How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Chesapeake, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in Chesapeake, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in Chesapeake, North Carolina earns $48.48 per hour, or $100,840 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,403 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $67,650, and the top 10% of earners make over $128,150.
That pay is 1% above the North Carolina figure of $99,910 and 2% below the national figure of $102,760. Chesapeake ranks 6th of 16 metro areas in North Carolina for Physical Therapist pay. About 1,470 Physical Therapists work in the Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk area. Chesapeake is part of the Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Norfolk share these figures.
Physical Therapist pay in Chesapeake at a glance
- Typical pay is $48.48 an hour, or $100,840 a year.
- That is 1% above the North Carolina figure, ranking 6th of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $67,650; the top 10% make over $128,150.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Chesapeake?
Pay in Chesapeake runs from entry-level positions at around $32.53 an hour to more than $61.61 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the North Carolina and national figures.
Physical Therapist pay by career stage in Chesapeake
| Career stage | Chesapeake | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $67,650$32.53 an hour | $78,020$37.51 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $81,530$39.20 an hour | $84,080$40.42 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $100,840$48.48 an hour | $99,910$48.03 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $116,710$56.11 an hour | $110,330$53.04 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $128,150$61.61 an hour | $125,940$60.55 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk area as BLS defines it
How Chesapeake compares with other North Carolina cities
Rocky Mount pays Physical Therapists the most in North Carolina at $103,030 a year, $2,190 more than Chesapeake. The lowest-paying area in the state is Goldsboro at $89,210.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chesapeake | Physical Therapists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rocky Mount | $103,030 | $49.54 | +2% | 80 |
| 2 | Hickory | $101,950 | $49.01 | +1% | 160 |
| 3 | Winston metro incl. Salem | $101,270 | $48.69 | 0% | 510 |
| 4 | Burlington | $101,120 | $48.62 | 0% | 100 |
| 5 | Charlotte | $101,060 | $48.59 | 0% | 1,680 |
| 6 | Chesapeake metro incl. Norfolk | $100,840 | $48.48 | this city | 1,470 |
| 7 | Durham metro incl. Chapel Hill | $100,240 | $48.19 | -1% | 790 |
| 8 | Fayetteville | $100,120 | $48.13 | -1% | 220 |
| 9 | Raleigh metro incl. Cary | $99,900 | $48.03 | -1% | 1,190 |
| 10 | Asheville | $99,480 | $47.83 | -1% | 300 |
| 11 | High Point metro incl. Greensboro | $99,320 | $47.75 | -2% | 540 |
| 12 | Wilmington | $98,770 | $47.49 | -2% | 460 |
| 13 | Greenville | $98,020 | $47.12 | -3% | 190 |
| 14 | Jacksonville | $95,190 | $45.76 | -6% | 80 |
| 15 | Southern Pines metro incl. Pinehurst | $94,400 | $45.39 | -6% | 100 |
| 16 | Goldsboro | $89,210 | $42.89 | -12% | 50 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with Physical Therapist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $99,910
Is Chesapeake a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapist pay in Chesapeake sits close to the national figure: $100,840 a year, 2% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk area, about 1.9 are Physical Therapist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.7. Physical Therapist jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physical Therapist make in Chesapeake, NC?
- A typical Physical Therapist in Chesapeake earns $100,840 a year, or $48.48 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $67,650 and the top 10% earn over $128,150.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in Chesapeake?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in Chesapeake is $48.48. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $32.53, and the top 10% earn over $61.61 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in Chesapeake?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in Chesapeake typically offer around $32.53 an hour, or $67,650 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in Chesapeake higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Chesapeake pay is 1% above the North Carolina figure of $99,910 a year, ranking 6th of 16 metro areas in the state. Rocky Mount pays the most in North Carolina at $103,030.