How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in West Virginia in 2026?

A typical Physical Therapist in West Virginia earns about $46.44 per hour ($96,600 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $8,050 a month and about $1,858 a week. That figure sits in the middle of the range Physical Therapists across the state actually earn, from newer clinicians to those with years of experience.

That figure runs about 6% below the national typical figure of $102,760 a year ($49.40 an hour), according to the same May 2025 data. West Virginia ranks 48th out of 51 states and territories for Physical Therapist pay. About 1,310 Physical Therapists work across the state, a workforce large enough to support typical pay figures at the state and city level.

Entry-level Physical Therapists in West Virginia typically start around $35.16 an hour, or about $73,130 a year. Some new graduates earn closer to $37.43 an hour ($77,860 a year) once they gain a bit of initial experience. Pay generally moves toward the state typical figure of $96,600 within the first several years of practice.

Experienced Physical Therapists in West Virginia often earn upwards of $52.60 an hour ($109,410 a year), and the top 10% of earners make over $60.76 an hour ($126,380 a year). That puts about $53,250 between the lowest- and highest-paid Physical Therapists in the state. Setting, years of experience, and city all factor into where an individual clinician lands within that range.

West Virginia's typical Physical Therapist pay rose from $78,210 in 2015 to $96,600 in 2025, according to a decade of government wage data. That's a gain of $18,390, or 24%, over ten years. Pay didn't move in a straight line; it climbed steadily through the late 2010s, peaked near $101,210 in 2024, then eased slightly in 2025.

Nationally, Physical Therapist pay rose 22% over the same ten years, so West Virginia's gain kept pace with the broader trend. For someone starting a career in the state now, that history shows pay has moved up over time. It offers no guarantee of future increases, but it reflects a decade of steady growth for the profession in West Virginia.

Charleston pays Physical Therapists the most in West Virginia, with typical pay of $103,760 a year, about 7% above the state figure. Wheeling and Martinsburg follow closely, at $100,920 and $100,620 a year. These figures cover each city's full metro area, not just the city center.

Steubenville pays the least among West Virginia's ranked cities, at $94,550 a year, putting $9,210 between the highest- and lowest-paying metro areas. Huntington employs the most Physical Therapists of any city in the state, about 300, with typical pay of $98,220 a year. Pay differences between cities generally track local living costs rather than anything else.

West Virginia's neighbors generally pay Physical Therapists more. Maryland leads at $106,890 a year, 11% above West Virginia's figure, and Ohio follows at $103,050, about 7% higher. Virginia and Pennsylvania both pay around 5% more, near $101,400. Kentucky runs closest, about 4% higher at $100,710. Physical Therapist licensure can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, which can widen options for clinicians near the border.

Physical Therapist pay in West Virginia typically runs about $96,600 a year, up 24% over the past decade and still below the national figure. For specific licensing requirements, the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy's registry page has current rules for practicing in the state. Readers weighing a move within West Virginia can compare city-level pay in Charleston, Huntington, and other metro areas to see how figures shift locally.