Parkersburg Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Parkersburg, WV: $20.19/hr median hourly wage, $42,000 median annual salary, cost of living index 78.2, and $8.75/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and West Virginia taxes.
Parkersburg Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Parkersburg, WV is $20.19/hr,and the median annual wage is $42,000. Entry-level pay estimates around $12.52/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $28.67/hr, and the local minimum wage is $8.75/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Parkersburg-Vienna, WV metropolitan statistical area (36,280 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Parkersburg shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$42,000
$20.19/hr
Cost of Living
78.2
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$8.75
per hour
Unemployment
4.4%
rate
Parkersburg, WV Overview
Population
29,675
Median Salary
$42,000
Average Salary
$54,630
Avg Commute
19 min
Median Home Price
$115,000
Median Rent
$500/mo
Job Growth
+2.3%
Sales Tax
6%
Parkersburg is located in West Virginia with a population of 29,675. The median annual wage across all occupations is $42,000 ($20.19/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Parkersburg-Vienna, WV metro), which is $8,980 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 19 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2.3%.
Parkersburg Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Parkersburg, WV built around the $42,000 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Parkersburg-Vienna, WV metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $26,040 | $12.52/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $42,000 | $20.19/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $59,640 | $28.67/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $74,760 | $35.94/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Parkersburg Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Parkersburg, WV, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$34,736
$2,894.67/month · $1,336.00/biweekly · Effective Rate: 17.3%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,336.00 take-home per paycheck after estimated West Virginia and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$42,000
Federal Tax
-$2,860
State Tax
-$1,191
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,213
Net Pay
$34,736
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $3,500.00 | $42,000.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$238.33 | -$2,860.00 |
| West Virginia State Tax (2.84% eff.) | -$99.24 | -$1,190.90 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$217.00 | -$2,604.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$50.75 | -$609.00 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $2,894.67 | $34,736.10 |
Salary Comparison: Parkersburg vs Other Cities
See how Parkersburg's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkersburg, WV | $42,000 | 78.2 | $53,708 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Granger, IN | $41,951 | 78.2 | $53,646 |
| Lawton, OK | $42,090 | 82.5 | $51,018 |
| Lubbock, TX | $42,130 | 84 | $50,155 |
| Dalton, GA | $42,210 | 82.8 | $50,978 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Parkersburg
Parkersburg's cost of living index is 78.2 (national average = 100). Living in Parkersburg is 21.799999999999997% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$115,000
Median Monthly Rent
$500
Annual Rent Cost
$6,000
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $34,736 annual take-home pay in Parkersburg has the purchasing power of approximately $44,420 in an average-cost US area. Your $42,000 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Parkersburg
Parkersburg's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $42,000.
Salary Tips for Parkersburg Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Parkersburg has a cost of living 21.799999999999997% below the national average. A salary of $42,000 here has the purchasing power of about $53,708 in an average-cost area.
- Research top industries. Parkersburg's top industries include Energy, Healthcare, Tourism. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $42,000 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Parkersburg salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Parkersburg-Vienna, WV metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Parkersburg indexed at 78.2.
- Median salary: $42,000 annual, $20.19 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Parkersburg-Vienna, WV MSA (36,280 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $54,630 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Parkersburg was $27,228.
- Tax burden reflects West Virginia 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 4.58%) (no local income tax), sales tax (6%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Parkersburg: 4.4%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Energy, Healthcare, Tourism, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.3% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for West Virginia.
- Housing context: median home price $115,000, median rent $500/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Parkersburg, WV:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Parkersburg unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Parkersburg QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, West Virginia, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Parkersburg's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent West Virginia labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Parkersburg, WV?
The median hourly wage in Parkersburg, WV is $20.19 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Parkersburg-Vienna, WV metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $42,000. Entry-level workers are estimated around $12.52/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $28.67/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Parkersburg, WV?
The median salary in Parkersburg, WV is $42,000 per year, or $20.19 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Parkersburg-Vienna, WV metro area). The BLS mean salary is $54,630. This is $8,980 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Parkersburg, WV?
Parkersburg's cost of living index is 78.2 (national average = 100), meaning it is 21.799999999999997% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $115,000 and the median monthly rent is $500.
What are the best industries in Parkersburg?
The top industries in Parkersburg, WV include Energy, Healthcare, Tourism. The city has a job growth rate of 2.3% and an unemployment rate of 4.4%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $42,000.
How does Parkersburg's salary compare to other cities?
Parkersburg's median salary of $42,000 is 17.6% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 78.2), the real purchasing power is approximately $53,708.
What is the minimum wage in Parkersburg, WV?
The minimum wage in Parkersburg, WV is $8.75 per hour. This equals approximately $18,200 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $1.50 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.