
Fastest-growing jobs in West Virginia
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis revealed that, as of September 2025, the national hiring rate has reached a decade low, with the exception of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Associated Press reports that several factors have contributed to this, including the impact of the eleven interest rate hikes that occurred in 2022 and 2023 and the dozens of tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump since the beginning of the year.
Economists generally agree that the long-run breakeven employment growth rate (or the rate at which new jobs need to be added to keep up with population growth) is somewhere between 70,000 and 90,000 jobs per month. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in August 2025, just 22,000 new jobs were added. June and July saw a combined 87,000 new jobs added to the workforce.
Those numbers are bleak, to be sure, but not all employment news is bad. Certain sectors, like health care and social services, continue to see rapid growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said average hourly earnings for all employees are also up by 3.7% over the past 12 months. The total number of hours worked per week has been edging down for all employees, providing opportunities for much-needed work-life balance.
The employment story also looks quite different from state to state. Some places, like Utah, New Mexico, Hawai'i, and Idaho, are seeing high-percentage job growth year over year; others, like Washington D.C., Iowa, and Kansas, have actually seen a shrinkage in the overall number of job openings.
Using BLS jobs data, Stacker determined the fastest-growing jobs in West Virginia. Occupations were ranked by the percentage increase in employment between 2023 and 2024. Jobs were excluded from the ranking if they had fewer than 1,000 people working in them in the state.
Keep reading to learn which jobs are growing the fastest in West Virginia.

#50. First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +5.7% (420 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,780
--- Employment in 2023: 7,360
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,080

#49. Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +6.3% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,540
--- Employment in 2023: 4,270
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $28,790
#48. Court, Municipal, and License Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +7.2% (110 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,640
--- Employment in 2023: 1,530
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,120

#47. Human Resources Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +7.3% (200 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,950
--- Employment in 2023: 2,750
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,300

#46. General and Operations Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +7.5% (1,120 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 16,070
--- Employment in 2023: 14,950
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $80,490

#45. Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +7.7% (100 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,400
--- Employment in 2023: 1,300
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $63,980
#44. Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +7.7% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,370
--- Employment in 2023: 2,200
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,220

#43. Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +8.0% (130 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,760
--- Employment in 2023: 1,630
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,660

#42. Compliance Officers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +8.5% (120 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,530
--- Employment in 2023: 1,410
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $64,040

#41. Sales Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +8.6% (90 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,140
--- Employment in 2023: 1,050
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $101,920

#40. Computer Systems Analysts
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.2% (110 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,300
--- Employment in 2023: 1,190
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $99,050

#39. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.4% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,480
--- Employment in 2023: 3,180
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $67,800
#38. Medical Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.5% (390 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,510
--- Employment in 2023: 4,120
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $35,860

#37. Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.6% (200 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,280
--- Employment in 2023: 2,080
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $47,000
#36. Accountants and Auditors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.9% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,310
--- Employment in 2023: 4,830
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $74,520
#35. Physical Therapists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.9% (120 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,330
--- Employment in 2023: 1,210
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $101,210

#34. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +10.5% (1,100 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 11,560
--- Employment in 2023: 10,460
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,040
#33. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +11.0% (440 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,450
--- Employment in 2023: 4,010
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,320
#32. Billing and Posting Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +11.6% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,510
--- Employment in 2023: 2,250
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,740

#31. Fast Food and Counter Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +12.0% (780 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,280
--- Employment in 2023: 6,500
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $24,960
#30. Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +12.4% (200 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,810
--- Employment in 2023: 1,610
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $66,780

#29. Electricians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +12.6% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,010
--- Employment in 2023: 3,560
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $63,850
#28. Residential Advisors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +13.0% (140 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,220
--- Employment in 2023: 1,080
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,400
#27. Childcare Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.4% (200 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,500
--- Employment in 2023: 1,300
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $23,870

#26. Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.6% (1,130 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,940
--- Employment in 2023: 6,810
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $50,010
#25. Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.6% (910 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,810
--- Employment in 2023: 4,900
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $27,710
#24. Managers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.6% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,120
--- Employment in 2023: 2,630
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $126,250
#23. Phlebotomists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.9% (200 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,260
--- Employment in 2023: 1,060
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,830

#22. Bartenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +19.5% (510 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,120
--- Employment in 2023: 2,610
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,030

#21. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.1% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,970
--- Employment in 2023: 1,640
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,710

#20. Software Developers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.6% (390 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,280
--- Employment in 2023: 1,890
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $103,550

#19. Roof Bolters, Mining
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.9% (180 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,040
--- Employment in 2023: 860
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $78,970
#18. Business Operations Specialists, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.1% (980 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,410
--- Employment in 2023: 4,430
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,210

#17. Loan Officers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.6% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,300
--- Employment in 2023: 1,060
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,550

#16. Nurse Practitioners
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.6% (420 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,280
--- Employment in 2023: 1,860
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $121,640
#15. Project Management Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.8% (380 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,050
--- Employment in 2023: 1,670
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $82,950
#14. Respiratory Therapists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.9% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,340
--- Employment in 2023: 1,090
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $66,370

#13. Civil Engineers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.8% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,560
--- Employment in 2023: 1,260
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $88,200

#12. Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.1% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,700
--- Employment in 2023: 1,370
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $50,290

#11. Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.8% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,610
--- Employment in 2023: 1,290
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,130

#10. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.2% (1,090 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,100
--- Employment in 2023: 4,010
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $28,220

#9. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +28.7% (1,490 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,680
--- Employment in 2023: 5,190
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $55,550

#8. Machinists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +34.2% (390 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,530
--- Employment in 2023: 1,140
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $47,980

#7. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +37.8% (510 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,860
--- Employment in 2023: 1,350
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,630
#6. Bus Drivers, School
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +42.3% (990 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,330
--- Employment in 2023: 2,340
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $30,080

#5. Crossing Guards and Flaggers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +48.0% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,110
--- Employment in 2023: 750
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $31,800
#4. Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +57.9% (440 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,200
--- Employment in 2023: 760
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $21,180
#3. Production Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +68.9% (710 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,740
--- Employment in 2023: 1,030
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $35,240
#2. Recreation Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +89.8% (790 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,670
--- Employment in 2023: 880
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,050

#1. Tree Trimmers and Pruners
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +175.5% (860 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,350
--- Employment in 2023: 490
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $47,960
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.