SOC 17-3027 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians — Charleston
Charleston, WV · 1 metro areas compared
At $47,660, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians, 36.0% beneath the national figure of $74,510.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to grow more slowly than average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- 0.0%
- Openings per year
- 3,200
- Typical entry-level education
- Associate's degree
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Charleston, WV.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
At $47,660, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians, 36.0% beneath the national figure of $74,510. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $47,660 and $69,350. The lowest tenth earn under $37,450, while the highest tenth earn more than $69,360.
Huntington leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $47,410. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 204th of 341 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,450 | −49.7% |
| 25th | $47,660 | −36.0% |
| Median (50th) | $47,660 | −36.0% |
| 75th | $69,350 | −6.9% |
| 90th | $69,360 | −6.9% |
| Mean | $54,440 | −26.9% |
Other metro areas in West Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntington | $47,410 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Charleston run 11.3% below the national average, so the median of $47,660 goes as far as $53,732 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 27.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,660as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,732US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,660 a year, 36.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,450 to $69,360 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Huntington, at $47,410.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians in Charleston, WV?
The median annual wage is $47,660, or $22.91 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 $74,510, so pay in Charleston, WV is 36.0% 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 Charleston, WV earns more than $69,360 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,450 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 Huntington, at $47,410 per year.
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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