Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Beckley, WV

Each occupation's median wage in Beckley, WV compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Beckley, WV pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Beckley, WV run 11.6% below the national average (2024), so a Beckley, WV salary is worth about 1.13× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Beckley, WV

OccupationMedian, Beckley, WV · vs. national

1Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$58,250
Bachelor's degree
$45,160 – $61,450+39.8%
2Extraction Workers, All Other$70,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,750 – $79,710+23.0%
3Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$78,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,830 – $94,940+22.8%
4First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$97,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,410 – $121,960+21.7%
5Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$89,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,280 – $91,660+20.2%
6Education Administrators, All Other$112,400
Bachelor's degree
$53,490 – $136,990+18.1%
7Dietitians and Nutritionists$89,440
Bachelor's degree
$75,700 – $91,110+17.1%
8Dentists, General$199,360
Doctoral or professional degree
$98,910 – $375,540+16.6%
9Social Workers, All Other$82,410
Bachelor's degree
$44,570 – $104,940+14.6%
10Information and Record Clerks, All Other$53,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,820 – $64,940+7.7%
11Industrial Production Managers$134,150
Bachelor's degree
$83,960 – $160,020+6.4%
12Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$58,510
Associate's degree
$40,650 – $67,820+6.2%
13Physicians, All Other$281,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$162,430 – $402,310+5.7%
14Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$60,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,450 – $64,190+5.5%
15Continuous Mining Machine Operators$64,270
No formal educational credential
$61,710 – $83,110+4.0%
16Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$51,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,850 – $65,170+2.8%
17Electrical Engineers$123,450
Bachelor's degree
$75,620 – $159,470+2.3%
18Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$91,560
Bachelor's degree
$59,440 – $129,960+1.6%
19Teachers and Instructors, All Other$66,550
Bachelor's degree
$43,810 – $96,100+0.6%
20Financial Specialists, All Other$81,470
Bachelor's degree
$61,110 – $112,400+0.5%
21Electricians$63,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,470 – $90,900-0.2%
22Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,730 – $64,430-0.3%
23Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining$74,130
No formal educational credential
$62,750 – $80,860-0.5%
24Roof Bolters, Mining$77,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,250 – $81,850-0.8%
25Self-Enrichment Teachers$46,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,320 – $63,820-1.4%
26Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$48,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,750 – $68,000-2.1%
27Physician Assistants$131,750
Master's degree
$104,760 – $154,610-3.0%
28Postal Service Clerks$59,490
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030-4.2%
29Waiters and Waitresses$33,650
No formal educational credential
$18,540 – $58,970-4.5%
30Machinists$55,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,620 – $63,510-4.8%
31Pharmacists$133,250
Doctoral or professional degree
$86,510 – $164,190-5.4%
32Facilities Managers$100,780
Bachelor's degree
$64,320 – $154,390-5.5%
33Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,180
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-5.6%
34Nurse Practitioners$124,790
Master's degree
$95,680 – $151,200-5.7%
35Occupational Therapists$93,820
Master's degree
$64,590 – $123,320-6.5%
36Parts Salespersons$36,120
No formal educational credential
$22,430 – $59,470-6.5%
37Physical Therapists$95,970
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,370 – $124,800-6.6%
38Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$36,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,910 – $45,510-6.8%
39Computer User Support Specialists$57,570
Some college, no degree
$37,090 – $86,620-6.9%
40Management Analysts$94,520
Bachelor's degree
$54,520 – $136,990-7.2%
41Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$60,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,620 – $74,910-7.4%
42Production Workers, All Other$37,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,640 – $49,760-7.5%
43Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$48,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,310 – $81,650-8.9%
44Public Safety Telecommunicators$48,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,240 – $48,460-8.9%
45First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$72,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,690 – $115,280-9.1%
46Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$40,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,520 – $63,150-9.7%
47Correctional Officers and Jailers$53,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,890 – $70,080-9.8%
48Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$57,970
Master's degree
$40,490 – $73,340-9.9%
49Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$34,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,630 – $35,600-10.2%
50Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$36,080
No formal educational credential
$28,040 – $50,450-10.3%

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

#	Occupation	MedianBeckley, WV	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$58,250	$45,160 – $61,450	+39.8%
2	Extraction Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,120	$60,750 – $79,710	+23.0%
3	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,460	$38,830 – $94,940	+22.8%
4	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,250	$49,410 – $121,960	+21.7%
5	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,380	$62,280 – $91,660	+20.2%
6	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$112,400	$53,490 – $136,990	+18.1%
7	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$89,440	$75,700 – $91,110	+17.1%
8	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$199,360	$98,910 – $375,540	+16.6%
9	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$82,410	$44,570 – $104,940	+14.6%
10	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,290	$36,820 – $64,940	+7.7%
11	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$134,150	$83,960 – $160,020	+6.4%
12	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$58,510	$40,650 – $67,820	+6.2%
13	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$281,110	$162,430 – $402,310	+5.7%
14	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,610	$55,450 – $64,190	+5.5%
15	Continuous Mining Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$64,270	$61,710 – $83,110	+4.0%
16	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,700	$37,850 – $65,170	+2.8%
17	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$123,450	$75,620 – $159,470	+2.3%
18	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$91,560	$59,440 – $129,960	+1.6%
19	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$66,550	$43,810 – $96,100	+0.6%
20	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$81,470	$61,110 – $112,400	+0.5%
21	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,060	$43,470 – $90,900	-0.2%
22	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,700	$36,730 – $64,430	-0.3%
23	Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground MiningNo formal educational credential	$74,130	$62,750 – $80,860	-0.5%
24	Roof Bolters, MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,920	$63,250 – $81,850	-0.8%
25	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,160	$22,320 – $63,820	-1.4%
26	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,200	$34,750 – $68,000	-2.1%
27	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$131,750	$104,760 – $154,610	-3.0%
28	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$42,600 – $75,030	-4.2%
29	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$33,650	$18,540 – $58,970	-4.5%
30	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,950	$38,620 – $63,510	-4.8%
31	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$133,250	$86,510 – $164,190	-5.4%
32	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$100,780	$64,320 – $154,390	-5.5%
33	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,180	$42,390 – $81,040	-5.6%
34	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$124,790	$95,680 – $151,200	-5.7%
35	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$93,820	$64,590 – $123,320	-6.5%
36	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$36,120	$22,430 – $59,470	-6.5%
37	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$95,970	$62,370 – $124,800	-6.6%
38	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,710	$30,910 – $45,510	-6.8%
39	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$57,570	$37,090 – $86,620	-6.9%
40	Management AnalystsBachelor's degree	$94,520	$54,520 – $136,990	-7.2%
41	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,630	$48,620 – $74,910	-7.4%
42	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,120	$31,640 – $49,760	-7.5%
43	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,960	$35,310 – $81,650	-8.9%
44	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,320	$35,240 – $48,460	-8.9%
45	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,570	$39,690 – $115,280	-9.1%
46	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,340	$28,520 – $63,150	-9.7%
47	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,140	$47,890 – $70,080	-9.8%
48	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$57,970	$40,490 – $73,340	-9.9%
49	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,270	$28,630 – $35,600	-10.2%
50	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$36,080	$28,040 – $50,450	-10.3%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Beckley, WV

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