Firefighters Pay Range in West Virginia
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$29,020
- 25th Percentile — Junior$32,950
- 50th Percentile — Median$37,350
- 75th Percentile — Senior$44,100
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$51,390
Half of Firefighters in West Virginia earn more than $37,350. The top 10% make $51,390 or more, while entry-level workers start around $29,020.
Firefighters in West Virginia: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- West Virginia ranks 48th of 50 states for Firefighters pay, at $40,100 per year (37.0% below the U.S. average of $63,630).
- 900 people work as Firefighters in West Virginia — 0.3% of all U.S. Firefighters jobs.
- Location quotient 0.58: Firefighters jobs are less concentrated in West Virginia than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $29,020; the top 10% earn over $51,390.
- Hourly equivalent: $19.28 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $95,090.
- Among public safety jobs in West Virginia, Detectives and Criminal Investigators pays the most ($102,070).
Firefighters Job Market in West Virginia
Key factors affecting compensation
West Virginia's key industries are Energy, Healthcare, Manufacturing, and its job market is rated low. Firefighters here earn $40,100 on average, placing the state 48th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.78 (U.S. = 1.00), a West Virginia salary of $40,100 is roughly equivalent to $51,410 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Arkansas ($43,380), New Mexico ($43,180), North Carolina ($43,060) are the closest alternatives for Firefighters weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Public Safety Jobs in West Virginia
Related career salary benchmarks
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $102,070/yr West Virginia +154.5% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $75,730/yr West Virginia +88.9% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $56,670/yr West Virginia +41.3% vs this role
- Police Officers $55,900/yr West Virginia +39.4% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $54,400/yr West Virginia +35.7% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $49,600/yr West Virginia +23.7% vs this role
- Security Guards $31,320/yr West Virginia 21.9% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Firefighters salary in West Virginia?
The average Firefighters salary in West Virginia is $40,100 per year (median $37,350), which is 37.0% below the national average of $63,630.
How does West Virginia rank for Firefighters pay?
West Virginia ranks 48th out of 50 states. The highest-paying state is California ($95,090/yr).
How much do entry-level Firefighters make in West Virginia?
The lowest-paid 10% of Firefighters in West Virginia earn about $29,020 per year and the 25th percentile is $32,950.
How much do Firefighters make per hour in West Virginia?
About $19.28 per hour, based on the $40,100 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Firefighters work in West Virginia?
BLS counts 900 Firefighters jobs in West Virginia (OEWS May 2025).
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