Comprehensive salary data, cost of living, tax rates, and employment information for West Virginia.
Reviewed by Alexander O.M., MBA, BSc Engineering•Updated
West Virginia has the second-lowest median household income in the US at $51,248, and the lowest population-growth rate of any state over the past fifty years — the state has been the only one to have lost population in every decade since 1950. The cost-of-living index of 84 is the lowest in the country, which partially offsets the wage gap in purchasing-power terms. The economy has historically been built on coal, and the decline of that industry since the 1990s is the single largest factor behind the state's demographic trajectory. Natural gas extraction in the Marcellus Shale counties (Doddridge, Harrison, Marshall) has partially offset coal's decline but employs far fewer workers. The healthcare sector — led by WVU Medicine based in Morgantown — is now the largest employer cluster. State income tax has five brackets from 2.36% to 5.12%, with the top rate reduced meaningfully in 2023 reforms. The $8.75/hour minimum wage is slightly above the federal floor. Property taxes are among the lowest in the country. Tourism in the eastern panhandle and along the New River Gorge has grown since the gorge's 2020 national-park designation. Full breakdown follows.
Median Individual
$29,520
per year
Median Household
$51,248
per year
Cost of Living
84
Very Affordable (US avg = 100)
State Income Tax
2.36-5.12%
rate
Salary Overview for West Virginia
The median individual income in West Virginia is $29,520 per year, while the mean (average) individual income is $38,940. The median household income is $51,248.
Cost of Living Adjusted Salary
West Virginia's cost of living index is 84 (national average = 100). This means the median salary of $29,520 in West Virginia has the purchasing power of approximately $35,143 at the national average cost of living. Your dollar goes further in West Virginia than in most states.
Minimum Wage in West Virginia
The current minimum wage in West Virginia is $8.75/hour, which equals approximately $18,200 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week, 52 weeks). See our complete West Virginia minimum wage guide for tipped wages, scheduled increases, and more.
Top Employers in West Virginia
WVU Medicine
Charleston Area Medical
Walmart
Major Industries in West Virginia
Energy
Healthcare
Tourism
Tax Rates in West Virginia
See the full tax breakdown including income tax, sales tax, property tax, and more on our West Virginia tax rates page.
Calculate Your Take-Home Pay
Use our Salary Calculator to convert between hourly, weekly, monthly, and annual pay, and estimate your take-home pay in West Virginia after federal and state taxes.