SOC 23-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Lawyers — West Virginia
West Virginia · 7 metro areas compared
Median pay in West Virginia is $102,420 a year, 35.9% under the national median of $159,670 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in West Virginia is $102,420 a year, 35.9% under the national median of $159,670 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $80,640 and $145,270. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $64,950 and the ninetieth at $206,370.
The area has 2,440 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.72 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, West Virginia ranks 46th by median wage. Wheeling leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $124,990. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 40th of 618 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,950 | −59.3% |
| 25th | $80,640 | −49.5% |
| Median (50th) | $102,420 | −35.9% |
| 75th | $145,270 | −9.0% |
| 90th | $206,370 | +29.2% |
| Mean | $123,210 | −22.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in West Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wheeling | $124,990 | 240 | |
| 2 | Morgantown | $109,300 | 230 | |
| 3 | Charleston | $101,150 | 880 | |
| 4 | Huntington | $98,070 | 390 | |
| 5 | Parkersburg | $97,460 | 100 | |
| 6 | Weirton | $94,760 | 60 | |
| 7 | Beckley | $87,930 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in West Virginia run 10.5% below the national average, so the median of $102,420 goes as far as $114,436 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 28.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$102,420as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.5US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$114,436US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $102,420 a year, 35.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $64,950 to $206,370 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,440 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 46th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Wheeling, at $124,990.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Lawyers in West Virginia?
The median annual wage is $102,420, or $49.24 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 $159,670, so pay in West Virginia is 35.9% 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 $206,370 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $64,950 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 Wheeling, at $124,990 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,440 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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