West Virginia Minimum Wage
West Virginia's minimum wage is $8.75 an hour, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's State Minimum Wage Laws table, updated November 5, 2026.
- Rate in effect
- $8.75
- Federal minimum
- $7.25
- Full-time year
- $18,200
- State rank
- 31st of 51
Local ordinances and sector rates can be higher where state law allows them, and are not shown here. To confirm a local or sector rate, use the state agency listed on the Department of Labor's State Labor Offices page.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05. Checked against NCSL state minimum wage table (as of 2026-07-01); EPI 2026 table where listed. A full-time year is 2,080 hours, the convention BLS uses. Confirm the rate in the Department of Labor table. Table read November 10, 2026; rechecked on the January 1 and July 1 statutory change dates, next on January 1, 2027. Scheduled rates are shown where the Department of Labor or the state's own agency publishes one we could read; a state showing none may still have one, so check its labor office.
How does West Virginia's minimum wage compare with the federal rate?
The rate in West Virginia is $1.50 above the federal minimum of $7.25.
What is the tipped minimum wage in West Virginia?
Employers in West Virginia can pay tipped workers a cash wage of $2.62 an hour and count a tip credit of up to 70% of the applicable minimum wage ($6.13) toward the $8.75 combined rate.
The Department of Labor adds: The state minimum wage law applies only to employers with six or more employees and to state agencies.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, updated November 5, 2026.
How does the minimum compare with pay in West Virginia?
The lowest-paid tenth of jobs in West Virginia paid $12.53 an hour or less in May 2025, so the current minimum equals 70% of that line and 40% of the state's median hourly pay of $21.78.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, all occupations, hourly; minimum wage as listed on November 5, 2026. The wage figures are from May 2025, so a rate raised since then can sit above them. Confirm the wage figures in the OEWS tables at bls.gov.
Which occupations in West Virginia pay closest to the minimum?
Other gambling service workers have the 10th-percentile wage closest to $8.75, at $8.80 an hour, among occupations with at least 100 jobs.
| Occupation | 10th percentile | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gambling Service Workers, All Other | $8.80 | $9.15 | 300 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $9.01 | $11.25 | 300 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $9.02 | $12.54 | 6,240 |
| Driver/Sales Workers | $9.02 | $13.84 | 2,540 |
| Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners | $9.27 | $9.49 | 180 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $9.44 | $11.74 | 1,580 |
| Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers | $9.56 | $10.61 | 610 |
| Bartenders | $9.57 | $14.24 | 3,340 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $9.67 | $13.19 | 620 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $9.73 | $17.01 | 8,600 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, hourly wages. Confirm in the OEWS tables at bls.gov.