How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Bristol, VA in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in Bristol, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Virginia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kingsport · Bristol metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in Bristol, Virginia earns $47.45 per hour, or $98,690 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,224 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $68,240, and the top 10% of earners make over $122,360.
That pay is 3% below the Virginia figure of $101,450 and 4% below the national figure of $102,760. Bristol ranks 11th of 11 metro areas in Virginia for Physical Therapist pay. About 230 Physical Therapists work in the Kingsport · Bristol area.
Physical Therapist pay in Bristol at a glance
- Typical pay is $47.45 an hour, or $98,690 a year.
- That is 3% below the Virginia figure, ranking 11th of 11 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $68,240; the top 10% make over $122,360.
- Typical pay rose +13% from 2015 to 2025, against +20% for Virginia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Bristol?
Pay in Bristol runs from entry-level positions at around $32.81 an hour to more than $58.83 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Virginia and national figures.
Physical Therapist pay by career stage in Bristol
| Career stage | Bristol | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $68,240$32.81 an hour | $75,720$36.40 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $79,920$38.42 an hour | $84,110$40.44 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $98,690$47.45 an hour | $101,450$48.78 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $114,070$54.84 an hour | $118,670$57.05 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $122,360$58.83 an hour | $132,860$63.88 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kingsport · Bristol area as BLS defines it
Physical Therapist pay growth in Bristol
Typical (median) annual wage for Physical Therapists in the Kingsport · Bristol area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Physical Therapist pay in Bristol was $87,340 a year. By 2025 it had reached $98,690, a change of +13%, compared with +20% for Virginia over the same years.
How Bristol compares with other Virginia cities
Arlington pays Physical Therapists the most in Virginia at $102,980 a year, $4,290 more than Bristol. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bristol at $98,690.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bristol | Physical Therapists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arlington | $102,980 | $49.51 | +4% | 4,540 |
| 2 | Stuarts Draft metro incl. Staunton | $102,840 | $49.44 | +4% | 100 |
| 3 | Richmond | $102,700 | $49.37 | +4% | 1,300 |
| 4 | Winchester | $102,670 | $49.36 | +4% | 220 |
| 5 | Lynchburg | $102,450 | $49.26 | +4% | 160 |
| 6 | Charlottesville | $102,400 | $49.23 | +4% | 260 |
| 7 | Radford metro incl. Blacksburg · Christiansburg | $101,750 | $48.92 | +3% | 120 |
| 8 | Virginia Beach | $100,840 | $48.48 | +2% | 1,470 |
| 9 | Harrisonburg | $100,820 | $48.47 | +2% | 110 |
| 10 | Roanoke | $98,770 | $47.49 | 0% | 270 |
| 11 | Bristol | $98,690 | $47.45 | this city | 230 |
Every metro area in Virginia with Physical Therapist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Virginia typical pay $101,450
Is Bristol a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapist pay in Bristol sits close to the national figure: $98,690 a year, 4% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Kingsport · Bristol 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 Bristol, VA?
- A typical Physical Therapist in Bristol earns $98,690 a year, or $47.45 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $68,240 and the top 10% earn over $122,360.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in Bristol?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in Bristol is $47.45. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $32.81, and the top 10% earn over $58.83 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in Bristol?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in Bristol typically offer around $32.81 an hour, or $68,240 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in Bristol higher than in the rest of Virginia?
- Bristol pay is 3% below the Virginia figure of $101,450 a year, ranking 11th of 11 metro areas in the state. Arlington pays the most in Virginia at $102,980.