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Physical therapist assistant salary in Virginia
- $54,170lowest 10% earn less
- $60,81025th percentile
- $73,760median
- $80,40075th percentile
- $93,600top 10% earn more
The median pay for physical therapist assistants in Virginia was $73,760 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $5,380 higher than the US median[6].
How much do physical therapist assistants make in Virginia?
The median is the middle point. Half of physical therapist assistants in Virginia earned more than $73,760 a year, or $35.46 an hour, and half earned less[1]. The average was $72,710[7]. Across the US the median was $68,380, so Virginia sat $5,380 (7.9%) higher[3][6]. Virginia held the 10th spot out of the 50 states and DC for median pay in this job[5]. Compared with all jobs in the state, the median for this job was $18,070 higher than the $55,690 all-jobs median[8][9].
At the low end, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $54,170[2]. At the high end, the top-paid 10% earned more than $93,600[2]. The middle half of workers fell between $60,810 and $80,400[2].
Pay also changes by place inside the state. Among the 10 metro areas with a published median, Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA had the highest median at $79,590[10]. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV came in at $78,790 and Lynchburg, VA at $75,420[11]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed, and it does not include bonuses outside regular production pay or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].
Virginia vs US pay
Pay for physical therapist assistants in Virginia next to the national figures[1][3].
Pay by metro area in Virginia
Metro areas in Virginia with the most jobs for physical therapist assistants, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.
| Metro area | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV[11] | $78,790 | 1,340 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $73,300 | 790 |
| Richmond, VA | $73,640 | 560 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $62,620 | 160 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $75,420 | 150 |
| Roanoke, VA | $67,140 | 130 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $74,010 | 80 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $73,570 | 60 |
Pay in nearby states
Median pay for physical therapist assistants in the states that border Virginia, highest first[14].
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland[14] | $77,670 | 1,430 |
| North Carolina | $67,540 | 3,280 |
| District of Columbia | $63,400 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $62,500 | 3,390 |
| Kentucky | $61,480 | 2,580 |
| West Virginia | $60,430 | 980 |
Job outlook and training
Across the US, jobs for physical therapist assistants are projected to grow 23% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[16].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a physical therapist assistant make in Virginia?
- The median was $73,760 a year in May 2025, and the average was $72,710[1][7]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $54,170 and the top-paid 10% earned more than $93,600[2].
- How much does a physical therapist assistant make an hour in Virginia?
- The median hourly wage was $35.46[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $26.04 an hour, and the top-paid 10% earned more than $45.00[2][17].
- Which city in Virginia pays physical therapist assistants the most?
- Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA had the highest median among the 10 metro areas with a published figure, at $79,590[10]. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV had a median of $78,790[11].
- Is Virginia a good state for physical therapist assistants?
- Virginia had the 10th highest median annual wage for this job out of the 50 states and DC[5]. Its median was 7.9% higher than the US median and $18,070 higher than the all-jobs median in the state[6][9].
- What do you need to become a physical therapist assistant in Virginia?
- Across the US, the typical entry path is an associate's degree, with no related work experience and no on-the-job training[16]. This is a US figure, not one for Virginia.
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Virginia was $73,760 per year and $35.46 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Assistants in Virginia: 10th percentile $54,170, 25th percentile $60,810, 75th percentile $80,400, 90th percentile $93,600. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in the US as a whole was $68,380 per year and $32.88 per hour, with about 112,430 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 3,370 people worked as Physical Therapist Assistants in Virginia (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: Virginia had the 10th highest median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Virginia ($73,760) was $5,380 (7.9%) higher than the US median ($68,380). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Virginia was $72,710 per year and $34.96 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Virginia was $55,690. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Virginia was $18,070 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($55,690). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 10 metro areas in or partly in Virginia with a published median for Physical Therapist Assistants, Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA had the highest median annual wage, $79,590. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Assistants in the US: 10th percentile $47,750, 25th percentile $59,820, 75th percentile $78,680, 90th percentile $89,510. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in states that border Virginia (highest first): Maryland $77,670; North Carolina $67,540; District of Columbia $63,400; Tennessee $62,500; Kentucky $61,480; West Virginia $60,430. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Physical Therapist Assistants is projected to grow 23% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 18,500 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Physical Therapist Assistants: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Assistants in Virginia: 10th percentile $26.04, 25th percentile $29.24, 75th percentile $38.65, 90th percentile $45.00. BLS OEWS, May 2025