How Much Does an RN Make in Charleston, WV in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Charleston, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across West Virginia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Charleston metro area
A typical RN in Charleston, West Virginia earns $38.57 per hour, or $80,230 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,686 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $51,110, and the top 10% of earners make over $138,850.
That pay is right at the West Virginia figure of $80,130 and 18% below the national figure of $97,550. Charleston ranks 3rd of 8 metro areas in West Virginia for RN pay. About 4,320 RNs work in the Charleston area.
RN pay in Charleston at a glance
- Typical pay is $38.57 an hour, or $80,230 a year.
- That is right at the West Virginia figure, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $51,110; the top 10% make over $138,850.
- Typical pay rose +43% from 2015 to 2025, against +41% for West Virginia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Charleston?
Pay in Charleston runs from entry-level positions at around $24.57 an hour to more than $66.75 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the West Virginia and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Charleston
| Career stage | Charleston | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $51,110$24.57 an hour | $57,210$27.50 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $67,280$32.34 an hour | $68,160$32.77 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $80,230$38.57 an hour | $80,130$38.52 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $104,310$50.15 an hour | $99,770$47.97 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $138,850$66.75 an hour | $131,760$63.35 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Charleston area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Charleston
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Charleston area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Charleston was $55,920 a year. By 2025 it had reached $80,230, a change of +43%, compared with +41% for West Virginia over the same years.
How Charleston compares with other West Virginia cities
Martinsburg pays RNs the most in West Virginia at $92,770 a year, $12,540 more than Charleston. The lowest-paying area in the state is Steubenville at $77,400.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Charleston | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martinsburg | $92,770 | $44.60 | +16% | 2,240 |
| 2 | Huntington | $81,010 | $38.95 | +1% | 5,580 |
| 3 | Charleston | $80,230 | $38.57 | this city | 4,320 |
| 4 | Morgantown | $80,130 | $38.52 | 0% | 4,510 |
| 5 | Vienna metro incl. Parkersburg | $79,000 | $37.98 | -2% | 910 |
| 6 | Beckley | $78,680 | $37.83 | -2% | 1,320 |
| 7 | Wheeling | $78,280 | $37.63 | -2% | 1,680 |
| 8 | Weirton metro incl. Steubenville | $77,400 | $37.21 | -4% | 1,190 |
Every metro area in West Virginia with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · West Virginia typical pay $80,130
Is Charleston a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Charleston earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $80,230 a year, 18% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Charleston area, about 42 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. That makes the local economy more reliant on RNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Charleston, WV?
- A typical RN in Charleston earns $80,230 a year, or $38.57 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $51,110 and the top 10% earn over $138,850.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Charleston?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Charleston is $38.57. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $24.57, and the top 10% earn over $66.75 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Charleston?
- Entry-level RN positions in Charleston typically offer around $24.57 an hour, or $51,110 a year.
- Is RN pay in Charleston higher than in the rest of West Virginia?
- Charleston pay is right at the West Virginia figure of $80,130 a year, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state. Martinsburg pays the most in West Virginia at $92,770.