Is West Virginia a good state for your salary to go far?

West Virginia ranks #48 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 93.6 across 366 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 89.5 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.

What is the cost of living in West Virginia?

West Virginia's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 89.5, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / West Virginia

Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in West Virginia

West Virginia ranks #48 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index (mean 93.6, base = 100). Cost of living 89.5 (US = 100); top income tax 4.82%.

Does a salary go further in West Virginia? (cost of living + state tax)

In West Virginia, the cost of living is 89.5 on the BEA index (US = 100) and the Gera US Real Pay Index averages 93.6 across 366 occupations, ranking it #48 of 51 states for how far pay goes after 2025 state income tax and 2024 BEA cost of living. Real BLS OEWS; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

West Virginia ranks #48 of 51 states. Mean across 366 occupations; 100 = the average state, 93.6 means pay goes -6.4% less far after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

93.6

Real pay by occupation in West Virginia (best first)

Occupation	BLS median	Real pay	Index
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals	$48,460	$52,524	139.2
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term	$49,020	$53,122	136.8
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers	$89,690	$96,430	136.3
Dietitians and Nutritionists	$89,440	$96,164	131.4
Sheet Metal Workers	$72,390	$78,031	121.8
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors	$65,050	$70,225	120.3
Information and Record Clerks, All Other	$54,950	$59,454	119.0
Business Teachers, Postsecondary	$104,480	$112,159	118.7
Coaches and Scouts	$52,050	$56,358	117.7
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders	$46,410	$50,335	117.2
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians	$85,440	$91,910	116.7
Financial Specialists, All Other	$86,200	$92,718	115.9
Family Medicine Physicians	$272,680	$291,040	114.0
Waiters and Waitresses	$35,380	$38,476	113.9
Purchasing Managers	$147,220	$157,613	113.7
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other	$81,330	$87,539	113.7
Education Administrators, All Other	$98,450	$105,746	113.0
Lodging Managers	$72,800	$78,467	111.9
Veterinarians	$128,990	$138,225	111.7
Manicurists and Pedicurists	$38,260	$41,587	111.5
Labor Relations Specialists	$88,020	$94,654	111.4
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$92,410	$99,323	111.2
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health	$82,100	$88,358	111.2
Structural Iron and Steel Workers	$71,850	$77,457	111.2
Tutors	$44,070	$47,837	110.9
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$51,020	$55,258	110.9
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer	$120,170	$128,845	110.8
Physical Therapist Aides	$34,840	$37,893	110.8
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door	$79,000	$85,061	110.5
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining	$61,330	$66,266	110.3
Engineers, All Other	$118,800	$127,388	110.1
Industrial Engineers	$108,360	$116,285	109.8
Self-Enrichment Teachers	$45,010	$48,841	109.7
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary	$65,200	$70,385	109.5
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other	$94,520	$101,567	109.1
Computer Occupations, All Other	$107,140	$114,988	108.9
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents	$96,260	$103,417	108.8
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators	$58,470	$63,212	108.3
Management Analysts	$97,470	$104,704	107.9
Architectural and Civil Drafters	$65,640	$70,853	107.8

Showing the 40 highest real-pay occupations of 366 BLS publishes for West Virginia. Real pay = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the 2024 BEA cost of living (89.5, US = 100).

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In West Virginia, a $85,000 salary is worth about $90,397 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $4,097 (≈ top marginal 4.82% (upper bound)) · take-home $80,903 · BEA cost of living 89.5 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,952, a $5,555 gain over West Virginia.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,952	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,959	86.9
3	Louisiana	$93,473	88.2
4	Mississippi	$93,453	87.0
5	Iowa	$93,172	87.8
6	North Dakota	$93,161	89.0
7	Tennessee	$92,522	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$92,167	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,703	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$90,507	90.2
12	West Virginia	$90,397	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

West Virginia real pay — FAQ

Is West Virginia a good state for your salary to go far?: West Virginia ranks #48 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 93.6 across 366 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 89.5 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.
What is the cost of living in West Virginia?: West Virginia's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 89.5, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for West Virginia is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.