Last Updated :
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July 3, 2019
West Virginia Occupational Statistics- Total Employees in the State: 696,620
- 1 Year Change in Employment: -53,350 (-7.1%)
- Average Annual Pay in the State: $42,372
- 1 Year Change in Annual Pay: $4,346 (11.4%)
Occupation Categories
There are 696,620 employed workers in West Virginia. The occupation with the greatest number of workers is Office and Administrative Support Occupations, which employs 104,270 people. This represents 15.0% of all workers in the state. The next 2 occupations that have the most workers are Sales and Related Occupations and Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations, which employ 67,260 and 63,300 respectively.
| Occupation Category | # Employees | % of State |
|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 104,270 | 15.0% |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 67,260 | 9.7% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 63,300 | 9.1% |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | 59,000 | 8.5% |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 53,700 | 7.7% |
| Education Training and Library Occupations | 44,840 | 6.4% |
| Construction and Extraction Occupations | 43,440 | 6.2% |
| Production Occupations | 37,930 | 5.4% |
| Installation Maintenance and Repair Occupations | 35,720 | 5.1% |
| Management Occupations | 30,780 | 4.4% |
| Personal Care and Service Occupations | 27,110 | 3.9% |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | 23,050 | 3.3% |
| Healthcare Support Occupations | 21,540 | 3.1% |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations | 20,620 | 3.0% |
| Protective Service Occupations | 14,780 | 2.1% |
| Community and Social Service Occupations | 11,480 | 1.6% |
| Computer and Mathematical Occupations | 11,010 | 1.6% |
| Architecture and Engineering Occupations | 9,310 | 1.3% |
| Life Physical and Social Science Occupations | 6,200 | 0.9% |
| Legal Occupations | 5,230 | 0.8% |
| Arts Design Entertainment Sports and Media Occupations | 4,680 | 0.7% |
| Farming Fishing and Forestry Occupations | 1,370 | 0.2% |
Occupation Changes Since Last Year
The occupation with the largest increase in the number of workers is
Construction and Extraction Occupations, which currently employs 43,440 people. In the last year, the number of workers has increased from 38,620 an increase of 4,820 or 12.5%. The next 2 occupations that have the next largest change in workers are
Education Training and Library Occupations and
Personal Care and Service Occupations, which increased 1,790 and 1,340 respectively.
The occupation with the largest decrease in the number of workers is
Office and Administrative Support Occupations, which currently employs 104,270 people. In the last year, the number of workers has decreased from 105,330 or 1.0%. The next 2 occupations that have the next largest decreases in workers are
Legal Occupations and
Protective Service Occupations, which decreased 770 and 700 respectively.
Occupation Changes Since 2009
The occupation with the largest increase in the number of workers, since the recession ended in 2009, is
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations, which currently employs 59,000 people. Since 2009, the number of workers has increased from 49,520 an increase of 9,480 or 19.1%. The next 2 occupations that have the next largest change in workers are
Personal Care and Service Occupations and
Education Training and Library Occupations, which increased 8,000 and 4,800 respectively.
The occupation with the largest decrease in the number of workers is
Office and Administrative Support Occupations, which currently employs 104,270 people. Since 2009, the number of workers has decreased from 118,820 or 12.2%. The next 2 occupations that have the next largest decreases in workers are
Construction and Extraction Occupations and
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations, which decreased 5,230 and 5,020 respectively.
| Occupation Category | # Employees | % Change |
|---|
| Computer and Mathematical Occupations | 11,010 | 44.5% |
| Personal Care and Service Occupations | 27,110 | 41.9% |
| Farming Fishing and Forestry Occupations | 1,370 | 29.2% |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | 59,000 | 19.1% |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | 23,050 | 13.1% |
| Education Training and Library Occupations | 44,840 | 12.0% |
| Management Occupations | 30,780 | 11.9% |
| Protective Service Occupations | 14,780 | 4.6% |
| Architecture and Engineering Occupations | 9,310 | 1.9% |
| Life Physical and Social Science Occupations | 6,200 | 1.3% |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations | 20,620 | -1.4% |
| Installation Maintenance and Repair Occupations | 35,720 | -1.7% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 63,300 | -2.3% |
| Legal Occupations | 5,230 | -4.6% |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 67,260 | -6.5% |
| Community and Social Service Occupations | 11,480 | -8.2% |
| Healthcare Support Occupations | 21,540 | -8.5% |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 53,700 | -8.5% |
| Construction and Extraction Occupations | 43,440 | -10.7% |
| Production Occupations | 37,930 | -11.2% |
| Arts Design Entertainment Sports and Media Occupations | 4,680 | -11.5% |
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 104,270 | -12.2% |
Detailed Occupations
The detailed occupation with the greatest number of workers is
Retail Salespersons, which employs 23,100 people. This represents 3.3% of all workers in the state. The next 2 occupations that have the most workers are
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers Including Fast Food and
Cashiers, which employ 21,890 and 20,210 respectively.
The Top 10 Occupations in West Virginia are:| Occupation Category | # Employees | % of State |
|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 23,100 | 3.3% |
| Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers Including Fast Food | 21,890 | 3.1% |
| Cashiers | 20,210 | 2.9% |
| Registered Nurses | 19,930 | 2.9% |
| Office Clerks General | 19,110 | 2.7% |
| Personal Care Aides | 12,500 | 1.8% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 12,110 | 1.7% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 11,800 | 1.7% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 11,780 | 1.7% |
| Laborers and Freight Stock and Material Movers Hand | 11,770 | 1.7% |
Detailed Occupations Since 2009
The detailed occupation with the largest increase in the number of workers is
Personal Care Aides, which currently employs 12,500 people. Since 2009, the number of workers has increased from 5,710 an increase of 6,790 or 118.9%. The next 2 detailed occupations that have the next largest change in workers are
Customer Service Representatives and
General and Operations Managers, which increased 3,620 and 3,320 respectively.
The detailed occupation with the largest decrease in the number of workers is
Office Clerks General, which currently employs 19,110 people. In the last year, the number of workers has decreased from 28,980 or 34.1%. The next 2 occupations that have the next largest decreases in workers are
Telemarketers and
Laborers and Freight Stock and Material Movers Hand, which decreased 3,760 and 3,700 respectively.
The Top 10 Detailed Occupations With The Largest Increase Since 2009 are:| Occupation Category | # Employees | % Change |
|---|
| Operations Research Analysts | 250 | 733.3% |
| Medical Scientists Except Epidemiologists | 190 | 533.3% |
| Highway Maintenance Workers | 1,250 | 495.2% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 1,800 | 350.0% |
| Pipelayers | 890 | 323.8% |
| Community and Social Service Specialists All Other | 450 | 309.1% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 160 | 300.0% |
| Loading Machine Operators Underground Mining | 820 | 290.5% |
| Counselors All Other | 300 | 275.0% |
| Transportation Workers All Other | 290 | 262.5% |
The 10 Occupations With The Largest Decrease Since 2009 are:| Occupation Category | # Employees | % Change |
|---|
| Family and General Practitioners | 100 | -89.4% |
| Welding Soldering and Brazing Machine Setters Operators and Tenders | 40 | -88.2% |
| Food Servers Nonrestaurant | 140 | -87.2% |
| Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators | 220 | -86.6% |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 160 | -86.1% |
| Locker Room Coatroom and Dressing Room Attendants | 40 | -85.2% |
| Helpers--Brickmasons Blockmasons Stonemasons and Tile and Marble Setters | 50 | -83.9% |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | 50 | -83.3% |
| Boilermakers | 100 | -81.8% |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | 240 | -81.7% |
Occupation Pay
The occupation with the highest annual pay is
Management Occupations, which pays an average of $89,690 per year. This represents 111.7% above the state average pay. The next 2 occupations that have the highest average pay are
Legal Occupations and
Architecture and Engineering Occupations, which pay $74,990 and $74,880 per year, respectively.
| Occupation Category | Avg Pay | vs State Avg |
|---|
| Management Occupations | $89,690 | 211.7% |
| Legal Occupations | $74,990 | 177.0% |
| Architecture and Engineering Occupations | $74,880 | 176.7% |
| Computer and Mathematical Occupations | $71,400 | 168.5% |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | $68,460 | 161.6% |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | $62,480 | 147.5% |
| Life Physical and Social Science Occupations | $58,330 | 137.7% |
| Construction and Extraction Occupations | $48,490 | 114.4% |
| Arts Design Entertainment Sports and Media Occupations | $44,570 | 105.2% |
| Education Training and Library Occupations | $43,460 | 102.6% |
| Installation Maintenance and Repair Occupations | $42,980 | 101.4% |
| Production Occupations | $40,590 | 95.8% |
| Community and Social Service Occupations | $38,890 | 91.8% |
| Protective Service Occupations | $36,620 | 86.4% |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $36,090 | 85.2% |
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | $33,090 | 78.1% |
| Farming Fishing and Forestry Occupations | $32,110 | 75.8% |
| Sales and Related Occupations | $30,650 | 72.3% |
| Healthcare Support Occupations | $28,190 | 66.5% |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations | $26,000 | 61.4% |
| Personal Care and Service Occupations | $23,260 | 54.9% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | $22,840 | 53.9% |
Occupation Pay Changes Since 2009
The occupation with the largest increase in the average annual pay, since the recession ended in 2009, is
Management Occupations, which currently pays an average of $89,690 per year. Since 2009, pay has increased from $72,050 an increase of $17,640 or 24.5%. The next 2 occupations that pay the most to their workers are
Legal Occupations and
Architecture and Engineering Occupations, which increased $16,560 and $15,150 respectively.
| Occupation Category | Annual $ | % Change |
|---|
| Legal Occupations | $74,990 | 28.3% |
| Community and Social Service Occupations | $38,890 | 28.3% |
| Healthcare Support Occupations | $28,190 | 27.8% |
| Architecture and Engineering Occupations | $74,880 | 25.4% |
| Management Occupations | $89,690 | 24.5% |
| Computer and Mathematical Occupations | $71,400 | 24.2% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | $22,840 | 23.3% |
| Protective Service Occupations | $36,620 | 23.1% |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations | $26,000 | 21.8% |
| Production Occupations | $40,590 | 21.7% |
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | $33,090 | 21.3% |
| Arts Design Entertainment Sports and Media Occupations | $44,570 | 21.0% |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $36,090 | 20.6% |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | $68,460 | 18.7% |
| Personal Care and Service Occupations | $23,260 | 18.6% |
| Installation Maintenance and Repair Occupations | $42,980 | 18.4% |
| Farming Fishing and Forestry Occupations | $32,110 | 18.2% |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | $62,480 | 18.2% |
| Construction and Extraction Occupations | $48,490 | 17.6% |
| Life Physical and Social Science Occupations | $58,330 | 15.2% |
| Sales and Related Occupations | $30,650 | 14.1% |
| Education Training and Library Occupations | $43,460 | 7.9% |
Detailed Occupation Annual Compensation
The detailed occupation that pays their workers the most is
Anesthesiologists, which pays $281,000 per year. This represents 663.2% above the state average of $42,372. The next 2 occupations that pay their workers the most are
Physicians and Surgeons All Other and
Family and General Practitioners, which pay $222,270 and $214,270 respectively.
Highest Paid OccupationsThe Top 10 Paying Occupations in West Virginia are:
| Occupation Category | Ann'l Pay | % of State |
|---|
| Anesthesiologists | $281,000 | 663.2% |
| Physicians and Surgeons All Other | $222,270 | 524.6% |
| Family and General Practitioners | $214,270 | 505.7% |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $183,080 | 432.1% |
| Podiatrists | $175,530 | 414.3% |
| Psychiatrists | $166,400 | 392.7% |
| Chief Executives | $153,880 | 363.2% |
| Dentists General | $139,170 | 328.5% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $139,030 | 328.1% |
| Purchasing Managers | $132,930 | 313.7% |
Lowest Paid OccupationsThe 10 Lowest Paying Occupations in West Virginia are:
| Occupation Category | Ann'l Pay | % of State |
|---|
| Gaming Dealers | $20,410 | 48.2% |
| Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers Including Fast Food | $20,600 | 48.6% |
| Hosts and Hostesses Restaurant Lounge and Coffee Shop | $20,630 | 48.7% |
| Cooks Short Order | $20,680 | 48.8% |
| Personal Care Aides | $20,760 | 49.0% |
| Ushers Lobby Attendants and Ticket Takers | $20,870 | 49.3% |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $21,020 | 49.6% |
| Lifeguards Ski Patrol and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $21,270 | 50.2% |
| Cooks Fast Food | $21,330 | 50.3% |
| Cashiers | $21,350 | 50.4% |
This page was created and is maintained by Kurt Tietjen, Founder of Stavera, High Peak Media & HomeGearWorks.com. Kurt is an executive, data scientist and software engineer who holds an MBA in Management Information Systems. In 2010, he partnered with scientists at Northwestern University to launch The Street Wire. This was one of the first mainstream uses of what would become “Narrative Science”, an artificial intelligence platform specializing in natural language generation. You can contact Kurt on LinkedIn here.