How Much Does a Physician Assistant Make in Charleston, WV in 2026?
Typical pay for Physician Assistants 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 Physician Assistant in Charleston, West Virginia earns $60.87 per hour, or $126,620 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $10,552 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $88,160, and the top 10% of earners make over $164,450.
That pay is 2% below the West Virginia figure of $128,610 and 7% below the national figure of $135,880. Charleston ranks 5th of 8 metro areas in West Virginia for Physician Assistant pay. About 190 Physician Assistants work in the Charleston area.
Physician Assistant pay in Charleston at a glance
- Typical pay is $60.87 an hour, or $126,620 a year.
- That is 2% below the West Virginia figure, ranking 5th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $88,160; the top 10% make over $164,450.
- Typical pay rose +44% from 2015 to 2025, against +43% for West Virginia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physician Assistant make in Charleston?
Pay in Charleston runs from entry-level positions at around $42.39 an hour to more than $79.06 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the West Virginia and national figures.
Physician Assistant pay by career stage in Charleston
| Career stage | Charleston | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $88,160$42.39 an hour | $98,200$47.21 an hour | $99,380$47.78 an hour |
| First years | $110,210$52.99 an hour | $108,960$52.38 an hour | $120,670$58.02 an hour |
| Typical Physician Assistant | $126,620$60.87 an hour | $128,610$61.83 an hour | $135,880$65.33 an hour |
| Experienced | $149,760$72.00 an hour | $148,160$71.23 an hour | $163,980$78.84 an hour |
| Top 10% | $164,450$79.06 an hour | $160,890$77.35 an hour | $190,280$91.48 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Charleston area as BLS defines it
Physician Assistant pay growth in Charleston
Typical (median) annual wage for Physician Assistants in the Charleston area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Physician Assistant pay in Charleston was $87,660 a year. By 2025 it had reached $126,620, a change of +44%, compared with +43% for West Virginia over the same years.
How Charleston compares with other West Virginia cities
Martinsburg pays Physician Assistants the most in West Virginia at $137,220 a year, $10,600 more than Charleston. The lowest-paying area in the state is Steubenville at $119,070.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Charleston | Physician Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martinsburg | $137,220 | $65.97 | +8% | 120 |
| 2 | Beckley | $131,750 | $63.34 | +4% | 100 |
| 3 | Morgantown | $128,170 | $61.62 | +1% | 130 |
| 4 | Wheeling | $126,770 | $60.95 | 0% | 50 |
| 5 | Charleston | $126,620 | $60.87 | this city | 190 |
| 6 | Huntington | $125,690 | $60.43 | -1% | 210 |
| 7 | Vienna metro incl. Parkersburg | $125,290 | $60.24 | -1% | 60 |
| 8 | Weirton metro incl. Steubenville | $119,070 | $57.25 | -6% | 50 |
Every metro area in West Virginia with Physician Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · West Virginia typical pay $128,610
Is Charleston a good place to work as a Physician Assistant?
Physician Assistants in Charleston earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $126,620 a year, 7% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Charleston area, about 1.8 are Physician Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.0. That makes the local economy more reliant on Physician Assistants than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physician Assistant make in Charleston, WV?
- A typical Physician Assistant in Charleston earns $126,620 a year, or $60.87 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $88,160 and the top 10% earn over $164,450.
- How much does a Physician Assistant make an hour in Charleston?
- Typical hourly pay for Physician Assistants in Charleston is $60.87. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $42.39, and the top 10% earn over $79.06 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physician Assistant in Charleston?
- Entry-level Physician Assistant positions in Charleston typically offer around $42.39 an hour, or $88,160 a year.
- Is Physician Assistant pay in Charleston higher than in the rest of West Virginia?
- Charleston pay is 2% below the West Virginia figure of $128,610 a year, ranking 5th of 8 metro areas in the state. Martinsburg pays the most in West Virginia at $137,220.