Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders Salary
In West Virginia, tank car, truck, and ship loaders earn $54,750 at the median, or about $26.32 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $61,496 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 28% 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 $55K get you in West Virginia?
About tank car, truck, and ship loaders
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Tank car, truck, and ship loaders pay in West Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $55K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,008/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.4% 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 tank car, truck, and ship loaders (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders salary by metro in West Virginia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $55K | +0% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track tank car, truck, and ship loaders 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 tank car, truck, and ship loader afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 27.4% 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 tank car, truck, and ship loaders in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new tank car, truck, and ship loaders typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,939/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 34% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is tank car, truck, and ship loader a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $55K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for tank car, truck, and ship loaders?
West Virginia pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do tank car, truck, and ship loaders make in West Virginia?
The median is $54,750 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,990, and experienced tank car, truck, and ship loaders can clear $63,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,674/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 27.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a tank car, truck, and ship loaders 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 tank car, truck, and ship loaders salary is worth about $61,496 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tank car, truck, and ship loaders 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.