Bakers Salary
In West Virginia, bakers earn $28,480 at the median, or about $13.69 an hour. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $31,989 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,008/month, about 50.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $28K get you in West Virginia?
About bakers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for bakers in West Virginia runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $37K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,008/month, which is 50.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for bakerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level bakers (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Bakers salary by metro in West Virginia
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland | $37K | +29% | 170 |
| Morgantown | $30K | +6% | 90 |
| Wheeling | $28K | -1% | 90 |
| Charleston | $28K | -2% | 110 |
| Weirton-Steubenville | $28K | -3% | 40 |
| Beckley | $27K | -4% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track bakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a baker afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $28K, rent takes 50.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for bakers in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bakers typically earn — is $22K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,330/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 76% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is baker a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $28K here vs. $37K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for bakers?
West Virginia pays $28K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $32K — below the national median.
How much do bakers make in West Virginia?
The median is $28,480 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,170, and experienced bakers can clear $44,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,008/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 50.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a bakers salary go in West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median bakers salary is worth about $31,989 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do bakers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.