Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in West Virginia
The median payroll specialist in West Virginia earned $47,460 a year in May 2025[1], 18.5% below the US median of $58,260. That puts West Virginia at #48 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $30,990 | $47,460 | $63,390 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in West Virginia earns $36,020–$60,860; the top tenth earns $63,390 or more, 2.0 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the West Virginia median that makes about $67,800 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for payroll specialists we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in West Virginia
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $61,070 | 170 | |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $56,160 | 40 | |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $55,120 | 30 | |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $55,500 | 100 | |
| Charleston, WV | $54,320 | 80 | |
| Morgantown, WV | $53,300 | 50 | |
| Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $59,660 | 70 |
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area pays the most ($58,100) and Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area the least ($35,720): $22,380 a year apart for the same job.
What a payroll specialist does
A payroll specialist prepares payroll runs, checks hours and deductions, keeps employee pay records and answers staff questions about their pay.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | +5.2% | |
| South Dakota | +0.5% | |
| West Virginia | +0.0% | |
| Alabama | -2.7% | |
| Arkansas | -2.8% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in West Virginia?
The median was $47,460 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $36,020 to $60,860.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in West Virginia?
About $67,800 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in West Virginia do payroll specialists earn the most?
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area, with a median of $58,100 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.