Women in West Virginia: Pay, Representation, and Firsts
Everything the data says about women in West Virginia — pay, legislature representation, historical firsts, and how the state ranks against the rest of the US.
Where West Virginia sits
Women in West Virginia earn 73.6 cents for every dollar men earn — a gap of 26.4%. That puts West Virginia #48 out of the 51 US jurisdictions on pay equity — bottom decile. The women-in-legislature figure of 13.4% ranks West Virginia #50 nationally — below 20%, among the lowest.
Notable firsts & figures
Shelley Moore Capito (Senate 2015-present) — first woman US Senator. Lowest state legislature women's share in the US (13.4%).
- First woman US Senator: 2015
- No woman yet elected governor of West Virginia.
- Largest city: Charleston
Professions in West Virginia
State-adjusted pay and gap figures for women in 20 common professions in West Virginia. Each page combines national BLS medians with West Virginia’s Census ACS wage environment.
Fields in West Virginia
Related national data
Frequently asked
What is the gender pay gap in West Virginia?
Women in West Virginia earn 73.6% of what men earn — a gap of 26.4%. Census ACS S2001 data.
How many women are in West Virginia’s state legislature?
13.4% of West Virginia state legislators are women — rank #50 nationally among 51 US jurisdictions (CAWP 2024).
Has West Virginia elected a woman governor?
No — West Virginia has never elected a woman governor.
Has West Virginia elected a woman US Senator?
Yes — the first woman US Senator from West Virginia took office in 2015.
How many women does West Virginia send to Congress?
1 women from West Virginia serve in the 119th US Congress (House + Senate, 2025-27).