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West Virginia — sector wage premiums across 22 occupational sectors

Which sectors in West Virginia pay above the national average?

As of May 2025 BLS OEWS data, West Virginia pays −0.7% above the national average for Production Occupations (state median: $46,490 vs national approx. $46,816). Across 22 sectors, West Virginia's highest-premium sector is Production Occupations. Re-dated annually from BLS OEWS.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — Major Group Rollups·As of May 2025 state estimates (major-group rollup) · updated annually (BLS OEWS) · last refreshed

Gera US Sector Pay Premium Index

West Virginia's top sector premium: Production Occupations at GUPPI −0.7% (national avg: $46,816).

How this is calculated
Production Occupations −0.7%

West Virginia — GUPPI across all occupational sectors (BLS OEWS May 2025)

#SectorState medianNational avgGUPPI
1Production Occupations$46,490$46,816−0.7%
2Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations$37,000$37,695−1.8%
3Construction and Extraction Occupations$57,620$60,202−4.3%
4Protective Service Occupations$45,390$51,939−12.6%
5Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$52,820$61,160−13.6%
6Healthcare Support Occupations$32,210$37,607−14.4%
7Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$37,210$43,676−14.8%
8Community and Social Service Occupations$48,690$57,575−15.4%
9Architecture and Engineering Occupations$84,440$100,184−15.7%
10Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$76,530$90,805−15.7%
11Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$49,740$59,120−15.9%
12Personal Care and Service Occupations$29,430$35,534−17.2%
13Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$27,680$33,497−17.4%
14Business and Financial Operations Occupations$69,910$85,690−18.4%
15Office and Administrative Support Occupations$39,090$47,910−18.4%
16Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$31,150$38,525−19.1%
17Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$68,400$85,407−19.9%
18Sales and Related Occupations$30,360$39,171−22.5%
19Legal Occupations$80,060$106,531−24.8%
20Management Occupations$93,590$126,800−26.2%
21Computer and Mathematical Occupations$80,720$113,425−28.8%
22Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$45,830$64,550−29.0%

Benchmark your salary against the sector median in West Virginia

Enter your annual salary to see how you compare to the BLS OEWS May 2025 sector median for West Virginia.

Sector GUPPI for West Virginia: −0.7%State median: $46,490 · National avg: $46,816

Frequently asked questions

Which sector pays the most premium in West Virginia?
Production Occupations has the highest sector GUPPI in West Virginia: −0.7% (BLS OEWS May 2025 median $46,490/yr vs national $46,816/yr).
Which sector pays below average in West Virginia?
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations has the lowest sector GUPPI in West Virginia: −29.0% (BLS OEWS May 2025 median $45,830/yr vs national $64,550/yr).
How does West Virginia compare to other states for sector pay?
West Virginia (WV) has 0 sectors paying above the national employment-weighted average and 22 sectors below. Use the Gera Sector Pay Premium Index to browse all 22 sectors for any state.

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Data source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — Major Group Rollups · May 2025 state estimates (major-group rollup) · Public domain (U.S. federal government work)

GUPPI computed by GeraJobs. Last updated: 2026-06-20. Full methodology · ← All sectors

GeraJobs is a job-search and recruitment platform that connects candidates with independent employers and recruiters. Gera is not the employer, recruiter, or hiring agent of record and is not party to any employment relationship — hiring decisions, job offers, and employment terms are solely between candidates and employers.