Top Paying Jobs in Charleston, WV (2026)
Charleston, WV has 270 jobs across diverse industries. The highest-paying occupations include Nurse Anesthetists ($236,820), Physicians, All Other ($227,940), Chief Executives ($199,990). The cost of living index is 88.72 (national average = 100). Median 2-bedroom rent is $1,036/month.
$130K
Avg. median salary
88.72
Cost of living index
$1,036
Median 2BR rent
N/A
Population
Highest paying careers in Charleston
| Rank | Occupation | Category | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nurse Anesthetists | Healthcare | $237K | $113.86/hr |
| 2 | Physicians, All Other | Healthcare | $228K | $109.59/hr |
| 3 | Chief Executives | Management | $200K | $96.15/hr |
| 4 | Dentists, General | Healthcare | $162K | $78.02/hr |
| 5 | Industrial Engineers | Engineering | $142K | $68.22/hr |
| 6 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | Management | $142K | $68.11/hr |
| 7 | Pharmacists | Healthcare | $133K | $63.91/hr |
| 8 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | Management | $131K | $62.99/hr |
| 9 | Veterinarians | Healthcare | $127K | $60.82/hr |
| 10 | Medical and Health Services Managers | Management | $124K | $59.38/hr |
| 11 | Electrical Engineers | Engineering | $123K | $59.3/hr |
| 12 | Nurse Practitioners | Healthcare | $120K | $57.59/hr |
| 13 | Managers, All Other | Management | $114K | $54.83/hr |
| 14 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | Science | $113K | $54.13/hr |
| 15 | Physician Assistants | Healthcare | $112K | $54.05/hr |
| 16 | Database Architects | Technology | $108K | $51.99/hr |
| 17 | Mechanical Engineers | Engineering | $108K | $51.8/hr |
| 18 | Financial Managers | Management | $107K | $51.37/hr |
| 19 | Physical Therapists | Healthcare | $106K | $50.87/hr |
| 20 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | Sales | $106K | $50.86/hr |
| 21 | Personal Financial Advisors | Business & Finance | $105K | $50.26/hr |
| 22 | Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | Legal | $104K | $49.97/hr |
| 23 | Sales Managers | Management | $102K | $48.94/hr |
| 24 | Industrial Production Managers | Management | $102K | $48.91/hr |
| 25 | Education Administrators, All Other | Management | $101K | $48.41/hr |
Affordability snapshot: Charleston
Cost of living vs. national average-11.3% less expensive
Studio apartment (FMR)$/mo
1-bedroom apartment (FMR)$/mo
2-bedroom apartment (FMR)$1,036/mo
3-bedroom apartment (FMR)$/mo
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After federal and state taxes