How to Become a Engineering Manager in West Virginia: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median engineering manager salary in West Virginia is $149,430 per year - 13% below the national median of $171,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited engineering bachelor’s + experience; often an MBA or MEM.
How to Become a Engineering Manager in West Virginia
1. Work as an engineer first
Any of the engineering paths on this site - the bachelor’s plus several years of practice.
2. Take technical lead roles
Leading designs and mentoring juniors is the proving ground.
3. Add the management layer
An online MEM or MBA, or internal leadership development programs.
4. Hold the PE where required
Firms sealing engineering work generally require licensed managers.
5. Advance
Department head, director of engineering, VP of engineering.
Requirements in West Virginia
The education path is national - ABET-accredited engineering bachelor’s + experience; often an MBA or MEM - while licensing runs through the West Virginia state board of professional engineers: PE license commonly required for firms sealing work. Verify current requirements with the West Virginia state board of professional engineers before enrolling, as details change.
Engineering Manager Salary in West Virginia
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| West Virginia entry level (10th percentile) | $103,690 |
| West Virginia 25th-75th percentile | $122,760 - $177,740 |
| West Virginia median | $149,430 |
| West Virginia top earners (90th percentile) | $211,550 |
| U.S. median | $171,270 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 420.
The West Virginia Job Market: Engineering Manager
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in West Virginia | 420 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 0.60 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 0.42 |
| Mean annual wage in West Virginia | $154,690 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.42, West Virginia employs architectural and engineering managers at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $120,810 |
| 25th | $139,360 |
| 50th (median) | $171,270 |
| 75th | $212,500 |
| 90th | $262,760 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 212,500 |
| 2034 projected | 220,500 |
| Percent change | +3.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a engineering manager make in West Virginia?
The median annual wage for architectural and engineering managers in West Virginia is $149,430 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 13% below the national median of $171,270.
How to become a engineering manager in West Virginia?
The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited engineering bachelor's + experience; often an MBA or MEM - with licensing through the West Virginia state board of professional engineers: PE license commonly required for firms sealing work. See the steps on this page.
How many architectural and engineering managers work in West Virginia?
BLS counts about 420 architectural and engineering managers employed in West Virginia (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Engineering Manager in Nearby States
- Engineering Manager in Virginia
- Engineering Manager in Washington
- Engineering Manager in Wisconsin
- Engineering Manager in Wyoming
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Architectural and Engineering Managers (SOC 11-9041), West Virginia and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
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/.
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) |