What apprenticeships are available for construction trades workers in West Virginia?

In West Virginia, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Workforce West Virginia - Apprenticeships, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in West Virginia (2026)

Q: How much do construction trades workers earn in West Virginia?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), construction trades workers in West Virginia earned a median annual wage of approximately $42,670. Employment concentration in West Virginia is about 1.34 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in West Virginia?

West Virginia currently employs approximately 6,620 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.3% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

West Virginia construction laborers earn a median annual wage of $42,670 ($20.51/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 6,620 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -9.4% below the national median of $47,120 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $42,670 ($20.51/hr)
25th percentile: $35,620 per year
75th percentile: $54,780 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $60,550 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $30,770 per year
Workers employed in West Virginia: 6,620
Versus national median: -9.4% below the U.S. median of $47,120
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.34 - this occupation is more concentrated in West Virginia than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

West Virginia employs about 6,620 construction trades workers earning a median $42,670 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most construction trades workers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in West Virginia.

Compare Construction Trades Worker Schools in West Virginia

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Buckeye Hills Career Center	70.4	Contact school for pricing	$42,114	90%	—	62 mi
2	Mid-EastCTC-Adult Education	64.1	Contact school for pricing	$53,648	72%	—	96 mi
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3	Buckeye Joint Vocational School	62.3	Contact school for pricing	$33,784	88%	—	125 mi
4	Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools	58.9	Contact school for pricing	$44,754	81%	—	121 mi
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5	BridgeValley Community & Technical College	55.3	$5,800 in-state / $12,428 out-of-state	$57,464	34%	Yes*	31 mi
6	Wytheville Community College	54.3	$5,007 in-state / $11,445 out-of-state	$41,816	47%	Yes*	118 mi
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7	Virginia Western Community College	54.1	$5,400 in-state / $11,838 out-of-state	$48,004	40%	Yes*	120 mi
8	New River Community College	53.9	$4,979 in-state / $11,417 out-of-state	$49,197	50%	Yes*	112 mi
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9	Zane State College	51.7	$6,006 in-state / $11,766 out-of-state	$41,949	46%	Yes*	99 mi
10	Southwest Virginia Community College	48.9	$5,075 in-state / $11,513 out-of-state	$43,371	46%	Yes*	112 mi
Sponsored Ad

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

West Virginia employs approximately 6,620 construction trades workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $42,670 ¹. The state’s concentration of construction trades worker jobs is 1.34x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 129,400 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Construction Trades Worker in West Virginia, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (West Virginia): $42,670 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in West Virginia

How to become a Construction Trades Worker in West Virginia? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for construction trades workers in West Virginia.

How long does it take? Most paths into the construction trades worker field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do construction trades workers earn in West Virginia? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in West Virginia is $42,670 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $30,770 and experienced professionals can earn $60,550 or more ¹.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in West Virginia

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most West Virginia training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in West Virginia that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to construction trades workers in West Virginia before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Construction Trades Worker Apprenticeship Information in West Virginia

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. West Virginia’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Workforce West Virginia - Apprenticeships ³.

Contact Information:

Office: West Virginia Community and Technical College System
Address: 1018 Kanawha Blvd E., Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 558-0265
Email: [email protected]

Construction Trades Worker Wages by Metro Area in West Virginia

Construction Laborers Wages by Metro Area in West Virginia

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction laborers wages in West Virginia vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	17,710	$47,430	$49,670	$37,030	$62,800
Huntington-Ashland	1,580	$45,170	$48,950	$30,690	$66,990
Charleston	660	$47,770	$50,060	$31,200	$65,590
Morgantown	660	$44,340	$44,370	$30,160	$59,220
Hagerstown-Martinsburg	560	$42,830	$44,450	$33,440	$58,030
Wheeling	450	$45,800	$49,960	$33,540	$71,020
Winchester	350	$42,160	$42,210	$34,780	$51,790
Parkersburg-Vienna	340	$41,650	$43,480	$31,310	$59,070
Beckley	320	$36,310	$41,800	$29,340	$61,120
Weirton-Steubenville	300	$44,840	$49,420	$33,280	$71,440

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in West Virginia? West Virginia currently employs approximately 6,620 construction trades workers ¹. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in West Virginia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in West Virginia. You can also contact the Workforce West Virginia - Apprenticeships for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do construction trades workers earn in West Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in West Virginia is $42,670, which is $4,060 below the national median of $46,730 according to BLS data ¹.

In West Virginia

Best Trade Schools in West Virginia (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in West Virginia

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Workforce West Virginia - Apprenticeships: https://workforcewv.org/images/files/job-seekers/REGISTERED_STATEWIDE_APPRENTICESHIP_SPONSORS.pdf ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)