High paying entry level jobs in West Virginia

These occupations in West Virginia ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

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 · Employed

1Nurse Anesthetists$278,530
Master's degree
$226,300 – $380,340740
2Dentists, General$170,370
Doctoral or professional degree
$96,270 – $362,930420
3Pharmacists$133,430
Doctoral or professional degree
$80,900 – $166,0202,260
4Veterinarians$128,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$54,830 – $201,910390
5Physician Assistants$128,610
Master's degree
$98,200 – $160,8901,080
6Nurse Practitioners$127,320
Master's degree
$100,220 – $155,5002,550
7Software Developers$121,000
Bachelor's degree
$60,480 – $168,6202,650
8Engineers, All Other$118,800
Bachelor's degree
$65,710 – $169,500660
9Electrical Engineers$113,420
Bachelor's degree
$76,830 – $156,250500
10Industrial Engineers$108,360
Bachelor's degree
$76,180 – $163,090850
11Computer Occupations, All Other$107,140
Bachelor's degree
$51,090 – $172,4103,380
12Business Teachers, Postsecondary$104,480
Doctoral or professional degree
$56,670 – $206,080420
13Lawyers$102,420
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,950 – $206,3702,440
14Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$100,400
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,510 – $126,980240
15Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers$97,960
Bachelor's degree
$64,010 – $136,650440
16Mechanical Engineers$97,390
Bachelor's degree
$64,640 – $143,030760
17Physical Therapists$96,600
Doctoral or professional degree
$73,130 – $126,3801,310
18Occupational Therapists$96,190
Master's degree
$60,870 – $129,460700
19Petroleum Engineers$93,360
Bachelor's degree
$79,860 – $220,130380
20Project Management Specialists$91,780
Bachelor's degree
$54,070 – $149,4602,520
21Civil Engineers$86,930
Bachelor's degree
$51,640 – $132,9601,300
22Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$86,560
Bachelor's degree
$42,130 – $128,8501,020
23Financial Specialists, All Other$86,200
Bachelor's degree
$51,630 – $119,430920
24Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,440
Associate's degree
$61,210 – $111,690300
25Data Scientists$85,090
Bachelor's degree
$57,500 – $125,100390
26Biological Scientists, All Other$84,590
Bachelor's degree
$58,640 – $112,260230
27Environmental Engineers$83,200
Bachelor's degree
$57,460 – $155,170370
28Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$82,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,950 – $173,900330
29Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$82,100
Bachelor's degree
$51,520 – $119,020250
30Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$81,330
Associate's degree
$47,090 – $98,610450
31Registered Nurses$80,130
Bachelor's degree
$57,210 – $131,76023,430
32Web Developers$78,240
Bachelor's degree
$48,370 – $103,390400
33Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$76,820
Associate's degree
$64,750 – $99,060780
34Network and Computer Systems Administrators$74,490
Bachelor's degree
$53,640 – $112,4101,510
35Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$74,150
Associate's degree
$56,270 – $95,5101,810
36Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$73,880
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,880 – $128,240270
37Dental Hygienists$73,840
Associate's degree
$59,950 – $83,4301,250
38Database Administrators$73,490
Bachelor's degree
$48,110 – $121,010240
39Accountants and Auditors$73,320
Bachelor's degree
$49,240 – $115,2104,900
40Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$73,280
Master's degree
$51,280 – $99,250340
41Logisticians$71,590
Bachelor's degree
$48,290 – $108,360590
42Business Operations Specialists, All Other$69,240
Bachelor's degree
$41,410 – $125,0504,070
43Financial and Investment Analysts$69,030
Bachelor's degree
$47,340 – $119,240400
44Respiratory Therapists$68,670
Associate's degree
$52,940 – $94,2801,140
45Human Resources Specialists$66,860
Bachelor's degree
$44,490 – $115,9203,130
46Architectural and Civil Drafters$65,640
Associate's degree
$40,520 – $100,710330
47Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$65,260
Doctoral or professional degree
$44,850 – $103,480430
48Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$65,050
Bachelor's degree
$47,840 – $70,790250
49Teachers and Instructors, All Other$64,140
Bachelor's degree
$32,230 – $90,180660
50English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$63,280
Doctoral or professional degree
$40,890 – $99,190250

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	Employed
1	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$278,530	$226,300 – $380,340	740
2	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$170,370	$96,270 – $362,930	420
3	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$133,430	$80,900 – $166,020	2,260
4	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$128,990	$54,830 – $201,910	390
5	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$128,610	$98,200 – $160,890	1,080
6	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$127,320	$100,220 – $155,500	2,550
7	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$121,000	$60,480 – $168,620	2,650
8	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$118,800	$65,710 – $169,500	660
9	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$113,420	$76,830 – $156,250	500
10	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$108,360	$76,180 – $163,090	850
11	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$107,140	$51,090 – $172,410	3,380
12	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$104,480	$56,670 – $206,080	420
13	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$102,420	$64,950 – $206,370	2,440
14	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$100,400	$60,510 – $126,980	240
15	Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety EngineersBachelor's degree	$97,960	$64,010 – $136,650	440
16	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$97,390	$64,640 – $143,030	760
17	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$96,600	$73,130 – $126,380	1,310
18	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$96,190	$60,870 – $129,460	700
19	Petroleum EngineersBachelor's degree	$93,360	$79,860 – $220,130	380
20	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$91,780	$54,070 – $149,460	2,520
21	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$86,930	$51,640 – $132,960	1,300
22	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$86,560	$42,130 – $128,850	1,020
23	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$86,200	$51,630 – $119,430	920
24	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,440	$61,210 – $111,690	300
25	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$85,090	$57,500 – $125,100	390
26	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$84,590	$58,640 – $112,260	230
27	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$83,200	$57,460 – $155,170	370
28	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$82,690	$61,950 – $173,900	330
29	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$82,100	$51,520 – $119,020	250
30	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$81,330	$47,090 – $98,610	450
31	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$80,130	$57,210 – $131,760	23,430
32	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$78,240	$48,370 – $103,390	400
33	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$76,820	$64,750 – $99,060	780
34	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$74,490	$53,640 – $112,410	1,510
35	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,150	$56,270 – $95,510	1,810
36	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$73,880	$49,880 – $128,240	270
37	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$73,840	$59,950 – $83,430	1,250
38	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$73,490	$48,110 – $121,010	240
39	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$73,320	$49,240 – $115,210	4,900
40	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$73,280	$51,280 – $99,250	340
41	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$71,590	$48,290 – $108,360	590
42	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$69,240	$41,410 – $125,050	4,070
43	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$69,030	$47,340 – $119,240	400
44	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$68,670	$52,940 – $94,280	1,140
45	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$66,860	$44,490 – $115,920	3,130
46	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$65,640	$40,520 – $100,710	330
47	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$65,260	$44,850 – $103,480	430
48	Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree	$65,050	$47,840 – $70,790	250
49	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$64,140	$32,230 – $90,180	660
50	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$63,280	$40,890 – $99,190	250

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in West Virginia. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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.

High paying entry level jobs in West Virginia

More for West Virginia

Metro areas in West Virginia

By field in West Virginia

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state