Physician assistant salary in West Virginia
West Virginia physician assistants earn a median of $128,610 a year ($61.83 an hour), according to BLS data for May 2025. That is 5% below the national median of $135,880, and ranks 42nd of 51 states.
Median, West Virginia
$128,610
Mean $128,830
Middle half earns
$108,960 to $148,160
US: $120,670 to $163,980
Employed in West Virginia
1,080
1.47x the national concentration
Where West Virginia sits in the range
West Virginia
Statewide
United States
National
Washington
Metro area
Huntington
Metro area
Charleston
Metro area
Morgantown
Metro area
Physician assistant pay by percentile
Ten percent of West Virginia physician assistants earned less than $98,200 and ten percent earned more than $160,890, a spread of $62,690. Where you land depends mostly on specialty, setting, experience and how the productivity pay is built, which is why two offers in the same city can be far apart.
| Percentile | West Virginia | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $98,200 | $99,380 | -1.2% |
| 25th | $108,960 | $120,670 | -9.7% |
| Median | $128,610 | $135,880 | -5.4% |
| 75th | $148,160 | $163,980 | -9.6% |
| 90th | $160,890 | $190,280 | -15.4% |
Physician assistant pay by metro area
BLS published PA pay for 10 metro areas that include part of West Virginia. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV has the highest median at $148,200. Metro estimates rest on smaller samples than the statewide figure, so treat a low-precision row as a direction, not a number.
| Metro area | Employed | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3,020 | $148,200 | $129,990 to $174,280 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 210 | $125,690 | $109,490 to $137,180 |
| Charleston, WVmoderate precision | 190 | $126,620 | $110,210 to $149,760 |
| Morgantown, WV | 130 | $128,170 | $108,580 to $135,880 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 120 | $137,220 | $124,190 to $158,520 |
| Beckley, WV | 100 | $131,750 | $104,760 to $144,900 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | 100 | $126,080 | $98,360 to $130,500 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WVmoderate precision | 60 | $125,290 | $109,080 to $136,370 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 50 | $126,770 | $110,370 to $140,600 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 50 | $119,070 | $102,130 to $135,700 |
How PA pay compares with other clinicians in West Virginia
| Occupation | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Physician assistant | $128,610 | $135,880 |
| Nurse practitioner | $127,320 | $132,300 |
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | $278,530 | $236,590 |
| Registered nurse | $80,130 | $97,550 |
The West Virginia PA workforce
BLS counts 1,080 physician assistants on West Virginia payrolls, or 1.53 for every 1,000 jobs in the state, more concentrated than in the country as a whole. The federal NPI registry, which also counts self-employed and part-time clinicians, lists 1,497 physician assistants with a West Virginia practice address, and 75 new PA NPIs there in the past twelve months.
Using these numbers when you negotiate
A state median is a reference point, not a target. If an offer comes in under $108,960, it sits in the bottom quarter of what West Virginia physician assistants earn, and you should know why before you sign: a new-grad rate, a light schedule, or a base kept low because a productivity bonus is supposed to make up the difference. If it is above $148,160, ask what is expected in return, such as call, volume targets or a longer non-compete.
Compare the whole package, not the base: how the bonus is calculated, call pay, CME, PTO and who pays malpractice tail coverage. The negotiation guide and the contract checklist walk through each term.
Questions about PA pay in West Virginia
How much does a PA make in West Virginia?
The median annual wage for physician assistants in West Virginia was $128,610 in May 2025, and the mean was $128,830, per the BLS. The middle half earned between $108,960 and $148,160.
What is the hourly rate for physician assistants in West Virginia?
The median hourly wage was $61.83 and the mean was $61.94. BLS computes hourly figures from annual pay assuming a full-time year, so per-shift or per-diem rates can differ.
Where do PAs earn the most in West Virginia?
Among West Virginia metro areas with published data, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV had the highest median at $148,200, and Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH the lowest at $119,070.
How does West Virginia rank for PA pay?
West Virginia ranks 42nd of 51 states (including DC) by median PA pay, 5% below the national median of $135,880. Pay is only half the picture: compare it with what housing and taxes cost where you would live.
How many physician assistants work in West Virginia?
BLS estimated 1,080 physician assistants employed in West Virginia in May 2025. The federal NPI registry lists 1,497 with a West Virginia practice address.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (bls.gov/oes), SOC 29-1071, all industries and ownerships. NPI counts: NPPES monthly file, August 2026 (CMS, public domain). BLS wages are straight-time pay: they include production bonuses but leave out overtime, shift differentials, non-production bonuses and benefits, and they exclude the self-employed.
Have an offer on the table?
Book a free intro call with Max. Tell him what you are weighing, and he will tell you whether coaching would help, or whether you just need a few answers.