Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
West Virginia employs 5,910 Life, Physical & Social Science professionals across 23 occupations. Explore salary ranges, top paying jobs, and career opportunities within the Life, Physical & Social Science industry.
The best-compensated occupations within Life, Physical & Social Science in West Virginia, based on median salary data.
Complete breakdown of all occupations in the Life, Physical & Social Science industry in West Virginia, sorted by median salary (highest to lowest). Click any job title for state-specific salary details.
| # | Job Title | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $86,560 | $85,180 | 1,020 | $41/hr |
| 2 | Chemists | $85,560 | $92,500 | 180 | $41/hr |
| 3 | Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $82,690 | $100,220 | 330 | $39/hr |
| 4 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,100 | $84,920 | 250 | $39/hr |
| 5 | Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $81,470 | $79,150 | 320 | $39/hr |
| 6 | Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $80,690 | $83,960 | 40 | $38/hr |
| 7 | Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $77,040 | $90,120 | 920 | $37/hr |
| 8 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $76,060 | $83,010 | 90 | $36/hr |
| 9 | School Psychologists | $75,220 | $76,850 | 250 | $36/hr |
| 10 | Epidemiologists | $70,540 | $69,390 | 100 | $33/hr |
| 11 | Conservation Scientists | $69,910 | $75,350 | 160 | $33/hr |
| 12 | Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $69,350 | $67,590 | 60 | $33/hr |
| 13 | Microbiologists | $68,550 | $70,360 | 40 | $32/hr |
| 14 | Forensic Science Technicians | $63,330 | $62,840 | 110 | $30/hr |
| 15 | Foresters | $62,550 | $63,560 | 100 | $30/hr |
| 16 | Urban and Regional Planners | $61,390 | $67,660 | 160 | $29/hr |
| 17 | Chemical Technicians | $58,750 | $61,190 | 230 | $28/hr |
| 18 | Forest and Conservation Technicians | $54,600 | $57,630 | 100 | $26/hr |
| 19 | Anthropologists and Archeologists | $54,340 | $64,770 | 50 | $26/hr |
| 20 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $52,590 | $53,320 | 750 | $25/hr |
| 21 | Biological Technicians | $51,440 | $57,650 | 100 | $24/hr |
| 22 | Social Science Research Assistants | $51,140 | $63,270 | 550 | $24/hr |
| 23 | Hydrologic Technicians | $48,230 | $54,840 | N/A | $23/hr |
Explore salary data and job opportunities in other industries across West Virginia:
West Virginia has 23 Life, Physical & Social Science occupations with 5,910 total employed workers (2025 BLS data).
The highest-paying Life, Physical & Social Science occupation in West Virginia is Occupational Health and Safety Specialists with a median salary of $86,560/year.
The average median salary across 23 Life, Physical & Social Science occupations in West Virginia is $68,004/year.
Salaries in Life, Physical & Social Science in West Virginia range from $30,330 (entry-level) to $173,900 (senior) across all occupations.
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes organize jobs into groups. Life, Physical & Social Science occupations use SOC prefix 19. Data comes from BLS OEWS.
Data: BLS OEWS 2025. Salary figures represent May 2025 compensation for occupations classified under SOC code 19* in West Virginia. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) reflect the lowest and highest earning 10% of workers. Our Methodology · Data Sources