Counties in West Virginia by wages and salaries paid

Kanawha County had the highest wages and salaries paid of 55 counties in 2019, at $5.29 billion. Wirt County had the lowest, at $20.93 million. The median was $265.82 million and the figure for West Virginia was $33.41 billion. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

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Highest5,292.8Kanawha County
Lowest20.9Wirt County
Median265.855 counties
West Virginia33,413.6History

Map of counties, 2019

Barbour County: 164.7 USD millionBerkeley County: 1,732.6 USD millionBoone County: 235.7 USD millionBraxton County: 144.2 USD millionBrooke County: 363.8 USD millionCabell County: 2,558.8 USD millionCalhoun County: 55.6 USD millionClay County: 45.2 USD millionDoddridge County: 100 USD millionFayette County: 442.2 USD millionGilmer County: 83.3 USD millionGrant County: 150.6 USD millionGreenbrier County: 545.6 USD millionHampshire County: 140.3 USD millionHancock County: 423.1 USD millionHardy County: 221.4 USD millionHarrison County: 2,119.4 USD millionJackson County: 497.9 USD millionJefferson County: 832 USD millionKanawha County: 5,292.8 USD millionLewis County: 350.5 USD millionLincoln County: 90.4 USD millionLogan County: 489.6 USD millionMcDowell County: 217.8 USD millionMarion County: 873.5 USD millionMarshall County: 887.6 USD millionMason County: 267.9 USD millionMercer County: 819.8 USD millionMineral County: 369.4 USD millionMingo County: 265.8 USD millionMonongalia County: 3,302 USD millionMonroe County: 86.2 USD millionMorgan County: 108.1 USD millionNicholas County: 295.2 USD millionOhio County: 1,357.8 USD millionPendleton County: 51.3 USD millionPleasants County: 160 USD millionPocahontas County: 113.8 USD millionPreston County: 339.3 USD millionPutnam County: 1,245 USD millionRaleigh County: 1,527.5 USD millionRandolph County: 450 USD millionRitchie County: 155.5 USD millionRoane County: 127 USD millionSummers County: 90.3 USD millionTaylor County: 161 USD millionTucker County: 98.2 USD millionTyler County: 107.2 USD millionUpshur County: 332.7 USD millionWayne County: 413.3 USD millionWebster County: 63.4 USD millionWetzel County: 180.4 USD millionWirt County: 20.9 USD millionWood County: 1,661.5 USD millionWyoming County: 184.4 USD million
  • Under 100
  • 100 to 160
  • 160 to 270
  • 270 to 420
  • 420 to 890
  • 890 and over
USD million, 2019. Source: BEA, CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2019

Kanawha County: 5,292.8 USD millionKanawha County5,292.8Monongalia County: 3,302 USD millionMonongalia County3,302Cabell County: 2,558.8 USD millionCabell County2,558.8Harrison County: 2,119.4 USD millionHarrison County2,119.4Berkeley County: 1,732.6 USD millionBerkeley County1,732.6Wood County: 1,661.5 USD millionWood County1,661.5Raleigh County: 1,527.5 USD millionRaleigh County1,527.5Ohio County: 1,357.8 USD millionOhio County1,357.8Putnam County: 1,245 USD millionPutnam County1,245Marshall County: 887.6 USD millionMarshall County887.6Marion County: 873.5 USD millionMarion County873.5Jefferson County: 832 USD millionJefferson County832Mercer County: 819.8 USD millionMercer County819.8Greenbrier County: 545.6 USD millionGreenbrier County545.6Jackson County: 497.9 USD millionJackson County497.9Logan County: 489.6 USD millionLogan County489.6Randolph County: 450 USD millionRandolph County450Fayette County: 442.2 USD millionFayette County442.2Hancock County: 423.1 USD millionHancock County423.1Wayne County: 413.3 USD millionWayne County413.3Mineral County: 369.4 USD millionMineral County369.4Brooke County: 363.8 USD millionBrooke County363.8Lewis County: 350.5 USD millionLewis County350.5Preston County: 339.3 USD millionPreston County339.3Upshur County: 332.7 USD millionUpshur County332.7Nicholas County: 295.2 USD millionNicholas County295.2Mason County: 267.9 USD millionMason County267.9Mingo County: 265.8 USD millionMingo County265.8Boone County: 235.7 USD millionBoone County235.7Hardy County: 221.4 USD millionHardy County221.4McDowell County: 217.8 USD millionMcDowell County217.8Wyoming County: 184.4 USD millionWyoming County184.4Wetzel County: 180.4 USD millionWetzel County180.4Barbour County: 164.7 USD millionBarbour County164.7Taylor County: 161 USD millionTaylor County161Pleasants County: 160 USD millionPleasants County160Ritchie County: 155.5 USD millionRitchie County155.5Grant County: 150.6 USD millionGrant County150.6Braxton County: 144.2 USD millionBraxton County144.2Hampshire County: 140.3 USD millionHampshire County140.3Roane County: 127 USD millionRoane County127Pocahontas County: 113.8 USD millionPocahontas County113.8Morgan County: 108.1 USD millionMorgan County108.1Tyler County: 107.2 USD millionTyler County107.2Doddridge County: 100 USD millionDoddridge County100Tucker County: 98.2 USD millionTucker County98.2Lincoln County: 90.4 USD millionLincoln County90.4Summers County: 90.3 USD millionSummers County90.3Monroe County: 86.2 USD millionMonroe County86.2Gilmer County: 83.3 USD millionGilmer County83.3Webster County: 63.4 USD millionWebster County63.4Calhoun County: 55.6 USD millionCalhoun County55.6Pendleton County: 51.3 USD millionPendleton County51.3Clay County: 45.2 USD millionClay County45.2Wirt County: 20.9 USD millionWirt County20.9Kanawha County: 5,292.8 USD millionKanawha County5,292.8Monongalia County: 3,302 USD millionMonongalia County3,302Cabell County: 2,558.8 USD millionCabell County2,558.8Harrison County: 2,119.4 USD millionHarrison County2,119.4Berkeley County: 1,732.6 USD millionBerkeley County1,732.6Wood County: 1,661.5 USD millionWood County1,661.5Raleigh County: 1,527.5 USD millionRaleigh County1,527.5Ohio County: 1,357.8 USD millionOhio County1,357.8Putnam County: 1,245 USD millionPutnam County1,245Marshall County: 887.6 USD millionMarshall County887.6Marion County: 873.5 USD millionMarion County873.5Jefferson County: 832 USD millionJefferson County832Mercer County: 819.8 USD millionMercer County819.8Greenbrier County: 545.6 USD millionGreenbrier County545.6Jackson County: 497.9 USD millionJackson County497.9Logan County: 489.6 USD millionLogan County489.6Randolph County: 450 USD millionRandolph County450Fayette County: 442.2 USD millionFayette County442.2Hancock County: 423.1 USD millionHancock County423.1Wayne County: 413.3 USD millionWayne County413.3Mineral County: 369.4 USD millionMineral County369.4Brooke County: 363.8 USD millionBrooke County363.8Lewis County: 350.5 USD millionLewis County350.5Preston County: 339.3 USD millionPreston County339.3Upshur County: 332.7 USD millionUpshur County332.7Nicholas County: 295.2 USD millionNicholas County295.2Mason County: 267.9 USD millionMason County267.9Mingo County: 265.8 USD millionMingo County265.8Boone County: 235.7 USD millionBoone County235.7Hardy County: 221.4 USD millionHardy County221.4McDowell County: 217.8 USD millionMcDowell County217.8Wyoming County: 184.4 USD millionWyoming County184.4Wetzel County: 180.4 USD millionWetzel County180.4Barbour County: 164.7 USD millionBarbour County164.7Taylor County: 161 USD millionTaylor County161Pleasants County: 160 USD millionPleasants County160Ritchie County: 155.5 USD millionRitchie County155.5Grant County: 150.6 USD millionGrant County150.6Braxton County: 144.2 USD millionBraxton County144.2Hampshire County: 140.3 USD millionHampshire County140.3Roane County: 127 USD millionRoane County127Pocahontas County: 113.8 USD millionPocahontas County113.8Morgan County: 108.1 USD millionMorgan County108.1Tyler County: 107.2 USD millionTyler County107.2Doddridge County: 100 USD millionDoddridge County100Tucker County: 98.2 USD millionTucker County98.2Lincoln County: 90.4 USD millionLincoln County90.4Summers County: 90.3 USD millionSummers County90.3Monroe County: 86.2 USD millionMonroe County86.2Gilmer County: 83.3 USD millionGilmer County83.3Webster County: 63.4 USD millionWebster County63.4Calhoun County: 55.6 USD millionCalhoun County55.6Pendleton County: 51.3 USD millionPendleton County51.3Clay County: 45.2 USD millionClay County45.2Wirt County: 20.9 USD millionWirt County20.9
USD million. Source: BEA, CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2019
USD million
Change on 2018
1Kanawha County5,292.8+1.3%
2Monongalia County3,302+3.3%
3Cabell County2,558.8+4.6%
4Harrison County2,119.4+0.6%
5Berkeley County1,732.6+4.5%
6Wood County1,661.5+3.1%
7Raleigh County1,527.5+7%
8Ohio County1,357.8+0.9%
9Putnam County1,245-1.4%
10Marshall County887.6-17.2%
11Marion County873.5+2.4%
12Jefferson County832+3.7%
13Mercer County819.8+2.6%
14Greenbrier County545.6+2.6%
15Jackson County497.9-46.5%
16Logan County489.6+7.9%
17Randolph County450+3.7%
18Fayette County442.2+1.3%
19Hancock County423.1-1.3%
20Wayne County413.3+4.2%
21Mineral County369.4+4.6%
22Brooke County363.8+2.3%
23Lewis County350.5-1.6%
24Preston County339.3+3.6%
25Upshur County332.7+4.2%
26Nicholas County295.2-0.2%
27Mason County267.9+3.9%
28Mingo County265.8-6.7%
29Boone County235.7-13.2%
30Hardy County221.4+2.4%
31McDowell County217.8+3.3%
32Wyoming County184.4-11.4%
33Wetzel County180.4+5.7%
34Barbour County164.7+8.4%
35Taylor County161+5%
36Pleasants County160+9%
37Ritchie County155.5+1.2%
38Grant County150.6+3.8%
39Braxton County144.2+3.9%
40Hampshire County140.3+3.9%
41Roane County127+3.4%
42Pocahontas County113.8+3.4%
43Morgan County108.1+2.1%
44Tyler County107.2+1.7%
45Doddridge County100-6.3%
46Tucker County98.2-4.6%
47Lincoln County90.4+1.8%
48Summers County90.3+3.8%
49Monroe County86.2+3.3%
50Gilmer County83.3+1.6%
51Webster County63.4+0.6%
52Calhoun County55.6-0.2%
53Pendleton County51.3+1.5%
54Clay County45.2+6.7%
55Wirt County20.9+4.5%

Other periods

About this ranking

Total wages and salaries paid to employees for jobs located in a place, including tips, bonuses and pay in kind, before deductions, in millions of current US dollars. United States: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional accounts, table SAINC4 line 50 for the nation and states and CAINC4 line 50 for counties.

Counted where the jobs are, not where the workers live, so places with many commuters coming in can pay more in wages than their residents receive in personal income (the District of Columbia does). Excludes employer contributions to pensions, insurance and social security, and the income of the self-employed.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. (2026). CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents (Counties in West Virginia by wages and salaries paid, 2019) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip

MLA 9

CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents, Counties in West Virginia by wages and salaries paid, 2019. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 5 Feb. 2026, https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/west-virginia-counties?period=2019. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. 2026. CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Counties in West Virginia by wages and salaries paid, 2019. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/west-virginia-counties?period=2019.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2026) CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents, Counties in West Virginia by wages and salaries paid, 2019 [Dataset]. Available at: https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/west-virginia-counties?period=2019 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_west_virginia_2019,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis}},
  title = {{CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents: Counties in West Virginia by wages and salaries paid, 2019}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/west-virginia-counties?period=2019. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
TI  - CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents: Counties in West Virginia by wages and salaries paid, 2019
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/02/05
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/west-virginia-counties?period=2019
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/west-virginia-counties?period=2019.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest wages and salaries paid?

Kanawha County, with $5.29 billion in 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Which county has the lowest wages and salaries paid?

Wirt County, with $20.93 million in 2019.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Wages and salaries paid: other rankings

Counties in West Virginia: more rankings