Highest-paying jobs in Charleston, West Virginia

Written by:
July 8, 2022
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Highest-paying jobs in Charleston, West Virginia

Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Charleston, WV, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.

In Charleston, the annual mean wage is $48,500 or 16.8% lower than national mean of $58,260, while the highest-paying occupation makes $246,060. Read on to see which jobs make the list.

#50. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $71,520
- #180 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,060
- Employment: 123,940
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,490)

#49. Administrative services managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $72,700
- #333 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480

National
- Annual mean salary: $113,030
- Employment: 224,620
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($142,650)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,950)

#48. Occupational therapists

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $72,860
- #332 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $89,470
- Employment: 127,830
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,190)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,210)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($113,190)

#47. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $73,180
- #367 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,650
- Employment: 274,710
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($144,880)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($143,450)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($142,330)

#46. Environmental engineers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $74,940
- #162 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $100,220
- Employment: 42,660
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($131,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,470)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($127,160)

#45. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $75,140
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,590
- Employment: 526,240
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,830)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,870)

#44. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $75,330
- #258 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,760
- Employment: 128,230
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)

#43. Budget analysts

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $76,670
- #106 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,240
- Employment: 47,440
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($114,670)
--- Iowa City, IA ($108,870)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($106,380)

#42. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $77,270
- #82 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,060
- Employment: 665,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,820)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($101,210)

#41. Information security analysts

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $77,980
- #204 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $113,270
- Employment: 157,220
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,820)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,250)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($135,080)

#40. Architects, except landscape and naval

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $79,140
- #172 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,900
- Employment: 100,400
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($120,430)
--- Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL ($115,450)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,780)

#39. Software developers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $79,680
- #364 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $120,990
- Employment: 1,364,180
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($167,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($158,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($148,220)

#38. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $80,330
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $99,700
- Employment: 22,870
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($127,700)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($123,690)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($122,770)

#37. Project management specialists

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $80,450
- #277 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,420
- Employment: 743,860
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($133,950)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($130,250)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($125,330)

#36. Chemical plant and system operators

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $82,110
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,020
- Employment: 21,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Lima, OH ($92,450)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($91,210)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($90,170)

#35. Compliance officers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $82,320
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,810
- Employment: 334,340
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,650)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($99,460)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($96,030)

#34. Education administrators, postsecondary

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $82,410
- #204 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,260
- Employment: 155,990
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Corvallis, OR ($178,570)
--- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($165,940)
--- Syracuse, NY ($164,660)

#33. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $83,240
- #289 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,580
- Employment: 144,640
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)

#32. Mechanical engineers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $84,200
- #237 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $97,000
- Employment: 278,240
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($137,540)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($128,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,030)

#31. General and operations managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $86,890
- #335 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,950

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,250
- Employment: 2,984,920
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($165,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($165,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($159,210)

#30. Computer network architects

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $87,090
- #228 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $120,650
- Employment: 168,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,600)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($152,900)
--- Rapid City, SD ($145,810)

#29. Civil engineers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $87,260
- #193 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $95,490
- Employment: 304,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,720)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,550)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($115,120)

#28. Petroleum engineers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $88,410
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $145,720
- Employment: 22,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($214,700)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($175,590)
--- Anchorage, AK ($169,650)

#27. Electrical engineers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $92,300
- #233 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $107,890
- Employment: 186,020
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($148,870)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($133,640)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,680)

#26. Personal financial advisors

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $92,510
- #261 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,960
- Employment: 263,030
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($172,780)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,010)
--- East Stroudsburg, PA ($158,790)

#25. Detectives and criminal investigators

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $95,040
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $90,370
- Employment: 107,890
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($132,210)
--- Anchorage, AK ($127,070)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($123,460)

#24. Construction managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $95,410
- #214 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $108,210
- Employment: 284,750
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($160,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,050)
--- Napa, CA ($145,430)

#23. Industrial engineers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $95,740
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $95,200
- Employment: 293,950
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($142,770)
--- Midland, TX ($129,440)
--- Billings, MT ($126,170)

#22. Physical therapists

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $96,720
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,920
- Employment: 225,350
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($123,190)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($118,370)
--- Midland, TX ($116,880)

#21. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $96,850
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $142,520
- Employment: 27,790
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($225,610)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($208,310)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($200,980)

#20. Marketing managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $96,970
- #291 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)

#19. Nurse practitioners

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $102,310
- #330 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $118,040
- Employment: 234,690
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($197,870)
--- Napa, CA ($184,700)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($180,380)

#18. Facilities managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $103,220
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $101,970
- Employment: 101,230
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($146,040)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($136,440)
--- Ithaca, NY ($136,210)

#17. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $107,220
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,750
- Employment: 266,160
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,760)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($141,470)
--- Iowa City, IA ($138,870)

#16. Industrial production managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $107,920
- #226 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($155,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($153,860)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($153,470)

#15. Physician assistants

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $109,260
- #227 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,460
- Employment: 132,940
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($167,240)
--- Panama City, FL ($165,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($164,150)

#14. Financial managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $112,630
- #327 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400

National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)

#13. Human resources managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $113,060
- #193 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)

#12. Pharmacists

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $114,390
- #347 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,690
- Employment: 312,550
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($168,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($163,840)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($158,420)

#11. Sales managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $116,380
- #238 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($198,960)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($196,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($182,820)

#10. Lawyers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $119,520
- #163 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 890

National
- Annual mean salary: $148,030
- Employment: 681,010
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($191,460)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($186,610)

#9. Computer and information systems managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $120,210
- #281 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)

#8. Veterinarians

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $120,320
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $109,920
- Employment: 77,260
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,440)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,670)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($140,390)

#7. Medical and health services managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $127,850
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($157,340)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,370)

#6. Dentists, general

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $135,400
- #293 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $167,160
- Employment: 108,680
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Manchester, NH ($276,510)
--- Salinas, CA ($234,410)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($229,800)

#5. Architectural and engineering managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $142,850
- #151 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $158,970
- Employment: 187,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($206,050)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,430)

#4. Nurse midwives

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $169,460
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $114,210
- Employment: 7,750
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charleston, WV ($169,460)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($162,800)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($157,570)

#3. Chief executives

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $188,430
- #186 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $213,020
- Employment: 200,480
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($313,440)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($298,960)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($296,480)

#2. Family medicine physicians

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $229,690
- #153 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $235,930
- Employment: 102,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Coeur d'Alene, ID ($336,820)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($336,140)
--- Gainesville, GA ($330,930)

#1. Nurse anesthetists

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $246,060
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $202,470
- Employment: 43,950
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Springfield, IL ($298,890)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($283,550)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($276,810)

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