State WV
Period May 2025
Price level 89.5
Data updated October 25, 2026

Highest-paying jobs in West Virginia

The highest published median in West Virginia is for orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric, at $597,740 a year. The median for all occupations in the state is $45,300, against $50,980 nationally.

West Virginia · all occupationsMay 2025

Median / yr: $45,300
Mean / yr: $56,470
Price level (U.S.=100): 89.5
Median, price-adjusted: $50,616
Adjusted rank: 42 of 51
Jobs: 701,610

Price-adjusted = median ÷ (BEA 2024 regional price parity ÷ 100). Compare all states.

The 50 best-paid occupations in West Virginia

WV · Src BLS-OEWS · May 2025Top 50 of 618

Top 50 occupations in West Virginia by median annual wage
No.	Occupation	Median in WV	U.S. median	Employed in WV
1	Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric	$597,740	$358,550	120
2	Emergency Medicine Physicians	$491,230	$335,550	300
3	Radiologists	$471,650	$420,860	360
4	Surgeons, All Other	$468,210	$414,010	240
5	Physicians, Pathologists	$400,070	$312,400	50
6	Obstetricians and Gynecologists	$300,810	$292,910	100
7	Nurse Anesthetists	$278,530	$236,590	740
8	Family Medicine Physicians	$272,680	$244,180	320
9	Physicians, All Other	$258,020	$265,930	1,980
10	Dentists, All Other Specialists	$235,370	$224,990	40
11	Podiatrists	$207,000	$160,300	50
12	Dentists, General	$170,370	$170,950	420
13	Pediatricians, General	$158,470	$210,040	140
14	Chief Executives	$151,950	$213,990	1,700
15	Architectural and Engineering Managers	$149,430	$171,270	420
16	Purchasing Managers	$147,220	$148,080	180
17	Computer and Information Systems Managers	$139,820	$175,140	1,100
18	Natural Sciences Managers	$138,010	$167,220	160
19	Sales Engineers	$135,260	$124,900	40
20	Pharmacists	$133,430	$140,910	2,260
21	Chemical Engineers	$129,210	$125,040	160
22	Veterinarians	$128,990	$130,100	390
23	Physician Assistants	$128,610	$135,880	1,080
24	Nurse Practitioners	$127,320	$132,300	2,550
25	Managers, All Other	$124,940	$141,900	3,640
26	Computer Network Architects	$122,520	$134,050	360
27	Software Developers	$121,000	$135,980	2,650
28	Electronics Engineers, Except Computer	$120,170	$130,220	90
29	Human Resources Managers	$120,020	$149,280	510
30	Engineers, All Other	$118,800	$122,930	660
31	Optometrists	$118,010	$136,570	150
32	Electrical Engineers	$113,420	$120,630	500
33	Financial Managers	$113,140	$166,570	2,610
34	Medical and Health Services Managers	$112,010	$123,860	2,080
35	Industrial Production Managers	$111,760	$126,060	1,000
36	Industrial Engineers	$108,360	$102,440	850
37	Computer Occupations, All Other	$107,140	$116,580	3,380
38	Commercial Pilots	$105,950	$123,220	40
39	Business Teachers, Postsecondary	$104,480	$99,080	420
40	Lawyers	$102,420	$159,670	2,440
41	Power Distributors and Dispatchers	$101,960	$106,730	50
42	Artists and Related Workers, All Other	$101,400	$71,240	50
43	Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary	$100,400	$109,270	240
44	Marketing Managers	$98,750	$166,790	300
45	Education Administrators, All Other	$98,450	$95,200	—
46	Physics Teachers, Postsecondary	$98,320	$100,310	50
47	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers	$98,230	$107,230	530
48	Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers	$97,960	$106,220	440
49	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay	$97,600	$103,020	70
50	Management Analysts	$97,470	$101,860	1,740

Dashes mean the employment estimate was not published.

Best-paid occupations with at least 1,000 jobs in West Virginia

Physicians, All Other — $258,020 (1,980 jobs)
Chief Executives — $151,950 (1,700 jobs)
Computer and Information Systems Managers — $139,820 (1,100 jobs)
Pharmacists — $133,430 (2,260 jobs)
Physician Assistants — $128,610 (1,080 jobs)
Nurse Practitioners — $127,320 (2,550 jobs)
Managers, All Other — $124,940 (3,640 jobs)
Software Developers — $121,000 (2,650 jobs)
Financial Managers — $113,140 (2,610 jobs)
Medical and Health Services Managers — $112,010 (2,080 jobs)

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state file.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024.