Health Education Specialists Salary
In West Virginia, health education specialists earn $62,760 at the median, or about $30.17 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $70,493 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 24.4% 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 $63K get you in West Virginia?
About health education specialists
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Health education specialists pay in West Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $63K locally vs. $64K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 24.1% 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 health education specialists (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
Health Education Specialists salary by metro in West Virginia
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $81K | +29% | 50 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $64K | +2% | 80 |
| Morgantown | $64K | +1% | 70 |
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Track health education specialists 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 health education specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 24.1% 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 health education specialists in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new health education specialists typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,495/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is health education specialist a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $63K locally vs. $64K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for health education specialists?
West Virginia pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do health education specialists make in West Virginia?
The median is $62,760 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,580, and experienced health education specialists can clear $106,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,178/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 24.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a health education specialists 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 health education specialists salary is worth about $70,493 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do health education specialists 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.