Registered Nurses Salary
Registered Nurses in West Virginia make a median of $80,130 a year, or about $38.52 an hour. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $90,003 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 19.9% 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 $80K get you in West Virginia?
About registered nurses
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for registered nurses in West Virginia runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $98K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 19.7% 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 registered nursess who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level registered nurses (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Registered Nurses salary by metro in West Virginia
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland | $81K | +1% | 5,580 |
| Charleston | $80K | +0% | 4,320 |
| Morgantown | $80K | +0% | 4,510 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna | $79K | -1% | 910 |
| Beckley | $79K | -2% | 1,320 |
| Wheeling | $78K | -2% | 1,680 |
| Weirton-Steubenville | $77K | -3% | 1,190 |
Compare to other states
Track registered nurses 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 registered nurse afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 19.7% 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 registered nurses in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new registered nurses typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,433/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is registered nurse a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $80K here vs. $98K 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 registered nurses?
West Virginia pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — below the national median.
How much do registered nurses make in West Virginia?
The median is $80,130 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,210, and experienced registered nurses can clear $131,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,129/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 19.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a registered nurses 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 registered nurses salary is worth about $90,003 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do registered nurses 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.