Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers in West Virginia is $97,960/year ($47.1/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $137K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $110,030 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 16.3% 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 $98K get you in West Virginia?
About mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers pay in West Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $98K locally vs. $106K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 16.5% 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 mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in $137K or more, a $73K spread from bottom to top.
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers salary by metro in West Virginia
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling | $118K | +20% | 30 |
| Charleston | $84K | -14% | 70 |
| Beckley | $81K | -17% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track mining and geological engineers, including mining safety 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 mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $98K, rent takes 16.5% 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 mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,841/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineer a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $98K locally vs. $106K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers?
West Virginia pays $98K median vs. the U.S. average of $106K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $110K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers make in West Virginia?
The median is $97,960 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,010, and experienced mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers can clear $136,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,098/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 16.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a mining and geological engineers, including mining safety 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 mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers salary is worth about $110,030 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do mining and geological engineers, including mining safety 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.