Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health Salary
In West Virginia, environmental science and protection technicians, including healths earn $52,590 at the median, or about $25.28 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $67K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $59,070 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 29.2% 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 $53K get you in West Virginia?
About environmental science and protection technicians, including healths
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Environmental science and protection technicians, including health pay in West Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $53K locally vs. $55K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,008/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level environmental science and protection technicians, including healths (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $67K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health salary by metro in West Virginia
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $59K | +12% | 170 |
| Beckley | $59K | +11% | 70 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $50K | -4% | 50 |
| Wheeling | $49K | -7% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track environmental science and protection technicians, including health 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 environmental science and protection technicians, including health afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 28.5% 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 environmental science and protection technicians, including healths in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new environmental science and protection technicians, including healths typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,218/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is environmental science and protection technicians, including health a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $53K locally vs. $55K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for environmental science and protection technicians, including healths?
West Virginia pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $55K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do environmental science and protection technicians, including healths make in West Virginia?
The median is $52,590 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,970, and experienced environmental science and protection technicians, including healths can clear $67,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,538/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 28.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a environmental science and protection technicians, including health 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 environmental science and protection technicians, including health salary is worth about $59,070 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do environmental science and protection technicians, including healths 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.