Highest-paying jobs in Charleston

Written by:
March 12, 2021
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

Highest-paying jobs in Charleston

collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Charleston, WV, using data from the . Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2019.

In Charleston, the annual mean wage is $45,670 or 14.6% lower than national mean of $53,490, while the highest-paying occupation makes $260,270. Read on to see which jobs make the list.

#50. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $69,060
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,670
- Employment: 120,900
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($90,480)
--- Fresno, CA ($89,820)
--- Redding, CA ($88,850)

#49. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $69,590
- #360 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $100,340
- Employment: 271,020
- Entry level education requirements: Master鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Modesto, CA ($150,080)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($143,890)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($138,820)

#48. Computer systems analysts

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $69,890
- #316 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $96,160
- Employment: 589,060
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($122,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($121,300)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($119,540)

#47. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $70,300
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,250
- Employment: 28,350
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($111,690)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($105,010)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,600)

#46. Architects, except landscape and naval

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $70,970
- #162 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $89,560
- Employment: 105,850
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($123,770)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,550)
--- Lubbock, TX ($116,720)

#45. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $71,570
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $100,230
- Employment: 14,380
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($140,080)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($134,690)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($133,580)

#44. Petroleum engineers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $71,580
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $156,780
- Employment: 32,620
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($191,370)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($183,190)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($179,240)

#43. Insurance sales agents

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $71,950
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,960)
--- New Bedford, MA ($103,050)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($97,130)

#42. Chemists

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $72,440
- #111 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,150
- Employment: 83,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Peoria, IL ($127,750)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($124,540)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($116,030)

#41. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $72,500
- #108 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Redding, CA ($116,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($111,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($106,670)

#40. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $73,430
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,280
- Employment: 22,650
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($111,050)
--- Modesto, CA ($109,570)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($109,100)

#39. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $77,290
- #273 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,320
- Employment: 132,040
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($151,260)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($144,220)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($139,860)

#38. Environmental engineers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $77,420
- #141 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,220
- Employment: 53,150
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($123,340)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($120,600)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($117,170)

#37. Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $80,350
- #302 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 580

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,620
- Employment: 1,406,870
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($145,730)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($145,250)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($134,090)

#36. Information security analysts

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $81,680
- #162 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $104,210
- Employment: 125,570
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($133,040)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($127,850)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,570)

#35. Civil engineers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $85,870
- #161 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,360
- Employment: 310,850
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($120,110)
--- Midland, TX ($117,900)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($117,200)

#34. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $86,280
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $93,090
- Employment: 437,880
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,880)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($148,960)
--- Owensboro, KY ($133,600)

#33. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $87,920
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $128,550
- Employment: 28,670
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($206,390)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($197,140)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($196,520)

#32. Electrical engineers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $88,700
- #209 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,480
- Employment: 185,570
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($138,450)
--- Salinas, CA ($129,850)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($128,080)

#31. Detectives and criminal investigators

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $89,850
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($125,850)
--- Anchorage, AK ($122,370)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($122,130)

#30. Construction managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $90,000
- #229 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,000
- Employment: 293,380
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($160,500)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($148,140)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($146,820)

#29. General and operations managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $90,730
- #313 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,180

National
- Annual mean salary: $123,030
- Employment: 2,400,280
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($189,060)
--- Trenton, NJ ($173,050)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($167,160)

#28. Personal financial advisors

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $90,990
- #178 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,290
- Employment: 210,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Montgomery, AL ($178,100)
--- Santa Fe, NM ($173,970)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($171,370)

#27. Mechanical engineers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $93,260
- #91 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $93,540
- Employment: 306,990
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($125,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($123,270)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($120,950)

#26. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $93,770
- #104 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- Employment: 121,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($189,800)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($180,940)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($178,670)

#25. Sales engineers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $94,230
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $112,780
- Employment: 63,550
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($158,150)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($156,600)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($153,860)

#24. Industrial engineers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $96,290
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,660
- Employment: 291,710
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($131,850)
--- Billings, MT ($124,350)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,940)

#23. Computer network architects

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $97,240
- #133 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,110
- Employment: 152,420
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,400)
--- Dover-Durham, NH-ME ($151,650)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($142,100)

#22. Lawyers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $97,450
- #259 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,010

National
- Annual mean salary: $145,300
- Employment: 657,170
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($218,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,910)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($179,590)

#21. Physical therapists

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $100,190
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $90,170
- Employment: 233,350
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yuba City, CA ($116,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($116,120)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($113,950)

#20. Human resources managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $101,760
- #227 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $129,570
- Employment: 154,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($196,900)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($174,390)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($170,070)

#19. Financial managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $102,900
- #312 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $147,530
- Employment: 654,790
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($208,770)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($203,430)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($182,190)

#18. Physician assistants

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $103,750
- #219 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $112,410
- Employment: 120,090
- Entry level education requirements: Master鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($161,370)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($156,250)
--- Waterbury, CT ($154,550)

#17. Education administrators, postsecondary

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $108,600
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $112,400
- Employment: 144,880
- Entry level education requirements: Master鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ithaca, NY ($186,580)
--- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($180,620)
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($170,400)

#16. Veterinarians

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $110,300
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $104,820
- Employment: 74,540
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sherman-Denison, TX ($210,960)
--- Lubbock, TX ($176,730)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($161,230)

#15. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $110,950
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,980
- Employment: 306,980
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($136,780)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($128,380)
--- Casper, WY ($125,850)

#14. Nurse practitioners

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $111,720
- #129 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,840
- Employment: 200,600
- Entry level education requirements: Master鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($175,060)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($160,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,150)

#13. Chemical engineers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $113,470
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $117,090
- Employment: 30,120
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($162,330)
--- Midland, TX ($152,170)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($150,680)

#12. Pharmacists

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $116,760
- #322 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,510
- Employment: 311,200
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tyler, TX ($161,790)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($158,250)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($157,850)

#11. Computer and information systems managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $118,130
- #220 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $156,390
- Employment: 433,960
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($215,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($201,960)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($196,290)

#10. Sales managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $119,720
- #215 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $141,690
- Employment: 402,600
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($195,220)
--- Trenton, NJ ($178,020)
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($175,500)

#9. Dentists, general

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $120,060
- #282 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $178,260
- Employment: 110,730
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Burlington, NC ($278,360)
--- Burlington-South Burlington, VT ($275,430)
--- Longview, TX ($272,440)

#8. Marketing managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $124,780
- #145 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $149,200
- Employment: 263,680
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($199,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($188,810)
--- Boulder, CO ($183,460)

#7. Industrial production managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $126,780
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,110
- Employment: 185,790
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Florence, SC ($158,000)
--- Boulder, CO ($149,990)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($149,500)

#6. Medical and health services managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $130,640
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,160
- Employment: 394,910
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($163,280)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($159,190)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,570)

#5. Optometrists

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $131,550
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $122,980
- Employment: 39,420
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($238,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($210,490)
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($183,380)

#4. Architectural and engineering managers

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $138,590
- #130 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $152,930
- Employment: 194,250
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($203,310)
--- Amarillo, TX ($198,010)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($188,210)

#3. Chief executives

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $149,850
- #249 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $193,850
- Employment: 205,890
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($270,040)
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($264,330)
--- Midland, TX ($258,760)

#2. Nurse anesthetists

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $211,960
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $181,040
- Employment: 43,570
- Entry level education requirements: Master鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($266,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($254,860)
--- Columbus, GA-AL ($247,540)

#1. Surgeons, except ophthalmologists

Charleston, WV
- Annual mean salary: $260,270
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $252,040
- Employment: 36,270
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wausau, WI ($285,230)
--- Oshkosh-Neenah, WI ($285,210)
--- Asheville, NC ($284,780)

Trending Now