SOC 19-4042 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health — Charleston
Charleston, WV · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in Charleston, WV is $59,090 per year, close to the national median of $55,090 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in Charleston, WV is $59,090 per year, close to the national median of $55,090 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $37,220 at the tenth percentile to more than $68,830 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $49,800 to $63,660.
Employment stands at 170, or 1.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Beckley leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $58,510. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 132nd of 341 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,220 | −32.4% |
| 25th | $49,800 | −9.6% |
| Median (50th) | $59,090 | +7.3% |
| 75th | $63,660 | +15.6% |
| 90th | $68,830 | +24.9% |
| Mean | $56,570 | +2.7% |
Other metro areas in West Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beckley | $58,510 | 70 | |
| 2 | Huntington | $50,420 | 50 | |
| 3 | Wheeling | $48,980 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Charleston run 10.5% below the national average, so the median of $59,090 goes as far as $66,022 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 19.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,090as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.5US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$66,022US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,090 a year, 7.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,220 to $68,830 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 170 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Beckley, at $58,510.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in Charleston, WV?
The median annual wage is $59,090, or $28.41 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $55,090, so pay in Charleston, WV is 7.3% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Charleston, WV earns more than $68,830 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,220 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Beckley, at $58,510 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 170 jobs in this occupation in Charleston, WV. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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