Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Charleston, WV

Each occupation's median wage in Charleston, 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 Charleston, WV pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Charleston, WV run 11.3% below the national average (2024), so a Charleston, 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 Charleston, WV

OccupationMedian, Charleston, WV · vs. national

1Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$71,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,010 – $71,470+51.5%
2Surgeons, All Other$619,320
Doctoral or professional degree
$124,950 – $638,860+49.6%
3Conveyor Operators and Tenders$62,820
No formal educational credential
$37,410 – $76,140+48.1%
4Family Medicine Physicians$344,250
Doctoral or professional degree
$181,670 – $423,270+41.0%
5Industrial Engineers$143,860
Bachelor's degree
$87,010 – $171,210+40.4%
6Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$78,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,050 – $99,210+33.9%
7Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$77,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,040 – $94,940+33.8%
8Health Education Specialists$80,850
Bachelor's degree
$46,310 – $118,240+26.2%
9Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$96,510
Associate's degree
$67,200 – $127,850+23.2%
10Dietitians and Nutritionists$92,390
Bachelor's degree
$63,110 – $92,400+20.9%
11Nurse Anesthetists$280,250
Master's degree
$231,640 – $290,670+18.5%
12Rehabilitation Counselors$53,960
Master's degree
$34,170 – $70,870+15.2%
13Radiologists$482,670
Doctoral or professional degree
$102,010 – $482,670+14.7%
14Information and Record Clerks, All Other$55,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,830 – $71,930+12.0%
15Sheet Metal Workers$68,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,250 – $75,080+10.0%
16Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,510
Associate's degree
$57,710 – $104,050+9.4%
17Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$45,080
Bachelor's degree
$45,080 – $73,840+8.2%
18Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$80,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,850 – $93,330+7.8%
19Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$96,990
Bachelor's degree
$52,580 – $129,470+7.6%
20Physicians, All Other$285,470
Doctoral or professional degree
$153,960 – $328,330+7.3%
21Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$59,090
Associate's degree
$37,220 – $68,830+7.3%
22Electrical Engineers$129,250
Bachelor's degree
$89,680 – $159,280+7.1%
23Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$63,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,640 – $80,000+6.9%
24Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$46,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,780 – $56,860+6.5%
25Continuous Mining Machine Operators$65,280
No formal educational credential
$49,070 – $83,880+5.6%
26Waiters and Waitresses$36,900
No formal educational credential
$20,270 – $58,540+4.7%
27Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$60,680
No formal educational credential
$46,210 – $83,240+4.3%
28Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$59,330
No formal educational credential
$39,240 – $66,030+4.1%
29Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$52,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,680 – $80,070+3.8%
30Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,080 – $57,830+3.4%
31Labor Relations Specialists$98,380
Bachelor's degree
$79,460 – $125,360+3.1%
32Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,410 – $76,460+2.6%
33Electricians$64,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,370 – $93,350+2.6%
34Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $81,040+2.5%
35Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,490
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $75,280+1.7%
36Construction Laborers$47,770
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $65,590+1.4%
37Medical and Health Services Managers$125,470
Bachelor's degree
$79,990 – $275,590+1.3%
38Physical Therapists$103,760
Doctoral or professional degree
$75,180 – $139,050+1.0%
39Cost Estimators$79,300
Bachelor's degree
$43,060 – $128,330+0.7%
40Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,610 – $69,070+0.6%
41Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$62,980
Bachelor's degree
$39,640 – $83,610+0.1%
42Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,460 – $91,600+0.1%
43Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$63,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,730 – $88,990-0.5%
44First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$79,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,170 – $126,740-0.6%
45Procurement Clerks$50,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,240 – $63,860-0.6%
46Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$79,570
Associate's degree
$54,340 – $97,750-0.7%
47Detectives and Criminal Investigators$92,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,270 – $166,860-1.5%
48Computer Network Architects$131,210
Bachelor's degree
$81,300 – $131,210-2.1%
49Real Estate Sales Agents$51,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,990 – $105,600-2.2%
50Self-Enrichment Teachers$45,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,450 – $90,360-2.2%

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

#	Occupation	MedianCharleston, WV	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,470	$36,010 – $71,470	+51.5%
2	Surgeons, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$619,320	$124,950 – $638,860	+49.6%
3	Conveyor Operators and TendersNo formal educational credential	$62,820	$37,410 – $76,140	+48.1%
4	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$344,250	$181,670 – $423,270	+41.0%
5	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$143,860	$87,010 – $171,210	+40.4%
6	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,530	$37,050 – $99,210	+33.9%
7	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,670	$49,040 – $94,940	+33.8%
8	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$80,850	$46,310 – $118,240	+26.2%
9	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$96,510	$67,200 – $127,850	+23.2%
10	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$92,390	$63,110 – $92,400	+20.9%
11	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$280,250	$231,640 – $290,670	+18.5%
12	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$53,960	$34,170 – $70,870	+15.2%
13	RadiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$482,670	$102,010 – $482,670	+14.7%
14	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,430	$35,830 – $71,930	+12.0%
15	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,000	$39,250 – $75,080	+10.0%
16	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,510	$57,710 – $104,050	+9.4%
17	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$45,080	$45,080 – $73,840	+8.2%
18	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,130	$45,850 – $93,330	+7.8%
19	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$96,990	$52,580 – $129,470	+7.6%
20	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$285,470	$153,960 – $328,330	+7.3%
21	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$59,090	$37,220 – $68,830	+7.3%
22	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$129,250	$89,680 – $159,280	+7.1%
23	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,740	$45,640 – $80,000	+6.9%
24	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,010	$35,780 – $56,860	+6.5%
25	Continuous Mining Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$65,280	$49,070 – $83,880	+5.6%
26	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$36,900	$20,270 – $58,540	+4.7%
27	Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$60,680	$46,210 – $83,240	+4.3%
28	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$59,330	$39,240 – $66,030	+4.1%
29	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,210	$38,680 – $80,070	+3.8%
30	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,680	$36,080 – $57,830	+3.4%
31	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$98,380	$79,460 – $125,360	+3.1%
32	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,810	$34,410 – $76,460	+2.6%
33	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,830	$44,370 – $93,350	+2.6%
34	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$43,120 – $81,040	+2.5%
35	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$47,440 – $75,280	+1.7%
36	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$47,770	$31,200 – $65,590	+1.4%
37	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$125,470	$79,990 – $275,590	+1.3%
38	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$103,760	$75,180 – $139,050	+1.0%
39	Cost EstimatorsBachelor's degree	$79,300	$43,060 – $128,330	+0.7%
40	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,440	$41,610 – $69,070	+0.6%
41	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$62,980	$39,640 – $83,610	+0.1%
42	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,920	$47,460 – $91,600	+0.1%
43	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,560	$44,730 – $88,990	-0.5%
44	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,420	$51,170 – $126,740	-0.6%
45	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,260	$38,240 – $63,860	-0.6%
46	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,570	$54,340 – $97,750	-0.7%
47	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,410	$50,270 – $166,860	-1.5%
48	Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$131,210	$81,300 – $131,210	-2.1%
49	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,670	$25,990 – $105,600	-2.2%
50	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,790	$25,450 – $90,360	-2.2%

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Charleston, WV to rank honestly.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Charleston, WV

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