Physical Therapist.
Virginia Beach.
$88,000
median salary, 2% below the national average
$71,000 to $106,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Physical Therapist in Virginia Beach earns a median of $88,000 in 2026. That is 2% below the national average. The range runs from $71,000 to $106,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Setting drives the biggest pay differences, with home health and travel PT positions paying 15 to 25% above outpatient clinics.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $79,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$57,000
to $70,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$75,000
to $92,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$97,000
to $114,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$110,000
to $136,000
Salary trend
+4% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $22,000 to the total package.
Base
$88,000
Equity
$12,000
Bonus
$8,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $110,000
How Virginia Beach compares
Virginia Beach, VA
$88,000
Cost of living: 2% below average
National Average
$90,000
Virginia Beach is $2,000 below
Physical Therapist salary by city
Salary by role in Virginia Beach
What you should know
The Physical Therapist landscape in Virginia Beach is not what most salary sites will tell you. Virginia Beach anchors the Hampton Roads region with a strong military presence, growing cybersecurity sector, and expanding tech corridor. Naval Station Norfolk drives significant defense contractor employment. The lower cost of living compared to Northern Virginia attracts remote workers and military-to-civilian transitions. Setting drives the biggest pay differences, with home health and travel PT positions paying 15 to 25% above outpatient clinics. Board-certified specialists in areas like orthopedics or neurology earn premiums. Geographic cost of living and state reimbursement rates also create significant variance across markets.
New-graduate PTs start at $70,000 to $80,000 in outpatient settings. With board certification and five years of experience, salaries reach $90,000 to $105,000. Clinical directors and practice owners can earn $110,000 to $130,000 depending on practice size and revenue. In Virginia Beach, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Benefits typically include CEU reimbursement of $1,500 to $3,000, student loan repayment assistance, and health insurance. Travel PTs receive housing stipends and per diems that can add $15,000 to $25,000 in effective annual compensation. And on the tax side: virginia's flat 5.75% state income tax applies. Virginia Beach has no city income tax. The moderate rate combined with lower housing costs than Northern Virginia creates good take home pay. When someone quotes you $88,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage military transition benefits. Hampton Roads employers value candidates with security clearances and military technical experience. The range for Physical Therapists in Virginia Beach runs from $71,000 to $106,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Financial Analyst in Virginia Beach earns $87,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Virginia Beach is Distinguished Engineer at $336,000
Common questions.
Physical Therapist salary in other cities
Other salaries in Virginia Beach
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