Civil Engineers Salary
Civil Engineers in West Virginia make a median of $86,930 a year, or about $41.79 an hour. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $97,641 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 18.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $87K get you in West Virginia?
About civil engineers
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for civil engineers in West Virginia runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $101K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 18.3% 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. Lower pay, lower costs, West Virginia can be a reasonable trade-off for civil engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level civil engineers (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $81K spread from bottom to top.
Civil Engineers salary by metro in West Virginia
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $95K | +9% | 280 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $95K | +9% | 290 |
| Weirton-Steubenville | $90K | +4% | 40 |
| Morgantown | $90K | +3% | 80 |
| Beckley | $88K | +1% | 60 |
| Wheeling | $84K | -3% | 100 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna | $70K | -19% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track civil engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a civil engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 18.3% 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 civil engineers in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new civil engineers typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,098/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is civil engineer a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $87K here vs. $101K 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 civil engineers?
West Virginia pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $98K — below the national median.
How much do civil engineers make in West Virginia?
The median is $86,930 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,640, and experienced civil engineers can clear $132,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,498/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 18.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a civil 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 civil engineers salary is worth about $97,641 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do civil 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.