A piston actuator (10) includes a housing (12) having a hollow interior (12a) for enclosing a piston (14) defined by a head (14a) and a rod (14b). The piston (14) can reciprocate between first and second end limits of travel within the housing (12) and separates the housing (12) into first and second expandable fluid chambers (16a, 16b). The housing (12) has a rod-end opening (12b) at one end and a head-end opening (12c) at an opposite end. The piston (14) can include a longitudinally extending aperture (14c) formed therein with an open end (14d) facing the head-end opening (12c) of the housing (12). A magnet (18) can be supported by the piston (14) adjacent to the open end (14d) of the longitudinally extending aperture (14c) in the piston (14). A position sensor (20) can be supported by the housing (12) within the longitudinally extending aperture (14c) in the piston (14) adjacent to the magnet (18) for sensing the position of the piston (14) during movement between the first and second end limits of travel within the housing (12).