How Much Does a Physician Assistant Make in West Virginia in 2026?

A typical Physician Assistant in West Virginia earns about $61.83 per hour ($128,610 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $10,718 a month and $2,473 a week, both calculated from the annual pay figure. Pay for Physician Assistants varies by city, employer, and years of experience.

That figure sits about 5% below the national typical pay of $135,880 a year, or $65.33 an hour, a gap that often lines up with West Virginia's lower cost of living. The state ranks 42nd out of 51 states and territories for Physician Assistant pay. Around 1,080 Physician Assistants work in West Virginia, a workforce size that keeps the wage data reasonably stable from year to year.

Entry-level positions in West Virginia typically offer around $47.21 an hour, or about $98,200 a year, for Physician Assistants just starting out. Pay in this range is common in the first year or two on the job. As experience builds, pay typically moves toward the state's typical figure of $128,610 within a few years. New graduates in primary care or hospital settings often see the fastest early increases.

Experienced Physician Assistants in West Virginia often earn upwards of $71.23 an hour, and the top 10% of earners make over $160,890 a year. That leaves a spread of $62,690 between entry-level and top pay. Setting, specialty, and city account for most of the difference, with surgical and specialty roles in higher-paying cities like Martinsburg typically outpacing primary care positions in smaller towns.

Physician Assistant pay in West Virginia has risen steadily over the past decade, from $90,210 in 2015 to $128,610 in 2025. That's a gain of $38,400, or 43%, over ten years. The increase has been fairly consistent year over year, with the sharpest jumps coming between 2022 and 2024.

Nationally, typical Physician Assistant pay rose 38% over the same period, so West Virginia's gain has outpaced the national trend. That puts West Virginia's ten-year increase five percentage points ahead of the national pace. Pay has moved up steadily for Physician Assistants entering the field in West Virginia, though past growth doesn't guarantee future increases.

Pay runs highest in Martinsburg, where Physician Assistants typically earn $137,220 a year ($65.97 an hour), about 7% above the state figure. Beckley and Morgantown also pay above the state typical, at $131,750 and $128,170 a year. These figures cover each city's full metro area, not just the city center.

Steubenville pays the least among the state's metro areas, with typical pay at $119,070 a year ($57.25 an hour), a spread of $18,150 between the highest- and lowest-paying cities. Huntington employs the most Physician Assistants of any West Virginia city, at 210, with typical pay of $125,690 a year. Higher pay in cities like Martinsburg often tracks a higher cost of living, so the gap doesn't always translate into more spending power.

West Virginia's neighbors mostly pay more for Physician Assistants. Maryland leads at $137,560 a year, about 7% higher, and Virginia follows at $135,940, about 6% higher. Ohio pays $132,090, a smaller 3% edge, while Pennsylvania is nearly even at $127,070, about 1% lower. Kentucky is the exception, at $120,760, about 6% below West Virginia's typical pay. Physician Assistant licensure can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, which makes these comparisons practical for anyone weighing a move.

Physician Assistants in West Virginia typically earn $128,610 a year, up 43% over the past decade from $90,210 in 2015. Pay runs highest in Martinsburg and lowest in Steubenville, and neighboring states like Maryland and Virginia generally pay more. Anyone considering a move or a new license should check West Virginia's PA licensing board or registry page for current requirements, and review the city-level pages for local pay figures before deciding where to practice.