Physical Therapist salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Physical Therapists in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $100,840 a year ($48.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,150 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $102,760. Pay here is 1% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $101,450. There are 1.9 physical therapists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $101,470, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physical therapists in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,650 | $32.53 |
| 25th percentile | $81,530 | $39.20 |
| Median | $100,840 | $48.48 |
| 75th percentile | $116,710 | $56.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,150 | $61.61 |
| Average (mean) | $101,470 | $48.78 |
Half of physical therapists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,403.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,201.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,878.46 |
| Weekly | $1,939.23 |
| Hourly | $48.48 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $100,840 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Physical Therapist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mount, NC | $103,030 | 80 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $102,980 | 4,540 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $102,840 | 100 |
| Richmond, VA | $102,700 | 1,300 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $102,670 | 220 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $102,450 | 160 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $102,400 | 260 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $101,950 | 160 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $101,750 | 120 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $101,270 | 510 |
| Burlington, NC | $101,120 | 100 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $101,060 | 1,680 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $100,820 | 110 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $100,240 | 790 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $100,120 | 220 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $99,900 | 1,190 |
| Asheville, NC | $99,480 | 300 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $99,320 | 540 |
| Roanoke, VA | $98,770 | 270 |
| Wilmington, NC | $98,770 | 460 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $98,690 | 230 |
| Greenville, NC | $98,020 | 190 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $95,190 | 80 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $94,400 | 100 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $89,210 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for physical therapists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $124,190 |
| Alaska | $115,280 |
| New Jersey | $112,140 |
| Nevada | $111,250 |
| Maryland | $106,890 |
| New Mexico | $106,880 |
| Washington | $105,950 |
| Texas | $105,810 |
| Illinois | $105,250 |
| Connecticut | $104,360 |
See Physical Therapist pay in every state or the Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $89,450 | $43.00 |
| Pharmacist | $136,280 | $65.52 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $124,530 | $59.87 |
| Physicians, All Other | $266,280 | $128.02 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,890 | $47.54 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $97,870 | $47.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $99,400 | $47.79 |
| Physician Assistant | $126,430 | $60.78 |
| Dentists, General | $177,400 | $85.29 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $80,990 | $38.94 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $213,690 | $102.73 |
| Veterinarian | $122,010 | $58.66 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $76,600 | $36.83 |
| Cardiologist | $430,900 | $207.16 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1123. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical therapist make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for physical therapists in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $100,840 a year, or $48.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physical therapists make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of physical therapists in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $128,150 a year. The top 25% earn $116,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for physical therapists in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,650 a year, and a quarter of physical therapists earn $81,530 or less.
How many physical therapists work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 1,470 physical therapists are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.