The median math teacher salary in West Virginia was $56,610 for high school teachers and $57,210 for middle school teachers as of May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These figures cover teachers of all subjects, including math. Both sit below the national medians of $72,040 and $64,370.
If you’re planning to teach math in West Virginia, your grade band barely changes your pay, but the state line does. West Virginia’s medians are the lowest of any state it borders, and the highest metro figures come from areas that cross into Maryland, Virginia, Ohio or Kentucky. Here’s what BLS reports for the state, its neighbors, each metro area, and the job outlook through 2034.
West Virginia Math Teacher Salary by Grade Level
BLS has no separate math teacher category, so any figure for math teacher salary in West Virginia comes from its high school and middle school teacher data. Those figures cover all subjects, math included. West Virginia employed 3,590 high school teachers and 4,090 middle school teachers as of May 2025.
| Occupation | Employed | Median Annual Wage | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High School Teachers | 3,590 | $56,610 | $60,870 | $64,040 |
| Middle School Teachers | 4,090 | $57,210 | $59,850 | $63,130 |
Middle school teachers earned $600 more than high school teachers at the median. The order flips higher up the scale: the high school 75th percentile is $1,020 above the middle school figure, and the 90th percentile is $910 above it.
What Top Earners Make in West Virginia
The top 10% of high school teachers in West Virginia earned $64,040 or more as of May 2025, only $7,430 above the state median. Nationally, the 90th percentile for high school teachers was $107,600.
The middle school range is just as tight. West Virginia’s 90th percentile for middle school teachers was $63,130, which is $5,920 above the middle school median, against $102,540 nationally. BLS percentiles aren’t experience levels, so don’t read the 90th percentile as what a 20-year veteran earns. West Virginia sets a state minimum salary schedule and county boards add their own supplements, so check the posted schedule for the county where you apply.
How West Virginia Compares to Neighboring States
West Virginia high school teachers earned $15,430 less than the national median of $72,040 as of May 2025. Middle school teachers sit closer, $7,160 below the national median of $64,370. You can check salary figures for every state on our national math teacher salary page.
West Virginia borders five states, and all five pay more at the median in both grade bands. Kentucky is closest, $4,950 above West Virginia for high school and $3,910 for middle school. Ohio and Pennsylvania tie for the highest high school median, at $78,800. Maryland has the highest middle school median, at $78,510. Virginia math teacher salaries fall in between, at $72,170 for high school and $63,520 for middle school.
| State | High School Median | Middle School Median |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $56,610 | $57,210 |
| Kentucky | $61,560 | $61,120 |
| Maryland | $78,670 | $78,510 |
| Ohio | $78,800 | $77,090 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,800 | $77,930 |
| Virginia | $72,170 | $63,520 |
Math Teacher Salaries in West Virginia Cities
The three metro areas entirely inside West Virginia all sit below the state median. Charleston’s high school median was $55,800 and Beckley’s was $54,960 as of May 2025. BLS didn’t publish a high school figure for Morgantown, whose middle school median was $56,740.
The higher figures come from metros that cross state lines. Among the metros centered in West Virginia, Huntington-Ashland leads for high school at $61,300 and Wheeling leads for middle school at $60,360. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro, which reaches into the Eastern Panhandle, posts the highest medians of all, at $80,300 and $77,350, but nearly all of its teachers work outside West Virginia.
This table lists all nine metro areas in the BLS data that include part of West Virginia, with medians for both grade bands. The three West Virginia metros come first. The six cross-border metros follow, and their figures cover both sides of the state line. BLS didn’t publish a high school median for Morgantown or a middle school median for Winchester.
| Metro Area | High School Median | Middle School Median | Employed (High / Middle) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beckley, WV | $54,960 | $55,640 | 170 / 290 |
| Charleston, WV | $55,800 | $56,970 | 330 / 480 |
| Morgantown, WV | Not published | $56,740 | 270 (middle only) |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $80,300 | $77,350 | 20,400 / 14,890 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $62,180 | $63,420 | 680 / 730 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $60,590 | Not published | 450 (high only) |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $61,300 | $57,390 | 920 / 950 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $59,150 | $59,220 | 300 / 330 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $61,210 | $60,360 | 390 / 440 |
Job Outlook for Math Teachers in West Virginia
West Virginia’s teaching workforce is projected to shrink a little over the next decade, but openings will keep coming as teachers retire or leave. Projections Central estimates employment of high school teachers in West Virginia will decline 3.2% between 2024 and 2034, from 3,260 to 3,160 jobs, with an average of 190 openings per year. Middle school teaching employment is projected to decline 3.5%, from 3,740 to 3,610 jobs, with an average of 230 openings per year.
These are West Virginia projections from WorkForce West Virginia’s labor market information office. Together, the two grade bands add up to about 420 openings a year statewide.
The national picture is flat. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects little or no change in employment of high school teachers from 2025 to 2035, from 1,087,500 to 1,085,000 jobs, with about 63,500 openings a year. Employment of middle school teachers is projected to go from 630,100 to 627,400 over the same period, also little or no change, with about 38,800 openings a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do math teachers make in West Virginia?
High school teachers in West Virginia earned a median annual salary of $56,610 as of May 2025, and middle school teachers earned $57,210, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS reports these figures for teachers of all subjects, including math.
Which West Virginia city pays math teachers the most?
Among metros centered in West Virginia, Huntington-Ashland has the highest high school median at $61,300 as of May 2025, and Wheeling has the highest middle school median at $60,360. Both cross state lines, so their figures include teachers in Kentucky or Ohio. Of the metros entirely inside the state, Charleston has the higher high school median, at $55,800.
Do high school math teachers earn more than middle school math teachers in West Virginia?
Not at the median. Middle school teachers earned $57,210 as of May 2025, $600 more than high school teachers. High school teachers pull ahead at the top, with a 90th percentile of $64,040 against $63,130 for middle school.
How does West Virginia math teacher pay compare to nearby states?
West Virginia has the lowest high school and middle school medians of the six states in its region: itself and the five it borders. Kentucky is closest, with a $61,560 high school median. Ohio and Pennsylvania lead for high school at $78,800, and Maryland leads for middle school at $78,510.
Is West Virginia adding math teaching jobs?
No. Projections Central estimates high school teaching employment in West Virginia will decline 3.2% and middle school teaching employment 3.5% between 2024 and 2034. The state still expects about 190 high school and 230 middle school openings each year as teachers retire or leave.
- State median: West Virginia high school teachers earned a $56,610 median and middle school teachers $57,210 as of May 2025, across all subjects.
- Narrow pay range: The top 10% of high school teachers start at $64,040, only $7,430 above the state median.
- Lowest in the region: All five bordering states pay more at the median, from Kentucky’s $61,560 to $78,800 in Ohio and Pennsylvania for high school.
- Cross-border metros pay more: The three metros entirely inside West Virginia sit below the state median, while Huntington-Ashland and Wheeling lead the state-centered metros at $61,300 and $61,210 for high school.
- Steady openings: Employment is projected to decline about 3% by 2034, and West Virginia still expects about 420 high school and middle school openings a year.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Middle School Teachers and High School Teachers, which include teachers of all subjects. Job growth projections (2024-2034) are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed October 2026. National job outlook figures (2025-2035) are from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
If you plan to teach math in West Virginia, compare programs by the grade band they certify you for and whether they can place your student teaching in the county where you want to work. The schools listed here include online options for career changers who keep a job while they train.