Careers in West Virginia
West Virginia’s regional price level is below the national average (index 89.497, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).
Unemployment rate: 4% · Labor force participation: 54.3% · 748,664 people employed (2026-07, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).
Highest-Paying Careers
See full list →- 1Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$597,740
- 2Emergency Medicine Physicians$491,230
- 3Radiologists$471,650
- 4Surgeons, All Other$468,210
- 5Physicians, Pathologists$400,070
Largest Occupations
See full list →- 1Registered Nurses23,430 employed
- 2Retail Salespersons19,050 employed
- 3Home Health and Personal Care Aides18,890 employed
- 4Cashiers17,360 employed
- 5Cooks, Fast Food16,490 employed
Highest Concentration
See full list →- 1Roof Bolters, Mining99.77× national avg
- 2Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining46.62× national avg
- 3Extraction Workers, All Other18.70× national avg
- 4Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other17.06× national avg
- 5Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers16.20× national avg
Best Purchasing Power
See full list →cost-of-living adjusted
- 1Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$667,888
- 2Emergency Medicine Physicians$548,879
- 3Radiologists$527,001
- 4Surgeons, All Other$523,157
- 5Physicians, Pathologists$447,021
Strongest Opportunity Score
See full list →- 1Roof Bolters, Mining93.3 / 100
- 2Continuous Mining Machine Operators92.3 / 100
- 3Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers92 / 100
- 4Conveyor Operators and Tenders92 / 100
- 5Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining90.5 / 100
Sources
Wage and employment data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities. Unemployment rate: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Opportunity Score is a Career Atlas USA calculation — see methodology.