Healthcare Recruiting
Registered Nurse Salary in West Virginia 2026: City-by-City Pay Data
Registered Nurse Salary in West Virginia (2026): City-by-City Pay Data
The average registered nurse salary in West Virginia in 2026 is $58,100/year ($27.93/hour). West Virginia has the lowest average RN salary of any state, but HPSA loan forgiveness programs, rural nursing incentives, and very low cost of living significantly change the net financial picture. WVU Medicine in Morgantown commands the highest rates in the state.
RN Salary by City in West Virginia
| City / Metro | Avg Annual Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $63,000 | CAMC — Level I trauma; highest general market pay in WV |
| Morgantown | $64,500 | WVU Medicine — academic premium; transplant, cancer, children's hospital |
| Huntington | $59,000 | Marshall Health / Cabell Huntington — Tri-State area (WV/KY/OH) |
| Wheeling (Northern WV) | $60,000 | Wheeling Hospital (WVU Medicine) — Northern panhandle; near Pittsburgh |
| Southern WV (Logan / Beckley) | $56,500 | ARH, Raleigh General — coalfields; rural nursing shortage with loan forgiveness |
Top West Virginia Healthcare Employers for RNs
- WVU Medicine (Morgantown) — highest academic pay in WV; transplant, oncology, pediatric specialty premiums
- Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) — Level I trauma; largest hospital by beds in WV
- Marshall Health / Cabell Huntington (Huntington) — Tri-State academic system
- ARH (Appalachian Regional) — rural Southern WV and Eastern KY; NHSC loan forgiveness available
Compact License Status
West Virginia is an NLC compact state. RNs with a multistate license from another compact state can practice in West Virginia without a separate endorsement.
West Virginia RN Job Market Outlook
WV has the highest unmet nursing need per capita in the country. Rural WV has near-universal HPSA designation — every RN who commits to rural WV practice qualifies for NHSC loan forgiveness. Travel RN rates in Charleston run $1,600–$2,000/week with housing stipends. Opioid crisis aftermath continues to drive demand for addiction nursing and psychiatric specialties.
Related: RN Salary Ohio 2026, RN Salary Kentucky 2026, West Virginia RN License Guide.
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