How Much Does a CNA Make in West Virginia in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in West Virginia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · West Virginia · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical CNA in West Virginia earns about $17.66 per hour ($36,720 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That's about 13% below the national figure of $20.32 an hour ($42,260 a year), and West Virginia ranks 46th out of 51 states and the District of Columbia for CNA pay.
Around 9,390 CNAs work across the state, a workforce large enough to support steady demand in hospitals, nursing homes, and home care settings.
How much does a CNA make in West Virginia?
CNA pay by career stage in West Virginia
| Career stage | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $31,060$14.93 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $35,460$17.05 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $36,720$17.66 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $38,410$18.47 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $45,290$21.77 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
CNA pay growth in West Virginia
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in West Virginia · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
West Virginia CNA pay has climbed steadily over the past decade. In 2015, the typical CNA earned $23,020 a year; by 2025, that figure reached $36,720, a 60% rise in ten years, or about $13,700 more in annual pay.
Nationally, CNA pay rose 64% over the same period, so West Virginia's gains have tracked close behind the country as a whole. For someone starting as a CNA in West Virginia now, the record shows pay that has moved up nearly every year since 2015, though nothing about that pattern guarantees future increases.
CNA salary by city in West Virginia
Pay varies by metro area within West Virginia; these figures cover each city's full metro area. Martinsburg posts the highest typical pay in the state, at $41,870 a year ($20.13 an hour). Huntington ($37,140) and Wheeling ($36,910) follow next.
Beckley posts the lowest typical pay among the state's metro areas, at $35,810, putting the spread between the highest- and lowest-paying cities at $6,060 a year. As with pay elsewhere, higher figures in a given city often track a higher cost of living there.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs West Virginia | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martinsburg | $41,870 | $20.13 | +14% | 970 |
| 2 | Huntington | $37,140 | $17.86 | +1% | 1,950 |
| 3 | Wheeling | $36,910 | $17.75 | +1% | 910 |
| 4 | Charleston | $36,250 | $17.43 | -1% | 1,380 |
| 5 | Parkersburg metro incl. Vienna | $36,220 | $17.42 | -1% | 400 |
| 6 | Weirton metro incl. Steubenville | $36,190 | $17.40 | -1% | 660 |
| 7 | Morgantown | $35,880 | $17.25 | -2% | 1,310 |
| 8 | Beckley | $35,810 | $17.22 | -2% | 590 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · West Virginia typical pay $36,720
How West Virginia compares with nearby states
West Virginia's neighbors mostly pay more. Pennsylvania ($44,590) and Maryland ($43,240) both run 18-21% higher than West Virginia's typical CNA pay, with Virginia close behind at $43,200. Ohio ($39,010) and Kentucky ($38,370) run closer to West Virginia's figures. A CNA licensed in one state can often test or transfer into a nearby one, so nearby pay is worth knowing.
| State | Typical pay | Vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $36,720 | baseline |
| Pennsylvania | $44,590 | +21% |
| Maryland | $43,240 | +18% |
| Virginia | $43,200 | +18% |
| Ohio | $39,010 | +6% |
| Kentucky | $38,370 | +4% |
Bordering states, ranked by typical CNA pay · BLS OES May 2025
Is West Virginia a good state for CNAs?
CNAs in West Virginia earn less than in most states: typical pay is $36,720 a year, 13% below the national figure, ranking 46th of 51. For every 1,000 jobs in West Virginia, about 13 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. That makes the local economy more reliant on CNAs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year. Pay trails the national figure here, but demand does not: CNAs make up a larger share of West Virginia's workforce than in most states.
Summary
A typical CNA in West Virginia earns $36,720 a year ($17.66 an hour) as of May 2025, up 60% from a decade earlier. For details on certification requirements, check West Virginia's state registry page. For pay figures in a specific city, from Martinsburg to Beckley, see the city pages linked above.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in West Virginia?
- A typical CNA in West Virginia earns **$17.66 an hour**, or about **$36,720 a year**, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Experienced CNAs often earn upwards of $21.77 an hour, or around $45,290 a year.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in West Virginia?
- The typical hourly pay for a CNA in West Virginia is **$17.66**, according to May 2025 wage data. Hourly pay ranges from about $14.93 for entry-level positions up to $21.77 an hour for the most experienced CNAs.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in West Virginia?
- Entry-level CNA positions in West Virginia typically offer around **$14.93 an hour**, or about **$31,060 a year**, according to May 2025 wage data. Pay rises with experience, with typical pay reaching $17.66 an hour statewide.
- Which city in West Virginia pays CNAs the most?
- **Martinsburg** pays CNAs the most in West Virginia, with typical pay of **$41,870 a year** ($20.13 an hour). Huntington and Wheeling follow, while Beckley posts the lowest typical pay among the state's metro areas, at $35,810 a year.
- Is CNA pay in West Virginia higher than the national rate?
- No. CNA pay in West Virginia runs **about 13% below** the national figure. The typical West Virginia CNA earns $17.66 an hour ($36,720 a year), compared with $20.32 an hour ($42,260 a year) nationally.