How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Charleston, WV in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in Charleston, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across West Virginia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Charleston metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in Charleston, West Virginia earns $49.89 per hour, or $103,760 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,647 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $75,180, and the top 10% of earners make over $139,050.
That pay is 7% above the West Virginia figure of $96,600 and 1% above the national figure of $102,760. Charleston ranks 1st of 8 metro areas in West Virginia for Physical Therapist pay. About 140 Physical Therapists work in the Charleston area.
Physical Therapist pay in Charleston at a glance
- Typical pay is $49.89 an hour, or $103,760 a year.
- That is 7% above the West Virginia figure, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $75,180; the top 10% make over $139,050.
- Typical pay rose +25% from 2015 to 2025, against +24% for West Virginia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Charleston?
Pay in Charleston runs from entry-level positions at around $36.14 an hour to more than $66.85 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the West Virginia and national figures.
Physical Therapist pay by career stage in Charleston
| Career stage | Charleston | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $75,180$36.14 an hour | $73,130$35.16 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $83,830$40.30 an hour | $77,860$37.43 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $103,760$49.89 an hour | $96,600$46.44 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $119,880$57.64 an hour | $109,410$52.60 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $139,050$66.85 an hour | $126,380$60.76 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Charleston area as BLS defines it
Physical Therapist pay growth in Charleston
Typical (median) annual wage for Physical Therapists in the Charleston area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Physical Therapist pay in Charleston was $83,050 a year. By 2025 it had reached $103,760, a change of +25%, compared with +24% for West Virginia over the same years.
How Charleston compares with other West Virginia cities
Charleston pays Physical Therapists the most of any metro area in West Virginia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Steubenville at $94,550.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Charleston | Physical Therapists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | $103,760 | $49.89 | this city | 140 |
| 2 | Wheeling | $100,920 | $48.52 | -3% | 120 |
| 3 | Martinsburg | $100,620 | $48.38 | -3% | 180 |
| 4 | Huntington | $98,220 | $47.22 | -5% | 300 |
| 5 | Vienna metro incl. Parkersburg | $96,170 | $46.23 | -7% | 90 |
| 6 | Morgantown | $96,010 | $46.16 | -7% | 210 |
| 7 | Beckley | $95,970 | $46.14 | -8% | 80 |
| 8 | Weirton metro incl. Steubenville | $94,550 | $45.46 | -9% | 90 |
Every metro area in West Virginia with Physical Therapist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · West Virginia typical pay $96,600
Is Charleston a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapist pay in Charleston sits close to the national figure: $103,760 a year, 1% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Charleston area, about 1.4 are Physical Therapist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.7. That makes Physical Therapists a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physical Therapist make in Charleston, WV?
- A typical Physical Therapist in Charleston earns $103,760 a year, or $49.89 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $75,180 and the top 10% earn over $139,050.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in Charleston?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in Charleston is $49.89. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $36.14, and the top 10% earn over $66.85 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in Charleston?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in Charleston typically offer around $36.14 an hour, or $75,180 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in Charleston higher than in the rest of West Virginia?
- Charleston pay is 7% above the West Virginia figure of $96,600 a year, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.