Lawyers Salary in West Virginia
In West Virginia, lawyers earn a median $102,420 a year, well below the national median of $159,670 (−36%); the state ranks 46th of 51 states by median. Lawyers earn 2.3 times the median across all occupations in West Virginia ($45,300). Among neighbouring states, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Ohio pay more (up to $167,210 in Virginia) and Kentucky pays less (down to $101,550 in Kentucky). West Virginia employs 2,440 lawyers, 3.48 per 1,000 jobs, the 41st largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.72 means it is less common in West Virginia than nationally.
West Virginia vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| West Virginia | Hourly | $31.23 | $38.77 | $49.24 | $69.84 | $99.22 | $59.24 | 2,440 | 3.48 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $64,950 | $80,640 | $102,420 | $145,270 | $206,370 | $123,210 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $37.67 | $49.51 | $76.76 | $106.43 | $169.04 | $89.35 | 754,500 | – | – |
| Annual | $78,360 | $102,990 | $159,670 | $221,370 | $351,600 | $185,840 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 46th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 41st of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.72
- Jobs per 1,000
- 3.48
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of West Virginia's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in West Virginia
10 metropolitan areas and 2 nonmetropolitan areas touching West Virginia publish a row for lawyers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $93.84 | $195,190 | $106,520 | $382,890 | 46,840 | 14.94 | 3.08 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $60.09 | $124,990 | $64,420 | $225,130 | 240 | 4.14 | 0.85 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $59.98 | $124,760 | $72,680 | $210,940 | 140 | 2.13 | 0.44 |
| Morgantown, WV | $52.55 | $109,300 | $71,450 | $213,250 | 230 | 3.38 | 0.70 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $52.18 | $108,530 | $71,950 | $189,950 | 230 | 2.19 | 0.45 |
| Charleston, WV | $48.63 | $101,150 | $67,170 | $202,040 | 880 | 8.48 | 1.75 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $47.15 | $98,070 | $57,960 | $192,340 | 390 | 2.76 | 0.57 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $46.86 | $97,460 | $62,650 | $185,540 | 100 | 2.86 | 0.59 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $45.56 | $94,760 | $60,440 | $222,220 | 60 | 1.69 | 0.35 |
| Beckley, WV | $42.27 | $87,930 | $60,400 | $159,410 | 80 | 1.93 | 0.40 |
| Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $49.71 | $103,390 | $62,290 | $256,520 | 270 | 1.84 | 0.38 |
| Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $48.72 | $101,340 | $60,560 | $197,420 | 170 | 2.17 | 0.45 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $49.24 | $102,420 | 2,440 | 0.72 |
| Kentucky | $48.82 | $101,550 | 5,770 | 0.59 |
| Maryland | $66.88 | $139,110 | 13,810 | 1.03 |
| Ohio | $62.99 | $131,020 | 19,950 | 0.74 |
| Pennsylvania | $75.57 | $157,180 | 27,170 | 0.92 |
| Virginia | $80.39 | $167,210 | 18,580 | 0.93 |
See the national page for Lawyers (every state ranked) and the West Virginia wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS West Virginia estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.