Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH

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

Cost of living: prices in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH run 11.6% below the national average (2024), so a Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH 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 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH

OccupationMedian, Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH · vs. national

1Radiologists$592,050
Doctoral or professional degree
$109,990 – $734,760+40.7%
2Real Estate Sales Agents$73,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,880 – $115,920+39.9%
3Sheet Metal Workers$73,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,250 – $74,690+19.7%
4Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$55,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,130 – $70,890+19.4%
5Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$48,270
Bachelor's degree
$44,840 – $63,110+15.8%
6Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$83,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,920 – $93,170+12.7%
7Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$55,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,700 – $74,650+12.1%
8Nurse Anesthetists$264,420
Master's degree
$148,910 – $332,540+11.8%
9Pipelayers$53,880
No formal educational credential
$36,350 – $79,720+10.0%
10Helpers--Production Workers$42,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $63,190+10.0%
11Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$64,700
No formal educational credential
$47,530 – $83,660+9.8%
12Social Workers, All Other$78,750
Bachelor's degree
$31,810 – $108,040+9.5%
13Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$83,780
Associate's degree
$62,690 – $109,300+6.9%
14Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$79,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,040 – $107,390+6.6%
15Chiropractors$83,840
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,370 – $129,650+5.9%
16Business Teachers, Postsecondary$104,810
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,270 – $168,600+5.8%
17Parking Attendants$36,900
No formal educational credential
$27,230 – $36,900+5.0%
18Physicians, All Other$277,850
Doctoral or professional degree
$54,990 – $592,050+4.5%
19Information and Record Clerks, All Other$51,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,480 – $64,940+4.3%
20Coaches and Scouts$49,070
Bachelor's degree
$27,610 – $99,800+3.7%
21Athletic Trainers$64,360
Master's degree
$46,230 – $82,480+2.9%
22Medical Records Specialists$52,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,750 – $77,320+1.7%
23Speech-Language Pathologists$98,700
Master's degree
$62,480 – $122,930+0.8%
24Industrial Machinery Mechanics$65,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,970 – $95,030+0.8%
25Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,360+0.8%
26Electricians$63,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,900 – $96,600+0.7%
27Dietitians and Nutritionists$76,400
Bachelor's degree
$50,880 – $97,7600.0%
28Education Teachers, Postsecondary$75,310
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,630 – $96,520-0.1%
29Health Education Specialists$63,890
Bachelor's degree
$41,840 – $103,180-0.3%
30Bakers$36,840
No formal educational credential
$24,530 – $46,730-0.9%
31Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$45,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,900 – $69,860-1.1%
32Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$57,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,330 – $91,420-1.1%
33Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,540 – $74,290-1.2%
34Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$63,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,900 – $88,380-1.2%
35Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$79,090
Associate's degree
$61,050 – $94,960-1.3%
36Occupational Therapists$98,930
Master's degree
$62,880 – $128,410-1.4%
37Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$56,220
No formal educational credential
$37,620 – $65,450-1.4%
38Dentists, General$168,210
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,070 – $357,490-1.6%
39Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$37,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,990 – $46,080-2.0%
40Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$76,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,110 – $109,300-2.1%
41Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$62,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,010 – $86,840-2.6%
42Industrial Engineers$99,550
Bachelor's degree
$67,630 – $157,960-2.8%
43Clergy$59,000
Bachelor's degree
$35,260 – $70,230-3.0%
44Medical Equipment Preparers$46,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,420 – $62,420-3.2%
45Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$60,850
Bachelor's degree
$37,240 – $97,280-3.3%
46Instructional Coordinators$74,790
Master's degree
$42,420 – $105,760-3.4%
47Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$61,530
Bachelor's degree
$44,060 – $79,260-3.6%
48Teachers and Instructors, All Other$63,670
Bachelor's degree
$30,930 – $88,710-3.7%
49Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$38,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,100 – $45,790-4.0%
50Construction Laborers$45,170
No formal educational credential
$30,690 – $66,990-4.1%

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

#	Occupation	MedianHuntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	RadiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$592,050	$109,990 – $734,760	+40.7%
2	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,920	$38,880 – $115,920	+39.9%
3	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,960	$37,250 – $74,690	+19.7%
4	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,590	$32,130 – $70,890	+19.4%
5	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$48,270	$44,840 – $63,110	+15.8%
6	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,740	$47,920 – $93,170	+12.7%
7	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,200	$35,700 – $74,650	+12.1%
8	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$264,420	$148,910 – $332,540	+11.8%
9	PipelayersNo formal educational credential	$53,880	$36,350 – $79,720	+10.0%
10	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,980	$31,200 – $63,190	+10.0%
11	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$64,700	$47,530 – $83,660	+9.8%
12	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$78,750	$31,810 – $108,040	+9.5%
13	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$83,780	$62,690 – $109,300	+6.9%
14	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,230	$53,040 – $107,390	+6.6%
15	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$83,840	$61,370 – $129,650	+5.9%
16	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$104,810	$61,270 – $168,600	+5.8%
17	Parking AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$36,900	$27,230 – $36,900	+5.0%
18	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$277,850	$54,990 – $592,050	+4.5%
19	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,630	$30,480 – $64,940	+4.3%
20	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$49,070	$27,610 – $99,800	+3.7%
21	Athletic TrainersMaster's degree	$64,360	$46,230 – $82,480	+2.9%
22	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,000	$36,750 – $77,320	+1.7%
23	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$98,700	$62,480 – $122,930	+0.8%
24	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,040	$45,970 – $95,030	+0.8%
25	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $76,360	+0.8%
26	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,620	$37,900 – $96,600	+0.7%
27	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$76,400	$50,880 – $97,760	0.0%
28	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$75,310	$49,630 – $96,520	-0.1%
29	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$63,890	$41,840 – $103,180	-0.3%
30	BakersNo formal educational credential	$36,840	$24,530 – $46,730	-0.9%
31	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,670	$32,900 – $69,860	-1.1%
32	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,430	$37,330 – $91,420	-1.1%
33	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,380	$34,540 – $74,290	-1.2%
34	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,130	$39,900 – $88,380	-1.2%
35	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,090	$61,050 – $94,960	-1.3%
36	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$98,930	$62,880 – $128,410	-1.4%
37	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$56,220	$37,620 – $65,450	-1.4%
38	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$168,210	$58,070 – $357,490	-1.6%
39	Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,840	$29,990 – $46,080	-2.0%
40	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,400	$61,110 – $109,300	-2.1%
41	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,160	$39,010 – $86,840	-2.6%
42	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,550	$67,630 – $157,960	-2.8%
43	ClergyBachelor's degree	$59,000	$35,260 – $70,230	-3.0%
44	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,170	$37,420 – $62,420	-3.2%
45	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$60,850	$37,240 – $97,280	-3.3%
46	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$74,790	$42,420 – $105,760	-3.4%
47	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$61,530	$44,060 – $79,260	-3.6%
48	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$63,670	$30,930 – $88,710	-3.7%
49	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,030	$25,100 – $45,790	-4.0%
50	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$45,170	$30,690 – $66,990	-4.1%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH

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