West Virginia Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your West Virginia take-home pay — federal tax, West Virginia's progressive state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare all included.
West Virginia payroll tax overview
West Virginia uses a progressive income tax with five brackets, from 2.36% up to a top rate of 4.82% — rates that have been cut several times in recent years as part of ongoing tax reform.
West Virginia does not add any state-specific payroll deduction on top of income tax, and there are no local city or county income taxes for most residents — your total withholding is federal tax + Social Security + Medicare + West Virginia's progressive state tax.
Worked example
A single filer earning $75,000/year in West Virginia, paid biweekly:
| Item | Per paycheck | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,884.62 | $75,000.00 |
| Federal income tax | ≈ $313.00 | ≈ $8,140.00 |
| Social Security | $178.85 | $4,650.00 |
| Medicare | $41.83 | $1,087.50 |
| West Virginia state tax | ≈ $111.79 | ≈ $2,906.50 |
| Net pay | ≈ $2,239.08 | ≈ $58,216.00 |
Local income context: how West Virginia compares
According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, West Virginia's median household income is $60,798 — among the lowest in the country the 2024 national median of $81,604. West Virginia's income reflects the long decline of the coal industry that once anchored much of the state's economy — while coal and natural gas extraction remain present, the state has struggled to replace those jobs at similar wage levels, leaving the median among the lowest in the nation.
Median household income reflects a full household (often two earners), while the calculator above estimates take-home pay for a single individual's salary — so it's a useful benchmark for context rather than a direct comparison, but it helps illustrate how a given salary stacks up against typical earnings in West Virginia.
Frequently asked questions
How West Virginia compares to other states
At a 4.82% top rate, West Virginia sits toward the lower-middle of states with a progressive income tax, comparable to Missouri and lower than neighboring Virginia's top rate. Recent and ongoing rate cuts have made West Virginia increasingly competitive on income tax compared to its regional neighbors.
West Virginia cost-of-living context
West Virginia's cost of living is among the lowest in the country, with housing costs well below the national average across virtually the entire state. This low cost of living, combined with recent tax cuts, means take-home pay stretches notably further than in many other states.
More frequently asked questions
West Virginia minimum wage context
West Virginia follows a state minimum wage close to the federal rate, with no additional city-level minimum wage in the state. The statewide rate applies uniformly if you're entering an hourly figure into this calculator.