As in many states, those who are interested in teaching certification in West Virginia are often interested in the salaries they may receive from their prospective employers. Current state-mandated minimum salary schedules for those fulfilling different criteria are available online for those who are interested in this aspect of becoming a teacher in West Virginia. A West Virginia certified teacher is primarily paid depending on years of experience on the job. Also an important factor is the number of educational hours completed, as well as highest degree completed, by a West Virginia educator. While teachers with bachelor’s degrees meet the minimum teaching requirements in West Virginia, those teachers may also be interested in completing higher degrees to increase their pay.
The following spreadsheet contains data on how educator salaries in West Virginia compare to the national average. In most cases, a teacher in West Virginia will make less money than a teacher in another part of the country, though discrepancies in the cost of living between regions may mitigate this issue.
| Occupation | Annual mean wage in West Virginia | Annual mean wage in U.S. |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $42,850 | $86,620 |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,750 | $86,730 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $58,250 | $74,890 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $45,820 | $65,050 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $48,710 | $68,760 |
| Preschool Teachers Except Special Education | $26,520 | $30,150 |
| Kindergarten Teachers Except Special Education | $46,170 | $52,350 |
| Elementary School Teachers Except Special Education | $42,930 | $55,270 |
| Middle School Teachers Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $42,190 | $55,780 |
| Secondary School Teachers Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $43,630 | $56,760 |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $41,570 | $56,460 |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $40,050 | $58,420 |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $43,790 | $59,080 |
Another thing that may affect how much a teacher is paid is the region of the state in which the teaching occurs. The following spreadsheet compares teaching salaries in a few major metropolitan areas of the state, showing that pay is comparable in most regions.
| City | Annual mean wage |
| Charleston, WV | $41,760 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $42,380 |
| Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH | $41,180 |
Helpful Resources
- West Virginia Department of Education – Minimum salary schedules
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Annual wages for education, training, and library occupations