Police Officers Pay Range in West Virginia
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$41,950
- 25th Percentile — Junior$48,950
- 50th Percentile — Median$56,960
- 75th Percentile — Senior$61,330
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$69,980
Half of Police Officers in West Virginia earn more than $56,960. The top 10% make $69,980 or more, while entry-level workers start around $41,950.
Police Officers in West Virginia: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- West Virginia ranks 47th of 51 states for Police Officers pay, at $55,900 per year (29.4% below the U.S. average of $79,200).
- 2,900 people work as Police Officers in West Virginia — 0.4% of all U.S. Police Officers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.96: Police Officers jobs are less concentrated in West Virginia than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $41,950; the top 10% earn over $69,980.
- Hourly equivalent: $26.88 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $112,980.
- Among public safety jobs in West Virginia, Detectives and Criminal Investigators pays the most ($102,070).
Police Officers 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. Police Officers here earn $55,900 on average, placing the state 47th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.78 (U.S. = 1.00), a West Virginia salary of $55,900 is roughly equivalent to $71,667 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, North Carolina ($61,390), South Carolina ($60,420), Kentucky ($59,840) are the closest alternatives for Police Officers 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 +82.6% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $75,730/yr West Virginia +35.5% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $56,670/yr West Virginia +1.4% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $54,400/yr West Virginia 2.7% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $49,600/yr West Virginia 11.3% vs this role
- Firefighters $40,100/yr West Virginia 28.3% vs this role
- Security Guards $31,320/yr West Virginia 44.0% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Police Officers salary in West Virginia?
The average Police Officers salary in West Virginia is $55,900 per year (median $56,960), which is 29.4% below the national average of $79,200.
How does West Virginia rank for Police Officers pay?
West Virginia ranks 47th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($112,980/yr).
How much do entry-level Police Officers make in West Virginia?
The lowest-paid 10% of Police Officers in West Virginia earn about $41,950 per year and the 25th percentile is $48,950.
How much do Police Officers make per hour in West Virginia?
About $26.88 per hour, based on the $55,900 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Police Officers work in West Virginia?
BLS counts 2,900 Police Officers jobs in West Virginia (OEWS May 2025).
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