Physical Therapists in Virginia. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Virginia's median wage for Physical Therapists was $100,710 in 2024, about 1.8% below the national median of $102,556. That gap is narrow. For most practical purposes, Virginia sits at the national average for this occupation.
The spread between the lowest and highest earners is worth paying attention to. Physical Therapists at the 10th percentile earned $75,830, while those at the 90th earned $129,440. Top earners made roughly 1.7 times what those starting out did. That kind of range usually reflects differences in work setting, years of experience, and specialization. Outpatient orthopedics, pediatrics, and home health tend to pay differently from hospital or acute care positions.
Virginia's cost of living sits just above the national baseline, with a regional price index of 102.3. That means the $100,710 median translates to purchasing power close to what the same dollar figure would get in an average US state. There is no meaningful real-wage discount or premium here. The headline number is close to what it looks like.
BLS projects employment for Physical Therapists to grow 10.9% between 2024 and 2034, a rate BLS classifies as faster than average. Virginia had roughly 6,700 Physical Therapists employed in 2024, so even a modest growth rate adds a meaningful number of positions over a decade.
Salary distribution
Where Virginia physical therapists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $84,110 and $118,670, with a median of $101,450.
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Physical Therapists pay by experience level in Virginia
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Virginia over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
- 02
Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
- 03
Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
- 04
Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
- 05
Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
- 06
Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
- 07
Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
- 08
Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+10.9%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Virginia
Metro-level salary data for physical therapists in major Virginia metropolitan areas.
- Richmond$102,700
- Virginia Beach$100,840
Compare Physical Therapists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Virginia with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Physical Therapists in Virginia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Physical Therapists in Virginia is $101,450.
- How does Virginia compare to the national median for Physical Therapists?
- The Virginia median is -2.9% versus the BLS national figure of $104,506.
- What is the salary range for Physical Therapists in Virginia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $75,720 and the 90th-percentile at $132,860, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Physical Therapists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 10.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Physical Therapists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.