West Virginia Median
$102,420
per year
Hourly Rate
$49.24
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-36% vs US median
US median $159,670
State Rank
#46 of 51
2,440 employed here
How much does a Lawyer make in West Virginia?
A Lawyer working in West Virginia earns a median salary of $102,420 per year, or about $49.24 per hour. That is 36% below the national median of $159,670 for this occupation.
Within West Virginia, entry-level pay starts around $64,950 while the top 10% make $206,370 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $80,640 and $145,270 a year.
Lawyer salary range in West Virginia
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,950 | $31.23 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $80,640 | $38.77 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $102,420 | $49.24 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $145,270 | $69.84 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $206,370 | $99.22 |
|
How West Virginia compares
West Virginia ranks 46th out of 51 states and territories for Lawyer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Lawyer salary in other states
New York $207,860District of Columbia $195,190California $195,080Massachusetts $176,680Delaware $173,510Colorado $168,520Virginia $167,210Connecticut $163,600New Jersey $161,430Illinois $160,800Pennsylvania $157,180Minnesota $155,140Texas $154,200Washington $154,130Nevada $150,510Alaska $149,940Maryland $139,110Rhode Island $138,960Oregon $138,210Tennessee $136,180Georgia $134,830Arizona $134,260Missouri $133,450Florida $133,180Utah $132,830Alabama $131,970Ohio $131,020Michigan $130,520North Carolina $127,710Vermont $127,310Indiana $126,860Wisconsin $126,760Hawaii $124,990Iowa $123,550New Hampshire $120,810South Carolina $120,310New Mexico $119,680Maine $113,120Nebraska $109,170North Dakota $106,880Kansas $106,650Louisiana $104,100Montana $103,720Idaho $103,400Oklahoma $103,060South Dakota $102,040Kentucky $101,550Wyoming $100,130Arkansas $98,880Mississippi $91,690
Working as a Lawyer in West Virginia
Nationally, about 755,000 people work as Lawyers in the United States. A doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required.
Considering a move? Compare West Virginia pay ($102,420) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Lawyer make in West Virginia?
The median Lawyer salary in West Virginia is $102,420 per year, or about $49.24 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $64,950 at the entry level to $206,370 for the top 10% of earners.
How does West Virginia pay compare to the national average?
West Virginia pays Lawyers about 36% less than the national median of $159,670. West Virginia ranks 46th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is West Virginia a good state for Lawyers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $102,420 a year. About 2,440 Lawyers are employed in West Virginia. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in West Virginia?
The highest-paying occupations in West Virginia include Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric ($597,740), Emergency Medicine Physician ($491,230), Radiologist ($471,650), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Lawyer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.