West Virginia Jobs and Wages
Wages, unemployment, minimum wage, benefits, visa filings and federal openings for West Virginia from BLS, the Department of Labor and USAJOBS.
- Median wage
- $45,300 a year
- May 2025
- Unemployment rate
- 4.0%
- Sep 2026
- Minimum wage
- $8.75/hr
- State law
- Average weekly jobless benefit
- $457
- Sep 2026
Highest paying jobs in West Virginia
Occupations with at least 100 jobs
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | 120 | $597,740 | $522,050 |
| 2 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | 300 | $491,230 | $381,470 |
| 3 | Radiologists | 360 | $471,650 | $390,970 |
| 4 | Surgeons, All Other | 240 | $468,210 | $353,810 |
| 5 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 100 | $300,810 | $265,520 |
| 6 | Nurse Anesthetists | 740 | $278,530 | $275,100 |
| 7 | Family Medicine Physicians | 320 | $272,680 | $260,430 |
| 8 | Physicians, All Other | 1,980 | $258,020 | $228,870 |
Most common jobs in West Virginia
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registered Nurses | 23,430 | $80,130 | $86,970 |
| 2 | Retail Salespersons | 19,050 | $28,950 | $31,230 |
| 3 | Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 18,890 | $28,010 | $27,760 |
| 4 | Cashiers | 17,360 | $26,370 | $26,550 |
| 5 | Cooks, Fast Food | 16,490 | $23,120 | $24,720 |
| 6 | General and Operations Managers | 15,300 | $82,500 | $101,610 |
| 7 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 12,520 | $34,510 | $34,580 |
| 8 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 12,190 | $49,480 | $52,440 |
Wages by metro area
Visa filings for jobs in this state
Employer filings with the Department of Labor
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)467 certified, median offer $120,000
- PERM (FY 2026 through Q3)74 certified, median offer $96,755
Top H-1B employers in West Virginia
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| # | Employer | Certified | Median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia University | 122 | $100,630 |
| 2 | West Virginia University Medical Corporation | 84 | $267,055 |
| 3 | Marshall University | 22 | $199,992 |
| 4 | Charleston Area Medical Center, Inc. | 16 | $325,000 |
| 5 | University Physicians & Surgeons, Inc. | 16 | $350,000 |
| 6 | Fayette Physician Network, Inc. | 10 | $345,800 |
| 7 | Form Energy, Inc. | 9 | $135,000 |
| 8 | Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston | 6 | $34,362 |
More West Virginia labor data
- Unemployment by county4.0% statewide
- Jobs by industry717,400 jobs, 0.0% in a year
- Minimum wage$8.75 an hour
- Unemployment benefits$457 a week on average
- Union membership8.5% in 2025
- Federal job openings164 open now
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median wage in West Virginia?
- The median wage for all occupations in West Virginia is $45,300 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
- What is the unemployment rate in West Virginia?
- West Virginia's unemployment rate was 4.0% in Sep 2026 (seasonally adjusted).
- What is the highest paying job in West Virginia?
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric have the highest median wage among occupations with at least 100 jobs in West Virginia: $597,740 a year.