High paying jobs in West Virginia that need no degree

These occupations pay well in West Virginia and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

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

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$98,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,970 – $157,540530
2Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$89,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,640 – $93,3401,270
3Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,440
Associate's degree
$61,210 – $111,690300
4Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$83,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,430 – $97,400330
5Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$83,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,760 – $115,3501,260
6Gas Plant Operators$82,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,000 – $100,460420
7Chemical Plant and System Operators$81,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,210 – $90,250380
8Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$81,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,040 – $91,190320
9Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$81,330
Associate's degree
$47,090 – $98,610450
10First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$80,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,220 – $127,1805,380
11Roof Bolters, Mining$79,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,820 – $90,720970
12Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$79,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,350 – $93,400610
13Continuous Mining Machine Operators$77,570
No formal educational credential
$59,840 – $90,690720
14Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$77,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,620 – $98,530350
15Helpers--Extraction Workers$77,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,970 – $77,230360
16Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$76,820
Associate's degree
$64,750 – $99,060780
17Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$76,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,920 – $76,0801,920
18Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining$74,950
No formal educational credential
$64,120 – $81,1001,250
19First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$74,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,380 – $88,880490
20Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$74,150
Associate's degree
$56,270 – $95,5101,810
21Dental Hygienists$73,840
Associate's degree
$59,950 – $83,4301,250
22Sheet Metal Workers$72,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,170 – $76,020540
23First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$71,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,190 – $121,4204,070
24First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$68,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,970 – $118,5103,120
25Respiratory Therapists$68,670
Associate's degree
$52,940 – $94,2801,140
26Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$67,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,650 – $106,3301,340
27Millwrights$67,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,120 – $82,910330
28Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$66,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,000 – $93,1301,190
29Architectural and Civil Drafters$65,640
Associate's degree
$40,520 – $100,710330
30Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other$65,610
No formal educational credential
$61,910 – $81,680240
31Electricians$64,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,620 – $95,1404,290
32Locomotive Engineers$64,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,880 – $90,080340
33Construction and Building Inspectors$64,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,090 – $92,930540
34Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$63,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,670 – $95,090860
35Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,960 – $122,1903,220
36Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$63,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,970 – $96,960820
37Extraction Workers, All Other$63,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,750 – $72,350470
38First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$62,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,890 – $115,870510
39Conveyor Operators and Tenders$62,830
No formal educational credential
$39,400 – $74,810580
40Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,860 – $93,7303,150
41Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$61,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,030 – $79,320650
42Chefs and Head Cooks$61,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,520 – $88,690350
43Postal Service Clerks$61,050
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030890
44Physical Therapist Assistants$60,430
Associate's degree
$45,510 – $79,160980
45Occupational Therapy Assistants$60,370
Associate's degree
$49,280 – $76,940340
46Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,370 – $88,750790
47Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$59,750
Associate's degree
$45,380 – $85,390230
48Meter Readers, Utilities$59,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,650 – $86,880280
49First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers$59,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,310 – $85,440270
50Real Estate Sales Agents$59,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,180 – $97,470370

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	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,230	$56,970 – $157,540	530
2	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,690	$60,640 – $93,340	1,270
3	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,440	$61,210 – $111,690	300
4	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,910	$72,430 – $97,400	330
5	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,810	$47,760 – $115,350	1,260
6	Gas Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,600	$52,000 – $100,460	420
7	Chemical Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,710	$44,210 – $90,250	380
8	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,470	$60,040 – $91,190	320
9	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$81,330	$47,090 – $98,610	450
10	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,060	$51,220 – $127,180	5,380
11	Roof Bolters, MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,400	$63,820 – $90,720	970
12	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,000	$46,350 – $93,400	610
13	Continuous Mining Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$77,570	$59,840 – $90,690	720
14	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,230	$50,620 – $98,530	350
15	Helpers--Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,180	$36,970 – $77,230	360
16	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$76,820	$64,750 – $99,060	780
17	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,080	$39,920 – $76,080	1,920
18	Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground MiningNo formal educational credential	$74,950	$64,120 – $81,100	1,250
19	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,280	$51,380 – $88,880	490
20	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,150	$56,270 – $95,510	1,810
21	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$73,840	$59,950 – $83,430	1,250
22	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,390	$38,170 – $76,020	540
23	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,360	$43,190 – $121,420	4,070
24	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,990	$45,970 – $118,510	3,120
25	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$68,670	$52,940 – $94,280	1,140
26	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,290	$45,650 – $106,330	1,340
27	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,270	$49,120 – $82,910	330
28	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,060	$44,000 – $93,130	1,190
29	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$65,640	$40,520 – $100,710	330
30	Underground Mining Machine Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$65,610	$61,910 – $81,680	240
31	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,810	$43,620 – $95,140	4,290
32	Locomotive EngineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,400	$62,880 – $90,080	340
33	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,000	$34,090 – $92,930	540
34	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,820	$40,670 – $95,090	860
35	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,560	$36,960 – $122,190	3,220
36	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,560	$41,970 – $96,960	820
37	Extraction Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,550	$60,750 – $72,350	470
38	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,970	$37,890 – $115,870	510
39	Conveyor Operators and TendersNo formal educational credential	$62,830	$39,400 – $74,810	580
40	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,710	$44,860 – $93,730	3,150
41	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,330	$46,030 – $79,320	650
42	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,100	$40,520 – $88,690	350
43	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,050	$42,600 – $75,030	890
44	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,430	$45,510 – $79,160	980
45	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,370	$49,280 – $76,940	340
46	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,020	$38,370 – $88,750	790
47	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$59,750	$45,380 – $85,390	230
48	Meter Readers, UtilitiesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,430	$36,650 – $86,880	280
49	First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,210	$31,310 – $85,440	270
50	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,050	$32,180 – $97,470	370

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 jobs in West Virginia that need no degree

More for West Virginia

Metro areas in West Virginia

By field in West Virginia

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree