What is the average wage in West Virginia?

Data updated January 22, 2025
About $1.0K per week in November 2024, 0.8% higher than a year before. The average weekly wage, the typical earnings that employees bring home for one week of work, is a valuable indicator to assess economic conditions, labor market health, and wage trends. When accounting for the cost of living, West Virginia’s average weekly wage of $1,023 has the purchasing power of $1,140.
Showing data for

$1.0K

average weekly earnings, November 2024

0.8%

higher than a year before (adjusted for inflation)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases monthly statistics tracking the wages of all employees who don’t work for the government. In November 2024, the average weekly wage in West Virginia was $1,023. That represents the wages of 570 thousand private-sector workers in the state.

As of November 2024, average weekly earnings for workers in West Virginia was lower than the US overall.

12-month rolling average of average weekly earnings, adjusted for inflation

As with other averages, most people earn more or less than the average weekly wage. Pay varies based on industry and occupation.

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In West Virginia, workers in the mining and logging sector had the highest average weekly earnings at $1,692 per week, as of September 2024. Leisure and hospitality workers had the lowest average weekly wage at $398.

In West Virginia, mining and logging workers had the highest average weekly wage.

Cost of living, which also varies based on location, impacts how far a person’s earnings can go. Someone earning the weekly average will have more or less purchasing power depending on location. In West Virginia, cost of living is lower than the US overall, and the state’s average weekly wage of $1,023 has purchasing power equal to $1,140.
West Virginia’s average weekly wage is below the national average, ranking 46th among states. When accounting for regional cost of living differences, West Virginia ranks 38th among states.

Accounting for cost of living, West Virginia had an average weekly wage of $1,140 in November 2024.

Average weekly wage, November 2024, adjusted with regional price parity (2023)

Among 9 metro areas at least partially located in West Virginia, the Charleston, WV area has the highest average weekly wage at $1,221, when accounting for the cost of living.

Among West Virginia metro areas, the Charleston, WV area had the highest wages, accounting for cost of living.

Average weekly wage, November 2024, adjusted with regional price parity (2023)

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

  • U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Regional Data

    U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis logo
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics

    Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey

    US Bureau of Labor Statistics logo