Charleston Employment

Employment and Industries in the Charleston, West Virginia Area

Government, trade, utilities, education and medicine have major economic roles in Charleston, West Virginia. The chemical industry and the manufacturing sector are also significant economic assets. Charleston is the capital of West Virginia, thus government has a significant impact on the economy.

Some of the noteworthy companies headquartered in Charleston are United Bank of West Virginia, Inc., West Virginia-American Water Company, Charleston Stamping and Manufacturing, Appalachian Power and Tudor's Biscuit World. Charleston Area Medical Center is the region's largest employer.

The primary job sectors in Charleston, West Virginia are healthcare; professional, scientific and technical services; government, accommodation and food services, and finance and insurance. Management, professional and related occupations (41% of the labor force). Sales and office occupations (27% of the jobs).

Facts about Charleston, West Virginia: Cost of living index in 2008: 84.5 (U.S. average: 100). Average salary in 2009: $32,000. Adult residents holding a bachelor's degree or higher: 33%.

The largest employers in the Charleston area:

  • Charleston Area Medical Center
  • Kanawha County Board of Education
  • Thomas Memorial Hospital
  • U.S. Postal Service
  • Mc Junkin Red Man Corp
  • Verizon Wireless
  • BB&T
  • West Virginia Department of Administration
  • St. Francis Hospital
  • West Virginia Media

Charleston, West Virginia has a number of popular jobs where the majority of the workers have college degrees including registered nurses, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives; teachers, child, family and school social workers; social and human service assistants; computer programmers, civil engineers and medical and health services managers.

Charleston businesses can receive assistance from the following associations:

People looking for local business and economic news can read the Charleston Gazette.

Jobs in Charleston

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations110480$45,670$21.96100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations18760$36,350$17.4713.75
3Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations9720$76,330$36.75.85
4Sales and Related Occupations9530$35,020$16.849.5
5Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations8280$23,650$11.378.7
6Transportation and Material Moving Occupations7920$36,350$17.486.7
7Management Occupations5850$91,070$43.786.35
8Construction and Extraction Occupations5730$48,700$23.424.6
9Business and Financial Operations Occupations5550$58,000$27.885.35
10Healthcare Support Occupations5400$25,870$12.442.85
11Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations5030$43,850$21.083.75
12Educational Instruction and Library Occupations4900$44,080$21.196
13Protective Service Occupations4440$31,820$15.32.2
14Fast Food and Counter Workers3690$20,760$9.982.45
15Retail Salespersons3680$25,610$12.312.7
16Production Occupations3600$43,770$21.045.6
17Registered Nurses3530$63,870$30.711.95
18Office Clerks, General3450$30,040$14.441.9
19Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations3070$25,350$12.193.6
20Computer and Mathematical Occupations3040$61,730$29.683
21Customer Service Representatives3040$35,020$16.841.75
22Home Health and Personal Care Aides2470$21,030$10.110
23Cashiers2320$22,300$10.722.2
24General and Operations Managers2180$90,730$43.621.5
25Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive1940$35,840$17.231.4
26Community and Social Service Occupations1850$41,920$20.161.75
27Personal Care and Service Occupations1800$25,430$12.234.65
28Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand1780$31,110$14.961.8
29Legal Occupations1700$81,000$38.940.8
30Architecture and Engineering Occupations1650$72,600$34.911.7
31Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1600$37,810$18.181.05
32First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers1480$52,950$25.460.95
33Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations1460$59,810$28.760.8
34Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers1440$50,790$24.421.2
35Maintenance and Repair Workers, General1410$37,500$18.030.9
36Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1370$24,690$11.871.5
37Waiters and Waitresses1120$24,750$11.91.65
38Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations1090$52,410$25.21.8
39Nursing Assistants1070$26,790$12.880.95
40Stockers and Order Fillers1070$26,290$12.641.25
41Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators1050$45,360$21.810.25
42Lawyers1010$97,450$46.850.5
43Light Truck Drivers890$36,210$17.410.6
44Construction Laborers880$33,930$16.310.9
45First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers880$36,160$17.380.95
46Accountants and Auditors840$60,850$29.260.9
47Computer User Support Specialists810$39,190$18.840.4
48Cooks, Restaurant810$23,970$11.520.9
49Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners800$23,500$11.30.9
50First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers790$34,490$16.580.6
51Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other750$60,990$29.320.7
52Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses690$39,290$18.890.5
53First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers680$63,690$30.620.4
54Receptionists and Information Clerks680$29,790$14.320.7
55Social and Human Service Assistants680$34,660$16.660.3
56Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics670$33,310$16.010.5
57Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers650$47,390$22.780.4
58Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products640$61,340$29.490.85
59Medical Assistants630$30,760$14.790.45
60Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria610$25,830$12.420.3
61Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers580$80,350$38.630.65
62Electricians520$53,110$25.530.45
63Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers520$23,880$11.480.75
64Paralegals and Legal Assistants520$53,660$25.80.2
65Pharmacy Technicians520$29,380$14.120.3
66Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel520$59,870$28.780.7
67Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity470$25,470$12.240.3
68First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers460$63,570$30.560.3
69Human Resources Specialists450$58,300$28.030.4
70Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants440$39,920$19.190.1
71Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers430$43,940$21.120.35
72Management Analysts420$63,530$30.540.55
73Administrative Services and Facilities Managers410$72,550$34.880
74Childcare Workers400$22,500$10.820.7
75First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors400$57,120$27.460.3
76Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators400$46,120$22.170.05
77Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators390$48,820$23.470.2
78Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics390$31,210$15.010
79Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks390$37,070$17.820.2
80Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan390$30,030$14.440.1
81Bill and Account Collectors380$36,020$17.320.15
82Billing and Posting Clerks380$34,450$16.560.3
83Tellers380$29,430$14.150.25
84Driver/Sales Workers370$25,760$12.380.3
85Carpenters360$44,910$21.590.6
86Parts Salespersons360$31,620$15.20.2
87Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment350$23,940$11.510.3
88Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians350$49,680$23.880.2
89Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric350$257,690$123.890.3
90Civil Engineers340$85,870$41.290.2
91Industrial Machinery Mechanics340$50,500$24.280.2
92Training and Development Specialists330$49,530$23.810.2
93Financial Managers320$102,900$49.470.4
94First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers320$68,190$32.780.4
95Computer Occupations, All Other310$69,630$33.480.3
96Food Service Managers310$50,140$24.110.2
97Insurance Sales Agents310$71,950$34.590.3
98Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks310$31,450$15.120.4
99Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants300$51,330$24.680.35
100Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other300$73,150$35.170.7
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
You are visiting:

Additional Details

Charleston Colleges
Charleston colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Charleston Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$45,670110,480
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$36,35018,760
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$76,3309,720
Sales and Related Occupations$35,0209,530
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$23,6508,280
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,3507,920
Management Occupations$91,0705,850
Construction and Extraction Occupations$48,7005,730
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$58,0005,550
Healthcare Support Occupations$25,8705,400
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$43,8505,030
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$44,0804,900
Protective Service Occupations$31,8204,440
Fast Food and Counter Workers$20,7603,690
Retail Salespersons$25,6103,680
Production Occupations$43,7703,600
Registered Nurses$63,8703,530
Office Clerks, General$30,0403,450
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$25,3503,070
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$61,7303,040
Customer Service Representatives$35,0203,040
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$21,0302,470
Cashiers$22,3002,320
General and Operations Managers$90,7302,180
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$35,8401,940
Community and Social Service Occupations$41,9201,850
Personal Care and Service Occupations$25,4301,800
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$31,1101,780
Legal Occupations$81,0001,700
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$72,6001,650
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$37,8101,600
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$52,9501,480
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$59,8101,460
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$50,7901,440
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$37,5001,410
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$24,6901,370
Waiters and Waitresses$24,7501,120
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$52,4101,090
Nursing Assistants$26,7901,070
Stockers and Order Fillers$26,2901,070
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$45,3601,050
Lawyers$97,4501,010
Light Truck Drivers$36,210890
Construction Laborers$33,930880
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$36,160880
Accountants and Auditors$60,850840
Computer User Support Specialists$39,190810
Cooks, Restaurant$23,970810
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$23,500800
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$34,490790

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Charleston, West Virginia Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$45,670110,480
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$36,35018,760
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$76,3309,720
Sales and Related Occupations$35,0209,530
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,3507,920
Management Occupations$91,0705,850
Construction and Extraction Occupations$48,7005,730
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$58,0005,550
Healthcare Support Occupations$25,8705,400
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$43,8505,030
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$44,0804,900
Protective Service Occupations$31,8204,440
Retail Salespersons$25,6103,680
Production Occupations$43,7703,600
Registered Nurses$63,8703,530
Office Clerks, General$30,0403,450
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$25,3503,070
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$61,7303,040
Customer Service Representatives$35,0203,040
General and Operations Managers$90,7302,180
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$35,8401,940
Community and Social Service Occupations$41,9201,850
Personal Care and Service Occupations$25,4301,800
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$31,1101,780
Legal Occupations$81,0001,700
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$72,6001,650
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$37,8101,600
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$52,9501,480
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$59,8101,460
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$50,7901,440
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$37,5001,410
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$52,4101,090
Nursing Assistants$26,7901,070
Stockers and Order Fillers$26,2901,070
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$45,3601,050
Lawyers$97,4501,010
Light Truck Drivers$36,210890
Construction Laborers$33,930880
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$36,160880
Accountants and Auditors$60,850840
Computer User Support Specialists$39,190810
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$34,490790
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$60,990750
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$39,290690
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$63,690680
Receptionists and Information Clerks$29,790680
Social and Human Service Assistants$34,660680
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$33,310670
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$47,390650
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,340640

Career and College Resources on CityTownInfo

Real-World Career Reports

Career Stories from workers: daily activities, job tips, best/worst job aspects, training, etc.
Daily Career & Education News from our staff. We're an approved Google News provider!

Career References and Original Articles

Resource Center. A starting point for all CityTownInfo career and college resources.
Career Overviews of hundreds of careers: descriptions, salaries, forecasts, schools, more.
Best Careers Not Requiring Degrees: Good pay, job growth, low need for degrees.
Helpful Articles, many in "how-to" format; e.g., "How to Become a Chef".
Infographics covering employment and educational trends.

College Directories and Lists

These lists link to thousands of detailed school profiles.

Colleges by State. Nearly every college and trade school in the country.
Colleges Listed Alphabetically. About 7,000 colleges & trade schools, including online schools.
Colleges by Major City. Browse cities with multiple college options.
Online Colleges. Colleges with online degree programs.
Graduate Schools by State. Colleges offering graduate degree programs.
Graduate Schools by Major City. Find cities with multiple graduate school options.