2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in West Virginia

Salary Report for West Virginia Social Workers

West Virginia Rankings

Compare West Virginia to U.S.

West Virginia Social Workers earn an average of $41,230 which is 24% less than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	West Virginia	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$19.82	$26.39	-24.90%
Average Annual Salary	$41,230	$54,880	-24.87%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In West Virginia, 50% of Social Workers earn between $33,720 and $46,920 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $59,180, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $29,160, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	218	Under $29,160
15%	2 – 4 years	327	$29,160 – $33,720
25%	5 – 9 years	545	$33,720 – $37,200
25%	10 – 14 years	545	$37,200 – $46,920
15%	15 – 20 years	327	$37,200 – $59,180
10%	20+ years	218	Above $59,180

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in West Virginia psychologists earn about $46,874 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

Cost-of-living in West Virginia is 12% less than the national average, which means West Virginia residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

More cost-of-living reports for U.S. States.

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $41,230, West Virginia Social Workers tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($63,410), School Psychologists ($61,210), Forensic Psychologists ($55,990), Health Care Social Workers ($54,830), Psychology Teachers ($54,450), Marriage and Family Therapists ($43,550), and Substance Abuse Counselors ($41,520).

Title	Annual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$63,410
School Psychologists	$61,210
Forensic Psychologists	$55,990
Health Care Social Workers	$54,830
Psychology Teachers	$54,450
Marriage and Family Therapists	$43,550
Substance Abuse Counselors	$41,520
Social Workers	$41,230

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in West Virginia the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (2,000), Substance Abuse Counselors (1,880) and Forensic Psychologists (1,120).

The three professions in West Virginia needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (27.9%), Marriage and Family Therapists (23.1%) and Health Care Social Workers (13.6%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	1,930	2,000	3.6%	190
Substance Abuse Counselors	1,470	1,880	27.9%	200
Forensic Psychologists	1,100	1,120	1.8%	70
Health Care Social Workers	880	1,000	13.6%	100
Psychology Teachers	190	210	10.5%	20
Marriage and Family Therapists	130	160	23.1%	20

Salaries Ranked by West Virginia Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in West Virginia is $41,230. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are Morgantown ($51,870), Wheeling ($45,430) and Charleston ($44,710).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Morgantown ($56,276), Wheeling ($52,188) and Charleston ($50,366).

The following table shows the average yearly salary range for Social Workers in each city, and the average yearly salary after being adjusted for cost-of-living in that state.

The difference column shows how much more or less purchasing power a Social Workers salary will have in that area.

Area	Average Salary	COL Adjusted	Difference
Morgantown	$51,870	$56,276	$4,406
Wheeling	$45,430	$52,188	$6,758
Charleston	$44,710	$50,366	$5,656
Weirton-Steubenville	$42,680	$49,108	$6,428
Huntington-Ashland	$40,700	$47,041	$6,341
Parkersburg-Vienna	$38,320	$43,635	$5,315
Beckley	$38,090	$44,188	$6,098
Southern West Virginia Nonmetropolitan Area	$37,890	$44,661	$6,771
Northern West Virginia Nonmetropolitan Area	$37,010	$43,623	$6,613

Salary FAQ for West Virginia Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

Official Data Sources for Social Workers: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data