SOC 19-4042 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health — West Virginia
West Virginia · 4 metro areas compared
The median wage for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in West Virginia is $52,590 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 West Virginia is $52,590 per year, close to the national median of $55,090 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $36,970 at the tenth percentile to more than $67,390 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $43,110 to $61,250.
Employment stands at 750, or 1.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 49 states with published data for this occupation, West Virginia ranks 28th by median wage. Charleston leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $59,090. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 295th of 618 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,970 | −32.9% |
| 25th | $43,110 | −21.7% |
| Median (50th) | $52,590 | −4.5% |
| 75th | $61,250 | +11.2% |
| 90th | $67,390 | +22.3% |
| Mean | $53,320 | −3.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in West Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | $59,090 | 170 | |
| 2 | Beckley | $58,510 | 70 | |
| 3 | Huntington | $50,420 | 50 | |
| 4 | Wheeling | $48,980 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in West Virginia run 10.5% below the national average, so the median of $52,590 goes as far as $58,760 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$52,590as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.5US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,760US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $52,590 a year, 4.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,970 to $67,390 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 750 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 28th of 49 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charleston, at $59,090.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in West Virginia?
The median annual wage is $52,590, or $25.28 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 West Virginia is 4.5% lower. 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 West Virginia earns more than $67,390 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,970 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 Charleston, at $59,090 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 750 jobs in this occupation in West Virginia. 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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