Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
The highest paying job in West Virginia is Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric, with a median salary of $597,740 per year. Below is the complete ranking of the top 25 careers in WV based on 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025
See how West Virginia compares to other states. Click any state for its top-paying jobs.
Ranked by median annual salary. Click any job to see the full salary breakdown including percentile data and state-by-state comparisons.
| Rank | Occupation | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $597,740 | $522,050 | 120 |
| 2 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | $491,230 | $381,470 | 300 |
| 3 | Radiologists | $471,650 | $390,970 | 360 |
| 4 | Physicians, Pathologists | $400,070 | $295,150 | 50 |
| 5 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $300,810 | $265,520 | 100 |
| 6 | Nurse Anesthetists | $278,530 | $275,100 | 740 |
| 7 | Family Medicine Physicians | $272,680 | $260,430 | 320 |
| 8 | Podiatrists | $207,000 | $187,630 | 50 |
| 9 | Dentists, General | $170,370 | $200,640 | 420 |
| 10 | Pediatricians, General | $158,470 | $164,720 | 140 |
| 11 | Chief Executives | $151,950 | $192,840 | 1,700 |
| 12 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | $149,430 | $154,690 | 420 |
| 13 | Purchasing Managers | $147,220 | $147,100 | 180 |
| 14 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | $139,820 | $141,510 | 1,100 |
| 15 | Natural Sciences Managers | $138,010 | $143,790 | 160 |
| 16 | Sales Engineers | $135,260 | $134,050 | 40 |
| 17 | Pharmacists | $133,430 | $131,300 | 2,260 |
| 18 | Chemical Engineers | $129,210 | $134,630 | 160 |
| 19 | Veterinarians | $128,990 | $127,520 | 390 |
| 20 | Physician Assistants | $128,610 | $128,830 | 1,080 |
| 21 | Nurse Practitioners | $127,320 | $126,780 | 2,550 |
| 22 | Computer Network Architects | $122,520 | $114,450 | 360 |
| 23 | Software Developers | $121,000 | $118,410 | 2,650 |
| 24 | Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $120,170 | $109,080 | 90 |
| 25 | Human Resources Managers | $120,020 | $132,200 | 510 |
The top-paying careers in West Virginia are concentrated in Healthcare Practitioners fields. The #1 job, Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric, pays $533,336 more than the state average of $64,403 per year.
At the 90th percentile, experienced Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric professionals in WV can earn up to $894,940 annually — making it one of the most lucrative career paths in the state.
Among the top 25, the minimum median salary is $120,020, meaning all jobs on this list pay significantly above the national average.
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See how West Virginia's top salaries compare to other states.
Rankings are based on median annual salary from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 estimates. We use median rather than mean salary because it better represents typical earnings and is less affected by outliers.
Only occupations with state-level data published by BLS are included. Some specialized or rare occupations may not have data for every state. For full methodology details, see our Methodology page.