Minimum wage by state · West Virginia
Minimum Wage in West Virginia (2026)
In 2026, the minimum wage in West Virginia is $8.75 an hour — about $18,200 a year full-time, and the 22nd-highest of the 51 states and DC. Here's what that wage works out to in real terms and how it stacks up against the federal floor and the highest-paying state.
- West Virginia minimum wage $8.75/hr effective 2026 rate
- Full-time a year $18,200 40 hrs/wk, 52 wks
- vs federal $7.25 +$1.50 above federal $7.25
Minimum wage in West Virginia
The 2026 minimum wage in West Virginia is $8.75 an hour. That is $1.50 (about 21%) above the federal minimum of $7.25. Because the effective minimum is always the higher of the state or federal rate, workers here are entitled to the state's $8.75 — well clear of the $7.25 federal floor.
$8.75 an hour, in real terms
An hourly figure is abstract until you scale it up. Here is what $8.75 an hour becomes over a week and a full year of full-time work:
Full-time at $8.75 an hour — 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year — works out to about $18,200 a year before taxes. That is roughly $3,120 more than the $15,080 a full-time job at the $7.25 federal minimum would pay, and about $20,072 less than the $38,272 earned at District of Columbia's nation-leading $18.4. To see what actually lands in a paycheck after tax, run the numbers with the take-home pay calculator.
How West Virginia compares
Among all 51 states and DC, West Virginia's $8.75 is the 22nd-highest of the 51 states and DC. The federal minimum is $7.25, and the highest anywhere is District of Columbia at $18.4, about $9.65 above West Virginia. West Virginia is one of the 31 states and DC that pay above the federal floor. For the full picture — every state ranked, the highest and lowest, and how the map has shifted — see minimum wage by state. You can also compare any two states with the minimum wage by state calculator.
Minimum wage in West Virginia — FAQ
What is the minimum wage in West Virginia in 2026?
The 2026 minimum wage in West Virginia is $8.75 per hour. That is $1.50 (about 21%) above the federal minimum of $7.25. Because the effective minimum is always the higher of the state or federal rate, no employer covered by the law may pay less.
How much is minimum wage a year in West Virginia?
At $8.75 an hour, full-time work (40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year) comes to about $18,200 a year before taxes, roughly $3,120 more than the $15,080 a full-time federal-minimum job pays. Use the take-home pay calculator to see what lands in your pocket after tax.
Is West Virginia's minimum wage above the federal minimum?
Yes. At $8.75, West Virginia sits $1.50 (about 21%) above the $7.25 federal minimum. It is one of the 31 states and DC that pay above the federal floor.
How does West Virginia's minimum wage rank nationally?
Among all 51 states and DC, West Virginia's $8.75 is the 22nd-highest of the 51 states and DC. The highest is District of Columbia at $18.4; the federal floor is $7.25.
Data: U.S. Department of Labor, via APIVerve. Our tables, charts and text are licensed CC BY 4.0: reuse them freely, including commercially, as long as you credit us. Cite as: Digest Your Finances, “Minimum Wage by State”, https://digestyourfinances.com/studies/minimum-wage-by-state/west-virginia/ — based on U.S. Department of Labor. CC BY 4.0.
