High paying jobs in West Virginia that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in West Virginia, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. 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

1Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$89,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,640 – $93,3401,270
2Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,440
Associate's degree
$61,210 – $111,690300
3Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$83,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,430 – $97,400330
4Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$83,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,760 – $115,3501,260
5Gas Plant Operators$82,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,000 – $100,460420
6Chemical Plant and System Operators$81,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,210 – $90,250380
7Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$81,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,040 – $91,190320
8Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$81,330
Associate's degree
$47,090 – $98,610450
9Roof Bolters, Mining$79,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,820 – $90,720970
10Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$79,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,350 – $93,400610
11Continuous Mining Machine Operators$77,570
No formal educational credential
$59,840 – $90,690720
12Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$77,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,620 – $98,530350
13Helpers--Extraction Workers$77,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,970 – $77,230360
14Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$76,820
Associate's degree
$64,750 – $99,060780
15Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$76,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,920 – $76,0801,920
16Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining$74,950
No formal educational credential
$64,120 – $81,1001,250
17Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$74,150
Associate's degree
$56,270 – $95,5101,810
18Dental Hygienists$73,840
Associate's degree
$59,950 – $83,4301,250
19Sheet Metal Workers$72,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,170 – $76,020540
20Respiratory Therapists$68,670
Associate's degree
$52,940 – $94,2801,140
21Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$67,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,650 – $106,3301,340
22Millwrights$67,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,120 – $82,910330
23Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$66,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,000 – $93,1301,190
24Architectural and Civil Drafters$65,640
Associate's degree
$40,520 – $100,710330
25Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other$65,610
No formal educational credential
$61,910 – $81,680240
26Electricians$64,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,620 – $95,1404,290
27Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,960 – $122,1903,220
28Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$63,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,970 – $96,960820
29Extraction Workers, All Other$63,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,750 – $72,350470
30Conveyor Operators and Tenders$62,830
No formal educational credential
$39,400 – $74,810580
31Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,860 – $93,7303,150
32Postal Service Clerks$61,050
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030890
33Physical Therapist Assistants$60,430
Associate's degree
$45,510 – $79,160980
34Occupational Therapy Assistants$60,370
Associate's degree
$49,280 – $76,940340
35Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,370 – $88,750790
36Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$59,750
Associate's degree
$45,380 – $85,390230
37Meter Readers, Utilities$59,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,650 – $86,880280
38Real Estate Sales Agents$59,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,180 – $97,470370
39Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,000
Associate's degree
$35,770 – $107,3101,660
40Chemical Technicians$58,750
Associate's degree
$40,570 – $81,810230
41Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,280410
42Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,700
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0401,850
43Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$56,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,010 – $83,1601,830
44Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$56,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,950 – $69,9802,900
45Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$56,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,330 – $80,4902,110
46Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators$56,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,940 – $71,010270
47Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$56,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,790 – $87,500750
48Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$55,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,690 – $70,9606,050
49Computer User Support Specialists$55,350
Some college, no degree
$38,180 – $87,4302,250
50Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$55,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,570 – $99,330320

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	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,690	$60,640 – $93,340	1,270
2	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,440	$61,210 – $111,690	300
3	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,910	$72,430 – $97,400	330
4	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,810	$47,760 – $115,350	1,260
5	Gas Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,600	$52,000 – $100,460	420
6	Chemical Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,710	$44,210 – $90,250	380
7	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,470	$60,040 – $91,190	320
8	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$81,330	$47,090 – $98,610	450
9	Roof Bolters, MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,400	$63,820 – $90,720	970
10	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,000	$46,350 – $93,400	610
11	Continuous Mining Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$77,570	$59,840 – $90,690	720
12	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,230	$50,620 – $98,530	350
13	Helpers--Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,180	$36,970 – $77,230	360
14	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$76,820	$64,750 – $99,060	780
15	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,080	$39,920 – $76,080	1,920
16	Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground MiningNo formal educational credential	$74,950	$64,120 – $81,100	1,250
17	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,150	$56,270 – $95,510	1,810
18	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$73,840	$59,950 – $83,430	1,250
19	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,390	$38,170 – $76,020	540
20	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$68,670	$52,940 – $94,280	1,140
21	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,290	$45,650 – $106,330	1,340
22	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,270	$49,120 – $82,910	330
23	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,060	$44,000 – $93,130	1,190
24	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$65,640	$40,520 – $100,710	330
25	Underground Mining Machine Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$65,610	$61,910 – $81,680	240
26	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,810	$43,620 – $95,140	4,290
27	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,560	$36,960 – $122,190	3,220
28	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,560	$41,970 – $96,960	820
29	Extraction Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,550	$60,750 – $72,350	470
30	Conveyor Operators and TendersNo formal educational credential	$62,830	$39,400 – $74,810	580
31	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,710	$44,860 – $93,730	3,150
32	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,050	$42,600 – $75,030	890
33	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,430	$45,510 – $79,160	980
34	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,370	$49,280 – $76,940	340
35	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,020	$38,370 – $88,750	790
36	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$59,750	$45,380 – $85,390	230
37	Meter Readers, UtilitiesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,430	$36,650 – $86,880	280
38	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,050	$32,180 – $97,470	370
39	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,000	$35,770 – $107,310	1,660
40	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,750	$40,570 – $81,810	230
41	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$45,530 – $75,280	410
42	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,700	$42,390 – $81,040	1,850
43	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,980	$36,010 – $83,160	1,830
44	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,960	$41,950 – $69,980	2,900
45	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,810	$39,330 – $80,490	2,110
46	Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,660	$46,940 – $71,010	270
47	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,290	$39,790 – $87,500	750
48	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,360	$45,690 – $70,960	6,050
49	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$55,350	$38,180 – $87,430	2,250
50	Railroad Conductors and YardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,180	$46,570 – $99,330	320

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 experience

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 experience