Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Parkersburg-Vienna, WV

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

Cost of living: prices in Parkersburg-Vienna, WV run 12.9% below the national average (2024), so a Parkersburg-Vienna, WV salary is worth about 1.15× 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 Parkersburg-Vienna, WV

OccupationMedian, Parkersburg-Vienna, WV · vs. national

1Industrial Machinery Mechanics$93,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,660 – $93,730+45.2%
2Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$62,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,330 – $128,750+28.9%
3Human Resources Specialists$94,520
Bachelor's degree
$53,170 – $126,440+24.5%
4Paralegals and Legal Assistants$76,400
Associate's degree
$36,180 – $106,800+21.5%
5Financial Specialists, All Other$97,470
Bachelor's degree
$63,130 – $119,430+20.2%
6Accountants and Auditors$100,420
Bachelor's degree
$59,510 – $128,670+20.0%
7Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$49,630
Bachelor's degree
$46,080 – $49,630+19.1%
8Sheet Metal Workers$73,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,540 – $74,480+18.2%
9Training and Development Specialists$79,290
Bachelor's degree
$39,430 – $97,850+14.4%
10Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$66,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,920 – $92,620+13.8%
11Buyers and Purchasing Agents$87,410
Bachelor's degree
$46,070 – $115,920+12.5%
12Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$79,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,350 – $90,250+7.4%
13Management Analysts$108,890
Bachelor's degree
$79,440 – $136,990+6.9%
14Mechanical Engineers$109,370
Bachelor's degree
$78,110 – $139,810+5.1%
15Industrial Production Managers$129,500
Bachelor's degree
$80,150 – $206,640+2.7%
16Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$91,950
Bachelor's degree
$47,890 – $132,140+2.0%
17Physicians, All Other$267,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$127,360 – $370,900+0.7%
18Information and Record Clerks, All Other$49,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,940 – $64,540+0.5%
19Waiters and Waitresses$35,290
No formal educational credential
$18,870 – $60,280+0.2%
20Library Technicians$44,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,550 – $60,530-0.6%
21Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$46,120
No formal educational credential
$30,760 – $46,410-0.6%
22Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$50,140
Associate's degree
$38,190 – $59,950-0.9%
23Managers, All Other$140,390
Bachelor's degree
$58,510 – $190,420-1.1%
24Parts Salespersons$37,530
No formal educational credential
$23,080 – $60,860-2.8%
25Project Management Specialists$98,470
Bachelor's degree
$58,230 – $166,380-3.8%
26Helpers--Production Workers$37,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,670 – $47,240-4.2%
27Nurse Practitioners$126,550
Master's degree
$97,900 – $147,080-4.3%
28Occupational Therapists$96,040
Master's degree
$54,620 – $127,460-4.3%
29Cost Estimators$74,990
Bachelor's degree
$47,340 – $120,040-4.8%
30Electricians$59,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,060 – $79,760-5.8%
31Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$60,420
Master's degree
$43,600 – $69,390-6.1%
32Physical Therapists$96,170
Doctoral or professional degree
$74,740 – $124,150-6.4%
33Healthcare Social Workers$63,460
Master's degree
$50,080 – $79,800-6.5%
34Postal Service Mail Carriers$56,300
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-7.0%
35Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$35,470
Associate's degree
$23,430 – $58,540-7.0%
36Pharmacists$130,310
Doctoral or professional degree
$83,340 – $164,520-7.5%
37Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$44,230
Some college, no degree
$31,300 – $58,620-7.5%
38Physician Assistants$125,290
Master's degree
$104,330 – $156,950-7.8%
39Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$49,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,180 – $66,520-8.2%
40Insurance Sales Agents$56,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,730 – $126,410-8.7%
41Computer Occupations, All Other$106,330
Bachelor's degree
$81,970 – $139,090-8.8%
42Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$51,950
No formal educational credential
$36,860 – $55,950-8.9%
43Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$44,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,060 – $57,210-8.9%
44Production Workers, All Other$36,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,830 – $47,480-9.3%
45Computer User Support Specialists$55,910
Some college, no degree
$43,100 – $88,590-9.6%
46Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$36,330
No formal educational credential
$27,630 – $44,490-9.7%
47Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$40,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,520 – $45,360-10.2%
48Stockers and Order Fillers$33,410
No formal educational credential
$27,950 – $38,500-10.5%
49Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$45,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,220 – $69,140-10.8%
50First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$71,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,000 – $96,870-10.9%

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

#	Occupation	MedianParkersburg-Vienna, WV	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,670	$52,660 – $93,730	+45.2%
2	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,630	$33,330 – $128,750	+28.9%
3	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$94,520	$53,170 – $126,440	+24.5%
4	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,400	$36,180 – $106,800	+21.5%
5	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$97,470	$63,130 – $119,430	+20.2%
6	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$100,420	$59,510 – $128,670	+20.0%
7	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$49,630	$46,080 – $49,630	+19.1%
8	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,030	$46,540 – $74,480	+18.2%
9	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$79,290	$39,430 – $97,850	+14.4%
10	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,060	$63,920 – $92,620	+13.8%
11	Buyers and Purchasing AgentsBachelor's degree	$87,410	$46,070 – $115,920	+12.5%
12	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,840	$46,350 – $90,250	+7.4%
13	Management AnalystsBachelor's degree	$108,890	$79,440 – $136,990	+6.9%
14	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$109,370	$78,110 – $139,810	+5.1%
15	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$129,500	$80,150 – $206,640	+2.7%
16	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$91,950	$47,890 – $132,140	+2.0%
17	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$267,690	$127,360 – $370,900	+0.7%
18	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,730	$34,940 – $64,540	+0.5%
19	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$35,290	$18,870 – $60,280	+0.2%
20	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$44,310	$29,550 – $60,530	-0.6%
21	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$46,120	$30,760 – $46,410	-0.6%
22	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$50,140	$38,190 – $59,950	-0.9%
23	Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$140,390	$58,510 – $190,420	-1.1%
24	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$37,530	$23,080 – $60,860	-2.8%
25	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$98,470	$58,230 – $166,380	-3.8%
26	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,420	$31,670 – $47,240	-4.2%
27	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$126,550	$97,900 – $147,080	-4.3%
28	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$96,040	$54,620 – $127,460	-4.3%
29	Cost EstimatorsBachelor's degree	$74,990	$47,340 – $120,040	-4.8%
30	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,550	$38,060 – $79,760	-5.8%
31	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$60,420	$43,600 – $69,390	-6.1%
32	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$96,170	$74,740 – $124,150	-6.4%
33	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$63,460	$50,080 – $79,800	-6.5%
34	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$56,300	$42,390 – $81,040	-7.0%
35	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$35,470	$23,430 – $58,540	-7.0%
36	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$130,310	$83,340 – $164,520	-7.5%
37	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$44,230	$31,300 – $58,620	-7.5%
38	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$125,290	$104,330 – $156,950	-7.8%
39	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,330	$36,180 – $66,520	-8.2%
40	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,840	$27,730 – $126,410	-8.7%
41	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$106,330	$81,970 – $139,090	-8.8%
42	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$51,950	$36,860 – $55,950	-8.9%
43	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,860	$35,060 – $57,210	-8.9%
44	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,380	$28,830 – $47,480	-9.3%
45	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$55,910	$43,100 – $88,590	-9.6%
46	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$36,330	$27,630 – $44,490	-9.7%
47	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,100	$36,520 – $45,360	-10.2%
48	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$33,410	$27,950 – $38,500	-10.5%
49	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,770	$42,220 – $69,140	-10.8%
50	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,220	$47,000 – $96,870	-10.9%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Parkersburg-Vienna, WV

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