VA · Portsmouth · Updated October 15, 2026

Physical Therapist jobs in Portsmouth, VA

Physical Therapists in the Portsmouth area earn a median of $47.83 per hour, about $99,490 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $38.29 and $54.42. That ranks 187th of 375 U.S. metro areas for physical therapist pay, and 224th of 338 once local prices are factored in. 14 open roles with published pay are listed for Portsmouth and its metro area. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Portsmouth.

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Open Physical Therapist roles near Portsmouth

Roles in other cities of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk area.

More open Physical Therapist roles in Portsmouth

3 more open roles from employers in Portsmouth. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

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Named employers near Portsmouth, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Who is hiring physical therapists near Portsmouth

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
Sentara Healthcare12$60.70
Select Medical1$44.47
Enhabit Home Health1$52.88

Physical Therapist pay in Portsmouth, VA

The metro median is 1% below the Virginia statewide median of $48.42 per hour. Nationally the median is $48.57 per hour. BLS counts about 1,170 physical therapists employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area, 1.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.96).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$35.62$74,09027% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$38.29$79,64021% below U.S. median
Median$47.83$99,4902% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$54.42$113,19012% above U.S. median
Top 10%$61.28$127,46026% above U.S. median

How Portsmouth ranks

  • 187th of 375 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 224th of 338 after adjusting for local prices
  • 5th of 8 Virginia metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Physical Therapists (SOC 29-1123), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Portsmouth

  • Overall prices in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk run 2% below the U.S. average (index 97.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: in line with the U.S. average (index 99.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $47.83 median hour buys what $48.84 buys at the national price level, 1% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Portsmouth paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,722
  • Per year: $86,094
  • Per month: $7,174

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Portsmouth

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$110
Meals and incidentals per day$68
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,246
13-week assignment$16,198

Travel physical therapist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in Portsmouth

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Portsmouth, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physical therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center
Portsmouth, VA		Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Nmc Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA		Acute Care - Department of DefenseGovernment and federalNot ratedYes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Physical Therapist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Norfolk, VA8 mi$47.83/hr231,105
Chesapeake, VA13 mi$47.83/hr254,997
Richmond, VA77 mi$48.55/hr233,655
Rocky Mount, NC101 mi$48.74/hr54,541
Greenville, NC104 mi$46.16/hr95,138
Wake Forest, NC135 mi$45.12/hr56,764

Physical Therapist jobs in Virginia · Physical Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Virginia

DPT degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Virginia requires for your role with the Virginia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Virginia taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Virginia state guide

Other healthcare roles in Portsmouth

Portsmouth city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physical therapists make in Portsmouth, VA?

Physical Therapists in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area have a median pay of $47.83 per hour, about $99,490 a year. The middle half earn between $38.29 and $54.42 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Portsmouth a good place for physical therapists once cost of living is counted?

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk ranks 224th of 338 metro areas for physical therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 187th of 375 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring physical therapists in Portsmouth?

We list 14 open roles with published pay from 3 employers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Portsmouth.

Do I need a Virginia license to work in Portsmouth as a physical therapist?

DPT degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Virginia requires for your role with the Virginia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Portsmouth?

The federal per diem benchmark in Portsmouth is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place physical therapists in Portsmouth?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Portsmouth and across Virginia. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Portsmouth.

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What do employers near Portsmouth pay physical therapists? Get the report.

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

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    What they are offering now

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · PT near Portsmouth, VA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your PT pay reportPortsmouth, VA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • AmedisysWise, VA · 5 postings$61.30/ hr$50–$70
  • Sentara HealthcareVirginia Beach, VA · 24 postings$60.70/ hr$32–$72
  • Riverside Health SystemSanders, VA · 3 postings$54.77/ hr$46–$63
  • Mary Washington HealthcareMWHC Corporate, VA · 3 postings$53.00/ hr$43–$65

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$38Median$54.53High$72

67 PT postings with published pay in Virginia, 62 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 67 PT roles

  1. Physical Therapist- Home CarePermanent
    $39.00–$62.40/ hour
    Carilion Clinic · Roanoke, VA · posted today
  2. Physical Therapist - Acute Care AdultPermanent
    $69k–$106k/ year
    VCU Health System · Richmond, VA · posted today

+ 65 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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