For PTAs who can self-manage taxes and arrange their own insurance, the after-tax take-home is typically higher than outpatient W2 work — especially for PTAs who don't need full-time hours.
How El Paso PTA pay compares to other Texas markets
Per-visit rates for home health PTAs vary modestly across Texas markets:
- El Paso: $45–$50 per visit
- San Antonio: $48–$55 per visit
- Austin: $50–$60 per visit
- Dallas / Fort Worth: $50–$60 per visit
- Houston: $50–$60 per visit
While major metros pay slightly more per visit, cost of living is significantly higher. Median home price in Austin is roughly 2.5x El Paso's. Adjusted for cost of living, El Paso PTAs typically have higher real earnings than peers in larger Texas metros.
What's NOT in the per-visit rate
The $45–$50 per-visit figure covers the visit itself. Other compensation considerations:
- Mileage: Varies by partner agency. Some agencies reimburse, some don't. Either way, business mileage is fully tax-deductible (IRS standard mileage rate, $0.67/mile in 2024).
- Documentation time: Charting is generally not paid separately — it's included in the per-visit rate. Most PTAs document in the EMR (WellSky, HCHB) on their phone or laptop between visits.
- Drive time between visits: Not paid separately. Routing zones efficiently is how PTAs maximize hourly earnings.
- Continuing education: Self-funded but tax-deductible.
- Malpractice / professional liability insurance: Self-funded, ~$200–$300/year.
How to start earning as a home health PTA in El Paso
To start working as a home health PTA in El Paso with Transmountain Therapy:
- Submit a 2-minute application at transmountaintherapy.com/pta-jobs-el-paso/
- Owner reaches out within 1 business day to schedule a 15-minute intro call
- Credentialing review — active Texas PTA license, BLS/CPR, auto insurance, immunization records
- First patient visit — typically 3–7 business days from application for PTAs with all documents in order
New grad PTAs are welcome. Transmountain pairs newer clinicians with experienced PTAs during ramp-up and provides direct clinician-to-clinician support from the owner.