Physical Therapists salary in Roanoke, VA
Median pay for physical therapists in Roanoke, VA: $92,890/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $64,260 – $116,940 · about 360 employed locally
Below the typical metro median ($98,205) by −$5,315 (-5%).
What it's really worth in Roanoke
With Roanoke's cost of living at 91 (US=100), that $92,890 has the buying power of about $101,847 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $65,687 · median home $301,139 · median rent $1,403/mo.
How Roanoke ranks for this job
On raw pay, Roanoke, VA is 152nd of the 186 metros we hold physical therapists wages for. Once Roanoke's cost of living is applied, it ranks 102nd.
Pay here goes further than the headline number suggests — Roanoke is one of the places where physical therapists gain ground in real terms, because local costs are low relative to what the job pays.
What that salary buys in Roanoke
A median home in Roanoke, VA costs $301,139 — about 3.2× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is more attainable here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,403/mo works out at 18% of gross pay — inside the conventional 30% affordability ceiling.
Where physical therapists earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Roanoke.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Roanoke | Rent vs Roanoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa, CA | $132,870 | +43% | 1.9× |
| San Jose, CA | $131,930 | +42% | 2.6× |
| Sacramento, CA | $131,760 | +42% | 1.6× |
| San Francisco, CA | $131,050 | +41% | 2.3× |
Same job elsewhere in VA
| Metro | Median pay | vs Roanoke | Rent vs Roanoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | $95,720 | +3% | 1.3× |
| Lynchburg, VA | $94,560 | +2% | 0.9× |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $90,840 | −2% | 1.3× |
Staying in VA keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires physical therapists around Roanoke
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Carilion Clinic · Healthcare
- Roanoke City Schools · Education
- HCA Virginia Health Systems · Healthcare
Other jobs in Roanoke
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 186 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.