Jobs that lost the most to inflation in West Virginia

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Psychologists, All Other$46,350
Master's degree
$34,240 – $142,270-60.4%-50.2% nominal
2Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$31,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,190 – $46,140-55.5%-43.9% nominal
3Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$26,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,450 – $59,050-50.6%-37.8% nominal
4Gambling Service Workers, All Other$19,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$18,310 – $21,360-46.6%-32.7% nominal
5Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$31,790
No formal educational credential
$28,730 – $60,760-46.0%-32.0% nominal
6Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$45,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,220 – $78,710-37.7%-21.6% nominal
7Special Education Teachers, All Other$39,920
Bachelor's degree
$30,050 – $51,810-36.3%-19.8% nominal
8Social Workers, All Other$62,590
Bachelor's degree
$38,940 – $108,040-30.4%-12.4% nominal
9Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$35,760
Bachelor's degree
$28,110 – $63,710-30.4%-12.3% nominal
10Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$48,080
Bachelor's degree
$37,120 – $119,960-29.8%-11.5% nominal
11Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$38,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,960 – $63,130-29.7%-11.5% nominal
12Education Administrators, Postsecondary$84,660
Master's degree
$53,160 – $198,330-26.5%-7.4% nominal
13Computer Network Support Specialists$46,840
Associate's degree
$30,260 – $75,150-26.1%-7.0% nominal
14Chefs and Head Cooks$61,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,520 – $88,690-24.9%-5.5% nominal
15Petroleum Engineers$93,360
Bachelor's degree
$79,860 – $220,130-23.4%-3.6% nominal
16General Internal Medicine Physicians$72,680
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,150 – $430,020-23.0%-3.1% nominal
17Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$55,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,570 – $99,330-21.9%-1.6% nominal
18Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,500 – $80,930-20.8%-0.3% nominal
19Advertising Sales Agents$44,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$20,580 – $93,170-20.7%-0.2% nominal
20Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$50,050
Bachelor's degree
$37,270 – $108,450-20.3%+0.4% nominal
21First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$56,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,850 – $96,100-20.0%+0.7% nominal
22Fundraisers$54,760
Bachelor's degree
$37,250 – $75,590-19.7%+1.1% nominal
23Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators$56,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,940 – $71,010-19.3%+1.7% nominal
24Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$38,720
Some college, no degree
$30,780 – $61,480-19.2%+1.8% nominal
25Chemical Technicians$58,750
Associate's degree
$40,570 – $81,810-19.1%+1.9% nominal
26Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$42,980
Master's degree
$29,910 – $63,130-19.0%+2.0% nominal
27Firefighters$37,350
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,020 – $51,390-18.4%+2.8% nominal
28File Clerks$31,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,340 – $47,650-18.4%+2.7% nominal
29Social Science Research Assistants$51,140
Bachelor's degree
$30,330 – $145,770-18.0%+3.3% nominal
30Chief Executives$151,950
Bachelor's degree
$72,160 – $403,020-18.0%+3.3% nominal
31Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates$63,240
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,240 – $138,590-17.5%+3.9% nominal
32Occupational Therapy Assistants$60,370
Associate's degree
$49,280 – $76,940-17.3%+4.1% nominal
33Graphic Designers$40,350
Bachelor's degree
$29,530 – $61,640-16.9%+4.6% nominal
34Pharmacists$133,430
Doctoral or professional degree
$80,900 – $166,020-16.8%+4.8% nominal
35Public Relations Specialists$56,730
Bachelor's degree
$39,720 – $103,380-16.7%+4.9% nominal
36Library Technicians$30,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$27,010 – $47,560-16.7%+4.9% nominal
37Surveyors$61,520
Bachelor's degree
$37,920 – $100,280-15.8%+6.0% nominal
38Logging Equipment Operators$36,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,270 – $63,590-15.8%+6.0% nominal
39Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers$22,080
No formal educational credential
$19,880 – $37,080-14.9%+7.2% nominal
40First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$52,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,220 – $90,750-14.8%+7.3% nominal
41Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$86,560
Bachelor's degree
$42,130 – $128,850-14.8%+7.2% nominal
42Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$42,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,680 – $62,840-14.6%+7.5% nominal
43Civil Engineers$86,930
Bachelor's degree
$51,640 – $132,960-14.5%+7.7% nominal
44Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$56,250
No formal educational credential
$37,680 – $81,930-14.4%+7.8% nominal
45Machinists$47,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,300 – $71,980-14.0%+8.3% nominal
46Network and Computer Systems Administrators$74,490
Bachelor's degree
$53,640 – $112,410-13.7%+8.7% nominal
47Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$97,230
Bachelor's degree
$42,220 – $156,140-13.3%+9.2% nominal
48Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,270 – $56,790-13.2%+9.3% nominal
49Construction Managers$95,740
Bachelor's degree
$57,490 – $152,180-12.9%+9.7% nominal
50Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$60,300
Doctoral or professional degree
$25,850 – $133,950-12.8%+9.9% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Psychologists, All OtherMaster's degree	$46,350	$34,240 – $142,270	-60.4%-50.2% nominal
2	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,210	$27,190 – $46,140	-55.5%-43.9% nominal
3	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$26,580	$21,450 – $59,050	-50.6%-37.8% nominal
4	Gambling Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$19,030	$18,310 – $21,360	-46.6%-32.7% nominal
5	Motor Vehicle Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$31,790	$28,730 – $60,760	-46.0%-32.0% nominal
6	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,470	$35,220 – $78,710	-37.7%-21.6% nominal
7	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$39,920	$30,050 – $51,810	-36.3%-19.8% nominal
8	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$62,590	$38,940 – $108,040	-30.4%-12.4% nominal
9	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$35,760	$28,110 – $63,710	-30.4%-12.3% nominal
10	Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$48,080	$37,120 – $119,960	-29.8%-11.5% nominal
11	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,740	$31,960 – $63,130	-29.7%-11.5% nominal
12	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$84,660	$53,160 – $198,330	-26.5%-7.4% nominal
13	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$46,840	$30,260 – $75,150	-26.1%-7.0% nominal
14	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,100	$40,520 – $88,690	-24.9%-5.5% nominal
15	Petroleum EngineersBachelor's degree	$93,360	$79,860 – $220,130	-23.4%-3.6% nominal
16	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$72,680	$63,150 – $430,020	-23.0%-3.1% nominal
17	Railroad Conductors and YardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,180	$46,570 – $99,330	-21.9%-1.6% nominal
18	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,010	$30,500 – $80,930	-20.8%-0.3% nominal
19	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,700	$20,580 – $93,170	-20.7%-0.2% nominal
20	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$50,050	$37,270 – $108,450	-20.3%+0.4% nominal
21	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,490	$39,850 – $96,100	-20.0%+0.7% nominal
22	FundraisersBachelor's degree	$54,760	$37,250 – $75,590	-19.7%+1.1% nominal
23	Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,660	$46,940 – $71,010	-19.3%+1.7% nominal
24	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$38,720	$30,780 – $61,480	-19.2%+1.8% nominal
25	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,750	$40,570 – $81,810	-19.1%+1.9% nominal
26	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$42,980	$29,910 – $63,130	-19.0%+2.0% nominal
27	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,350	$29,020 – $51,390	-18.4%+2.8% nominal
28	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,600	$26,340 – $47,650	-18.4%+2.7% nominal
29	Social Science Research AssistantsBachelor's degree	$51,140	$30,330 – $145,770	-18.0%+3.3% nominal
30	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$151,950	$72,160 – $403,020	-18.0%+3.3% nominal
31	Judges, Magistrate Judges, and MagistratesDoctoral or professional degree	$63,240	$63,240 – $138,590	-17.5%+3.9% nominal
32	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,370	$49,280 – $76,940	-17.3%+4.1% nominal
33	Graphic DesignersBachelor's degree	$40,350	$29,530 – $61,640	-16.9%+4.6% nominal
34	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$133,430	$80,900 – $166,020	-16.8%+4.8% nominal
35	Public Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$56,730	$39,720 – $103,380	-16.7%+4.9% nominal
36	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$30,300	$27,010 – $47,560	-16.7%+4.9% nominal
37	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$61,520	$37,920 – $100,280	-15.8%+6.0% nominal
38	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,130	$29,270 – $63,590	-15.8%+6.0% nominal
39	Gambling Change Persons and Booth CashiersNo formal educational credential	$22,080	$19,880 – $37,080	-14.9%+7.2% nominal
40	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,420	$36,220 – $90,750	-14.8%+7.3% nominal
41	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$86,560	$42,130 – $128,850	-14.8%+7.2% nominal
42	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,950	$31,680 – $62,840	-14.6%+7.5% nominal
43	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$86,930	$51,640 – $132,960	-14.5%+7.7% nominal
44	Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$56,250	$37,680 – $81,930	-14.4%+7.8% nominal
45	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,350	$37,300 – $71,980	-14.0%+8.3% nominal
46	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$74,490	$53,640 – $112,410	-13.7%+8.7% nominal
47	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$97,230	$42,220 – $156,140	-13.3%+9.2% nominal
48	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,510	$36,270 – $56,790	-13.2%+9.3% nominal
49	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$95,740	$57,490 – $152,180	-12.9%+9.7% nominal
50	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$60,300	$25,850 – $133,950	-12.8%+9.9% nominal

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.

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in West Virginia

More for West Virginia

Metro areas in West Virginia

By field in West Virginia

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state