Average and median wage in West Virginia
Half of the 701,610 workers in West Virginia earn less than $45,300 a year, the median wage, while the average pay is $56,470, or $27.15 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% make $26,070 or less and the top 10% $98,220 or more. The average is 19% less than the U.S. average ($69,770) and the median 11% less than the U.S. median ($50,980).
- $26K10th
- $32K25th
- $45KMedian
- $65K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | West Virginia per year | Per hour* | U.S. per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,470 | $27.15 | $69,770 |
| Median | $45,300 | $21.78 | $50,980 |
| 10th percentile | $26,070 | $12.53 | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile | $31,530 | $15.16 | $37,590 |
| 75th percentile | $64,940 | $31.22 | $80,520 |
| 90th percentile | $98,220 | $47.22 | $128,560 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Statewide figures include every employer in the state, metro and rural. Median vs. average salary · reading percentiles.
Average salary by city in West Virginia
- Morgantown$61,310
- Charleston$58,170
- Huntington$56,110
- Weirton$55,160
- Wheeling$54,910
- Parkersburg$54,630
- Beckley$52,300
Map of West Virginia metro areas
Loading map…
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Salary, take-home pay and cost of living by city
| City | Average | Median | Take-home* | Cost of living | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown | $61,310 | $47,350 | $49,521 | 93 | $226,953 |
| Charleston | $58,170 | $45,830 | $47,130 | 89 | $148,817 |
| Huntington | $56,110 | $44,600 | $45,562 | 88 | $166,506 |
| Weirton | $55,160 | $45,840 | $44,839 | 89 | $135,893 |
| Wheeling | $54,910 | $44,250 | $44,649 | 88 | $141,852 |
| Parkersburg | $54,630 | $42,000 | $44,436 | 87 | $171,206 |
| Beckley | $52,300 | $41,850 | $42,662 | 88 | $149,420 |
*Average salary after federal and state income tax and payroll taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Highest-paying jobs in West Virginia
- Surgeons, All Other · Charleston$531,340
- Radiologists · Huntington$492,850
- Emergency Medicine Physicians · Huntington$464,820
- Surgeons, All Other · Huntington$451,760
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric · Morgantown$350,510
- Radiologists · Charleston$334,680
- Physicians, All Other · Wheeling$331,690
- General Internal Medicine Physicians · Huntington$327,030
- Family Medicine Physicians · Charleston$325,720
- Physicians, All Other · Beckley$300,990
Most common jobs in West Virginia
| Job | Jobs statewide | Average | Median | Highest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 23,430 | $86,970 | $80,130 | $90,340 |
| Retail Salespersons | 19,050 | $31,230 | $28,950 | $31,770 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 18,890 | $27,760 | $28,010 | $30,820 |
| Cashiers | 17,360 | $26,550 | $26,370 | $27,220 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 16,490 | $24,720 | $23,120 | $25,320 |
| General and Operations Managers | 15,300 | $101,610 | $82,500 | $104,370 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 12,520 | $34,580 | $34,510 | $43,950 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 12,190 | $52,440 | $49,480 | $56,390 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 11,300 | $38,490 | $36,990 | $41,320 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 9,860 | $42,430 | $38,430 | $42,180 |
Jobs, average and median: BLS statewide estimates. Highest city average: best-paid metro area we cover in the state.
Average salary by job family in West Virginia
West Virginia income tax and take-home pay
Take-home figures on these pages apply West Virginia's 2026 income tax rules for a single filer with the standard deduction, plus federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security and Medicare.
West Virginia at a glance
Average salary in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Salary in West Virginia: questions
What is the average salary in West Virginia?
$56,470 a year across all jobs, according to BLS statewide estimates (OEWS, May 2025). That is 19% less than the U.S. average ($69,770).
What is the median salary in West Virginia?
$45,300 a year: half of West Virginia workers earn more and half earn less. The median is lower than the average because a minority of high earners lifts the average.
What is the average hourly wage in West Virginia?
$27.15 an hour on average, and $21.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
Which city in West Virginia pays the most?
Morgantown, with an average of $61,310 a year among the metro areas we cover.
Is West Virginia expensive to live in?
BEA puts West Virginia prices 11% below the U.S. average (price parity 89.5). Within the state, Morgantown 93, Weirton 89, Charleston 89 are the most expensive metros.
Sources and how to read this page
- Statewide figures: BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025, all occupations and every employer in the state (metro and rural areas).
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. City figures: the metro areas we cover in West Virginia.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property crimes reported by agencies statewide, latest 12 months available.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.