Physician Assistant Hourly Pay in Beckley, WV: $65.44 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a physician assistant working in Beckley, WV runs $65.44 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $136,124 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Weighted against Beckley's regional price level (BEA RPP 88.4, 12% below national), each hour of work buys what $74.06 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $81,673 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Physician assistants in Beckley, West Virginia, earn a median hourly rate of $65.44, slightly below the national median of $67.50. This competitive rate makes positions in Beckley attractive, especially for those seeking part-time or per-diem work. With entry-level positions offering about $52.03 per hour and experienced practitioners earning up to $76.80, there's a significant wage range reflective of experience and specialty. The typical settings for these professionals include operating rooms, hospital floors, emergency departments, ambulatory clinics, urgent care facilities, and procedure suites. This official BLS hourly data suggests that those working on a part-time basis, for example three days a week, can achieve commendable earnings while still allowing for a work-life balance.
Physician Assistant Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $52.03 | $416.26 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $52.03 | $416.26 |
| Median (P50) | $65.44 | $523.54 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $71.97 | $575.78 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $76.80 | $614.38 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Beckley
Based on $65.44/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $65.44/hr, a physician assistant working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Beckley, WV can expect to earn approximately $136,121 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $78,531. With a cost-of-living index of 88.37 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Beckley.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Beckley
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,617.72 | $11,343 | $136,121 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,570.63 | $6,806 | $81,673 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,047.09 | $4,537 | $54,448 |
Compare PA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Physician Assistant (Beckley) | $65.44 |
| Nurse Practitioner (National Avg) | $63.20 |
| Registered Nurse (National Avg) | $42.80 |
| Family Medicine Physician (National Avg) | $116.45 |
| Physical Therapist (National Avg) | $48.18 |
Physician Assistants in Beckley, WV earn a median of $136,124 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.04% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 4.10% above the West Virginia state average of $130,763.
Physician Assistant Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $65.44/hr = $81,673/year (purchasing power: $92,422).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $136,121/year (purchasing power: $154,037).
CoL index: 88.369 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$44.72/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$63.34/hr
2026 Current Est.
$65.44/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+51.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Beckley (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $44.72/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $51.23/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $58.88/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $49.13/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $57.86/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $60.16/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $63.34/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $65.44/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $67.62/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for physician assistants in Beckley grew 41.6% from $44.72/hr (2019) to $63.34/hr (2025). At a 3.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $67.62/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem physician assistants can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Beckley metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.32% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Physician Assistant in Beckley
Part-time physician assistants clocking in at around 24 hours weekly could expect to earn approximately $81,000 annually, demonstrating the solid earning potential, even without full-time hours. Per diem and locum tenens work represents an even more lucrative opportunity, with compensation ranging from $75 to $130 per hour based on specialty, and orthopedic surgical PAs can command up to $1,800 for a single day of coverage. This variability in pay often reflects the type of employer; positions in hospital systems may offer W-2 status with benefits, while specialty practices and urgent care centers might provide higher hourly wages without additional perks. The decision between lower hourly rates with benefits versus higher rates as a 1099 contractor depends heavily on personal circumstances. When negotiating hourly pay, PAs should consider factors such as work schedule flexibility, benefits availability, and local market demand for specific specialties in Beckley, ensuring they secure a compensation package that aligns with their professional goals.
More salary data for Beckley, WV:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for physician assistants in Beckley in 2026?
How much do part-time physician assistants make in Beckley?
Are physician assistants in Beckley paid hourly or salary?
How much does a full-time physician assistant make per year in Beckley?
Do physician assistants earn more per hour working part-time in Beckley?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in West Virginia
Written by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C
Career Analyst
Jessica has 10 years of experience as a physician assistant. Her specialty is cardiology in an outpatient setting.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for physician assistants in Beckley. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.32%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physician assistants (SOC 29-1071).
Compiled and verified by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C, a licensed physician assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov