Chemical Engineers Salary
Chemical Engineers in West Virginia make a median of $129,210 a year, or about $62.12 an hour. The range runs from $91K at the entry level to $181K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $145,131 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 12.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of West Virginia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $129K get you in West Virginia?
About chemical engineers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in West Virginia
Chemical engineers pay in West Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $129K locally vs. $125K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 13% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level chemical engineers (10th percentile) start around $91K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $181K or more, a $91K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track chemical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a chemical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 13% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemical engineers in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemical engineers typically earn — is $91K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,440/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 19% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is chemical engineer a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $129K locally vs. $125K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for chemical engineers?
West Virginia pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $145K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chemical engineers make in West Virginia?
The median is $129,210 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $90,660, and experienced chemical engineers can clear $181,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,778/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 13% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemical engineers 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 chemical engineers salary is worth about $145,131 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemical engineers 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.