Fastest growing jobs in West Virginia, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in West Virginia. Percent growth favours small occupations, so the openings column is often the more useful number — a fast-growing job with few openings is harder to enter than a flat one with many.

State projections are produced by West Virginia's own workforce agency and collected by Projections Central — the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes projections only at the national level. Methodology varies by state, so these are not directly comparable with the national figures. Wages remain BLS OEWS.

Cost of living: prices in West Virginia run 10.5% below the national average (2024), so a West Virginia salary is worth about 1.12× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in West Virginia.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in West Virginia

OccupationMedian, West Virginia · Growth 2024–34

1Nurse Practitioners$127,320
Master's degree
$100,220 – $155,500+49.5%
2Physical Therapist Assistants$60,430
Associate's degree
$45,510 – $79,160+32.1%
3Medical and Health Services Managers$112,010
Bachelor's degree
$77,810 – $209,090+31.9%
4Physician Assistants$128,610
Master's degree
$98,200 – $160,890+28.6%
5Psychiatric Technicians$34,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,130 – $44,270+27.5%
6Respiratory Therapists$68,670
Associate's degree
$52,940 – $94,280+26.7%
7Medical Equipment Preparers$44,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,690 – $51,970+25.5%
8Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$49,430
Master's degree
$36,990 – $73,360+25.4%
9Nurse Anesthetists$278,530
Master's degree
$226,300 – $380,340+24.7%
10Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$76,820
Associate's degree
$64,750 – $99,060+24.2%
11Speech-Language Pathologists$80,970
Master's degree
$62,690 – $125,160+22.5%
12Couriers and Messengers$34,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,640 – $39,440+22.3%
13Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$45,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,220 – $78,710+21.6%
14Logisticians$71,590
Bachelor's degree
$48,290 – $108,360+21.6%
15Cooks, Restaurant$29,590
No formal educational credential
$22,180 – $38,010+21.5%
16Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$32,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,830 – $38,040+21.4%
17Medical Assistants$37,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,890 – $45,350+21.1%
18Occupational Therapists$96,190
Master's degree
$60,870 – $129,460+20.5%
19Physical Therapists$96,600
Doctoral or professional degree
$73,130 – $126,380+20.2%
20Software Developers$121,000
Bachelor's degree
$60,480 – $168,620+19.9%
21Home Health and Personal Care Aides$28,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,430 – $32,590+18.9%
22Construction Laborers$42,670
No formal educational credential
$30,770 – $60,550+18.1%
23Computer and Information Systems Managers$139,820
Bachelor's degree
$78,440 – $205,040+17.9%
24Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$38,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,290 – $55,180+17.8%
25General Internal Medicine Physicians$72,680
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,150 – $430,020+17.8%
26Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$77,040
Doctoral or professional degree
$44,100 – $146,240+17.6%
27Surgical Technologists$49,110
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,010 – $72,010+17.6%
28Carpenters$48,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,900 – $70,060+17.4%
29Roofers$51,170
No formal educational credential
$28,660 – $69,820+17.4%
30Healthcare Social Workers$60,140
Master's degree
$46,120 – $79,800+17.3%
31Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$48,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,160 – $72,640+16.8%
32Registered Nurses$80,130
Bachelor's degree
$57,210 – $131,760+16.4%
33Computer Occupations, All Other$107,140
Bachelor's degree
$51,090 – $172,410+16.1%
34Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$86,560
Bachelor's degree
$42,130 – $128,850+15.9%
35Financial Managers$113,140
Bachelor's degree
$73,260 – $199,920+15.6%
36Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$60,300
Doctoral or professional degree
$25,850 – $133,950+15.6%
37Dietitians and Nutritionists$89,440
Bachelor's degree
$55,350 – $103,130+15.5%
38Mechanical Engineers$97,390
Bachelor's degree
$64,640 – $143,030+15.4%
39Phlebotomists$39,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,570 – $46,130+15.3%
40Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$83,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,760 – $115,350+15.3%
41Management Analysts$97,470
Bachelor's degree
$57,830 – $143,420+14.7%
42Construction Managers$95,740
Bachelor's degree
$57,490 – $152,180+14.7%
43Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,860 – $93,730+14.7%
44Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$74,150
Associate's degree
$56,270 – $95,510+14.4%
45Surveyors$61,520
Bachelor's degree
$37,920 – $100,280+14.3%
46Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$51,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,510 – $71,240+14.1%
47Personal Financial Advisors$80,010
Bachelor's degree
$45,020 – $219,510+13.9%
48Driver/Sales Workers$28,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$18,760 – $58,410+13.8%
49Medical Records Specialists$47,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,610 – $75,000+13.4%
50Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$51,950
No formal educational credential
$32,170 – $63,790+13.3%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianWest Virginia	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$127,320	$100,220 – $155,500	+49.5%
2	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,430	$45,510 – $79,160	+32.1%
3	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$112,010	$77,810 – $209,090	+31.9%
4	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$128,610	$98,200 – $160,890	+28.6%
5	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$34,100	$30,130 – $44,270	+27.5%
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$68,670	$52,940 – $94,280	+26.7%
7	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,830	$34,690 – $51,970	+25.5%
8	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$49,430	$36,990 – $73,360	+25.4%
9	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$278,530	$226,300 – $380,340	+24.7%
10	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$76,820	$64,750 – $99,060	+24.2%
11	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$80,970	$62,690 – $125,160	+22.5%
12	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,890	$29,640 – $39,440	+22.3%
13	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,470	$35,220 – $78,710	+21.6%
14	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$71,590	$48,290 – $108,360	+21.6%
15	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$29,590	$22,180 – $38,010	+21.5%
16	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32,350	$25,830 – $38,040	+21.4%
17	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,180	$30,890 – $45,350	+21.1%
18	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$96,190	$60,870 – $129,460	+20.5%
19	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$96,600	$73,130 – $126,380	+20.2%
20	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$121,000	$60,480 – $168,620	+19.9%
21	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$28,010	$22,430 – $32,590	+18.9%
22	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$42,670	$30,770 – $60,550	+18.1%
23	Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree	$139,820	$78,440 – $205,040	+17.9%
24	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,120	$22,290 – $55,180	+17.8%
25	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$72,680	$63,150 – $430,020	+17.8%
26	Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$77,040	$44,100 – $146,240	+17.6%
27	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,110	$38,010 – $72,010	+17.6%
28	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,710	$35,900 – $70,060	+17.4%
29	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$51,170	$28,660 – $69,820	+17.4%
30	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$60,140	$46,120 – $79,800	+17.3%
31	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,850	$36,160 – $72,640	+16.8%
32	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$80,130	$57,210 – $131,760	+16.4%
33	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$107,140	$51,090 – $172,410	+16.1%
34	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$86,560	$42,130 – $128,850	+15.9%
35	Financial ManagersBachelor's degree	$113,140	$73,260 – $199,920	+15.6%
36	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$60,300	$25,850 – $133,950	+15.6%
37	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$89,440	$55,350 – $103,130	+15.5%
38	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$97,390	$64,640 – $143,030	+15.4%
39	PhlebotomistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$39,250	$30,570 – $46,130	+15.3%
40	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,810	$47,760 – $115,350	+15.3%
41	Management AnalystsBachelor's degree	$97,470	$57,830 – $143,420	+14.7%
42	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$95,740	$57,490 – $152,180	+14.7%
43	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,710	$44,860 – $93,730	+14.7%
44	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,150	$56,270 – $95,510	+14.4%
45	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$61,520	$37,920 – $100,280	+14.3%
46	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,580	$34,510 – $71,240	+14.1%
47	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$80,010	$45,020 – $219,510	+13.9%
48	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$28,790	$18,760 – $58,410	+13.8%
49	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,360	$31,610 – $75,000	+13.4%
50	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$51,950	$32,170 – $63,790	+13.3%

More for West Virginia

Metro areas in West Virginia

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in West Virginia

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in West Virginia to rank honestly.

Fastest growing jobs in West Virginia, 2024–34

More for West Virginia

Metro areas in West Virginia

By field in West Virginia

Without a degree

Fastest growing jobs in each state, 2024–34