What Is The Minimum Wage In West Virginia?

What is the minimum wage in West Virginia? – The minimum wage in West Virginia is $8.75 in 2021, the same amount per hour as the previous year. As of the writing of this article, this is $1.50 more than the federal minimum wage, While many states increase the minimum wage in accordance with the cost of living or inflation, the last time West Virginia decided to increase its minimum wage was in 2016 when it went up from $8.00 to $8.75.

• To further understand the minimum wage in West Virginia, you can refer to the latest minimum wage poster,
• There are a number of exceptions to the West Virginia minimum wage.
• Employers may be able to pay tipped employees less than the minimum wage if earned tips make up the difference.
• Student workers, part-time employees, and workers under 20 years old who are working for an employer for less than 90 days may be eligible to be paid less than the minimum wage.

Lastly, an employer with less than six non-exempt employees working at the same separate, distinct, and permanent work location may be able to pay employees less than the minimum wage.

What is a livable salary in West Virginia?

Typical Annual Salaries – These are the typical annual salaries for various professions in this location.

Occupational Area	Typical Annual Salary
Management	$86,229
Business & Financial Operations	$66,759
Computer & Mathematical	$68,721
Architecture & Engineering	$83,804
Life, Physical, & Social Science	$66,185
Community & Social Service	$42,183
Legal	$69,063
Education, Training, & Library	$52,459
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, & Media	$41,499
Healthcare Practitioners & Technical	$65,865
Healthcare Support	$26,329
Protective Service	$40,970
Food Preparation & Serving Related	$24,542
Building & Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance	$28,082
Personal Care & Service	$26,858
Sales & Related	$26,340
Office & Administrative Support	$37,541
Farming, Fishing, & Forestry	$40,088
Construction & Extraction	$52,084
Installation, Maintenance, & Repair	$50,232
Production	$41,202
Transportation & Material Moving	$33,109

Living Wage Calculator – Living Wage Calculation for West Virginia

What is minimum wage in West Virginia 2023?

§21-5C-2. Minimum wages. – (a) Minimum wage: (1) After June 30, 2006, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees wages at a rate not less than $5.85 per hour. (2) After June 30, 2007, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees wages at a rate not less than $6.55 per hour.

1. 3) After June 30, 2008, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees wages at a rate not less than $7.25 per hour.
2. 4) After December 31, 2014, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees wages at a rate not less than $8.00 per hour.
3. 5) After December 31, 2015, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees wages at a rate not less than $8.75 per hour.

(6) After December 31, 2023, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees wages at a rate not less than $10.00 per hour. (7) After December 31, 2024, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees wages at a rate not less than $11 per hour.

(8) After December 31, 2025, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees wages at a rate not less than $12 per hour. (9) After December 31, 2026, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees wages at a rate not less than $13 per hour. (10) After December 31, 2027, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees wages at a rate not less than $14 per hour.

(11) After December 31, 2028, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees wages at a rate not less than $15 per hour. (6) (12) When the federal minimum hourly wage as prescribed by 29 U.S.C. § 206 (a) (1) is equal to or greater than the wage rate prescribed in the applicable provision of this subsection, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees wages at a rate of not less than the federal minimum hourly wage as prescribed by 29 U.S.C.

§ 206 (a) (1). The minimum wage rates required under this subsection shall be thereafter adjusted in accordance with adjustments made in the federal minimum hourly rate. The adoption of the federal minimum wage provided by this subsection includes only the federal minimum hourly rate prescribed in 29 U.S.C.

§ 206 (a) (1) and does not include other wage rates, or conditions, exclusions, or exceptions to the federal minimum hourly wage rate. In addition, adoption of the federal minimum hourly wage rate does not extend or modify the scope or coverage of the minimum wage rate required under this subsection.

B) Training wage : (1) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in subsection (a) of this section to the contrary, an employer may pay an employee first hired after June 30, 2006 December 31, 2023, a subminimum training wage not less than $5.15 $9.00 per hour: Provided, That an employer may pay an employee first hired after December 31, 2014 2023, a subminimum training wage not less than $6.40 $10.50 per hour.

(2) An employer may not pay the subminimum training wage set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection to any individual: (A) Who has attained or attains while an employee of the employer, the age of twenty 22 years; or (B) For a cumulative period of not more than 90 days per employee: Provided, That if any business has not been in operation for more than 90 days at the time the employer hired the employee, the employer may pay the employee the subminimum training wage set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection for an additional period not to exceed 90 days.

(3) When the federal subminimum training wage as prescribed by 29 U.S.C. § 206 (g) (1) is equal to or greater than the wage rate prescribed in subdivision (1) of this subsection, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees wages at a rate of not less than the federal subminimum training wage as prescribed by 29 U.S.C.

§ 206 (g) (1). The subminimum training wage rates required under this subsection shall be thereafter adjusted in accordance with adjustments made in the federal subminimum training wage rate. The adoption of the federal subminimum training wage provided by this subsection includes only the federal subminimum training wage rate prescribed in 29 U.S.C.

• § 206 (g) (1) and does not include other wage rates, or conditions, exclusions, or exceptions to the federal subminimum training wage rate.
• In addition, adoption of the federal subminimum training wage rate does not extend or modify the scope or coverage of the subminimum training wage rate required under this subsection.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision or definition to the contrary, the wages established pursuant to this section are applicable to all individuals employed by the State of West Virginia, its agencies and departments, regardless if the employee or employer are subject to any federal act relating to minimum wage: Provided, That at no time may the minimum wage established pursuant to this section fall below the federal minimum hourly wage as prescribed by 29 U.S.C.

• § 206(a)(1), and at no time may the subminimum training wage established pursuant to this section fall below the federal subminimum training wage rate as prescribed by 29 U.S.C.
• § 206 (g) (1).
• NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to incrementally increase the minimum wage in West Virginia every year to $15 an hour by 2028.

The training rate would also increase and apply to workers younger than 22 years of age. Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

What 5 states have the lowest minimum wage?

Summary – Currently, 30 states and Washington D.C. have minimum wages above the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Five states have not adopted a state minimum wage: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. Two states, Georgia and Wyoming, have a minimum wage below $7.25 per hour. In all seven of these states, the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour applies.

Is West Virginia cheap to live?

West Virginia ranks as 2nd lowest cost of living in the United States.

Is West Virginia a good place to live?

Posted by Preston Guyton on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 10:09:30 AM By Preston Guyton / April 20, 2023 Comment A survey by Retirement Living recently found that West Virginia was ranked third-best state in the U.S. for retirement—behind only Florida and Texas—so if you’re looking for a place to retire in the United States, this beautiful state is worth considering! West Virginia gives retirees plenty of reasons to call it home.

Not only is the scenery spectacular, but it also promises affordable housing and senior care communities. Plus, with the abundance of outdoor activities to enjoy, everyone can find something to love about living in West Virginia. But every state has ups and downs every retiree should weigh when picking where to spend their golden years.

Here’s what you should know about retiring in West Virginia.

What is the average monthly income in WV?

Average Salary in West Virginia

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay
Top Earners	$83,456	$6,954
75th Percentile	$70,006	$5,833
Average	$55,385	$4,615
25th Percentile	$40,764	$3,397

What is the lowest minimum wage in the US?

Federal minimum wage is still $7.25, but more than 20 states will increase minimum wage in 2023. California has the highest minimum wage. Georgia and Wyoming have the lowest minimum wage.

What is minimum wage in Texas?

What is the minimum wage in Texas? – Texas adopts the federal minimum wage rate. Effective July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. With specified restrictions, employers may count tips and the value of meals and lodging toward minimum wage. To learn more, visit the TWC’s Texas Minimum Wage Law page,

What city has the lowest minimum wage?

Data and Methodology – SmartAsset collected state and city minimum wages across the country, pulling data from minimumwage.com and government websites. We then adjusted the applicable minimum wage for 79 of the largest cities in the U.S., according to the local cost of living, using data from the Council for Community and Economic Research.

The cost of living takes into account the price of housing, groceries, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous goods and services. For example, the statutory minimum wage in Los Angeles is $16.04 per hour, but the cost of living is 48% higher than the national average. To calculate the city’s adjusted minimum wage, we divided the city’s statutory minimum wage by 1.48.

As a result, in terms of purchasing power, the minimum wage in the City of Angels is just $10.84. In our analysis, we used the minimum wage as of Jan.1, 2023. In cases where cities differentiate between small and large employer minimum wage rates, we considered the minimum wage rate required for large employers.

Which state has the lowest average wage?

Average Income by State – According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income for 2019 was $65,712. Median household income is different from per capita personal income, which was $60,320 at the end of Q3 of 2020. This is $2,801 higher than in Q1 of 2020 and $3,728 higher than in Q3 of 2019.

1. Average incomes by state range from $41,776 in Mississippi to $88,702 in the District of Columbia.
2. In contrast with the highest paying states, these states have lower educational attainment levels, with particularly lower rates of bachelor’s degree holders and graduate or professional degree holders.

While average incomes are significantly lower in these states, the livable wages are too because of overall lower costs of living. Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Arkansas have the lowest costs of living in the U.S. Unfortunately, the states above also have very high poverty rates, with Mississippi’s 19.6% being the highest.

District of Columbia – $133,587 New Jersey – $117,868 Massachusetts – $115,964 Connecticut – $115,337 Maryland – $114,236 California – $111,622 Hawaii – $107,348 Virginia – $106,023 New York – $105,304 Washington – $103,669

Which country pays highest salary?

Average income around the world The worldwide highest income is earned in Monaco. The smallest budget per capita exists in Afghanistan. In our comparison over 69 countries, the USA comes 7th with an average income of 70,930 USD.The average income is calculated by gross national income and population. Official data is published by several organizations like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund or the OECD on a regular basis. Unfortunately, there are no standardized procedures to adjust for inflation, currency fluctuations or real purchasing power.

1. That’s why each institution has its own ranking and varying results.
2. The above list is therefore calculated according to the Atlas method from the quotient of the gross national income (formerly also called “gross national product”) and the population of the country.
3. For both figures, we take the latest official numbers, which are usually those of the previous year.

For the vast majority of countries, the above table is based on information from 2021. In some countries, however, these starting figures are not collected regularly or published and may be older or official estimates from the institutions mentioned above.

Who has the lowest minimum wage in the world?

Nigeria has lowest minimum wage worldwide: Report Workers in Nigeria

• Nigeria has the lowest minimum wage in the world, says a recent report by Picodi, a global e-commerce company.
• The report, which examined the minimum wages received by workers in 67 countries on six continents (Asia, Africa, North, and South America, Europe, and Asia) as of January 2023, revealed that Nigerian workers received the lowest minimum wages, with the lowest earners in the nation receiving a take-home pay of $68.
• India was the third-lowest paying country, with a monthly minimum wage of $95.

Compared to the current prices of food items in the nation, the report detailed that basic food sufficient to meet the minimum nutrient requirements was worth 160.4 per cent of Nigeria’s minimum wage.

1. This means that the lowest-paid workers’ wages increased more slowly than the cost of food, and the minimum wage is insufficient to get workers needed food items for healthy living.
2. With a monthly minimum wage of $2,140, Luxembourg tops the list of nations with the highest minimum wage, followed by Australia ($2,020) and New Zealand ($1,866).
3. Other countries with low minimum wages, besides Uzbekistan, Nigeria, and India, include Pakistan ($111), Kazakhstan ($131), Armenia ($138) the Philippines ($141), Ukraine ($146), Vietnam ($162), Indonesia ($173), Moldova ($180), Azerbaijan ($186) and Thailand ($195).

We have recently deactivated our website’s comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages. : Nigeria has lowest minimum wage worldwide: Report

What is minimum wage UK?

Current rates –

Wage band	Current rate (from 1 April 2023)
Age 23 or over (National Living Wage)	£10.42
Age 21 to 22	£10.18
Age 18 to 20	£7.49
Under 18	£5.28
Apprentice	£5.28

The government reviews minimum wage rates every year and they’re usually updated in April. Check when rate increases must be paid,

What is minimum wage in New York?

New York Minimum Wage 2023 New York State’s Minimum Wage raised $14.20 per hour, effective from December 31, 2022. However, the Federal Minimum Wage in New York State is $7.25, which is less than the NYS minimum wage. Hence employers are required to pay the higher state minimum wage to their employees.

Does West Virginia get snow?

Annual Snowfall Climatology – Figure 3 (below) depicts the average annual snowfall distribution by county from 1990 to 2019 (though localized amounts may be greater or less than the amounts shown in the figure). Yearly average snow amounts across the CWA can span anywhere from less than an inch to over a hundred inches per year. As expected, the mountains and high elevations typically received the greatest snow amounts each year – generally accumulating anywhere between thirty and a hundred and fifty inches. Pocahontas and Randolph counties reach the high end of the spectrum, while the other mountain counties fall in just below them.

Does West Virginia have high taxes?

West Virginia has a 6.00 percent state sales tax rate, a max local sales tax rate of 1.00 percent, and an average combined state and local sales tax rate of 6.55 percent. West Virginia’s tax system ranks 20th overall on our 2023 State Business Tax Climate Index.

What is the hottest month in West Virginia?

Frequently Asked Questions – July is the hottest month in Cabins, West Virginia. This is when highs typically hover around the mid-80s and can reach up to the high-80s. August and June also offer plenty of warm weather, with highs typically hovering in the low 80s.

1. During the warmer months, visitors can take advantage of almost everything there is to do at Harman’s and the surrounding areas.
2. From the most scenic hikes in West Virginia to bird watching and the best trophy trout fishing in the state, visitors have plenty of activities to choose from.
3. May is the rainiest month in Cabins, West Virginia.

During this time of year, visitors can typically expect up to about 3 inches of average monthly rainfall. April also sees its fair share of rainfall, typically averaging up to about 2 inches of monthly rainfall. Rain or shine, there’s always something to do in West Virginia.

Some of our favorite rainy day activities include learning about the stars at the National Radio Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia, visiting charming Petersburg, exploring the countryside by train, distillery and brewery tours, and journeying underground at Seneca Caverns and Smoke Hole Caverns.

If you’re looking to avoid the rainy season, your best bet is to visit during the late summer, November, or winter months, when average monthly rainfall is typically 2 inches or lower. January is the coldest month with lows typically hovering in the low 20s.

During this time of year, our guests can enjoy the winter air comfortably from their cabin’s private outdoor hot tub. But does that mean Cabins, West Virginia sees the most snow in January? February is the snowiest month in Cabins, West Virginia. Visitors can typically expect snowfall to reach up to 4.5 inches during this time of year.

January follows with about 3.7 inches of snowfall, followed by March (about 3.5 inches) and December (about 2.6 inches). If you’re looking to enjoy a West Virginia winter vacation, visiting this time of year is your best bet.

Why are people moving to WV?

Affordability and Opportunity – Lips cites that West Virginia is one of the country’s most affordable states. lists West Virginia as the ninth cheapest state to live in 2023, and one of the most affordable places to buy a home, with the average single-family home costing $117,639, or 21.4% below the national average.

• Other pros included that West Virginia gets all four seasons, and of course, its beautiful Appalachian landscape.
• But what about opportunity? While that Forbes study lists a “challenging job market” and high poverty rates as cons to moving to West Virginia, still ranked the state as number 18 in opportunity.

While West Virginia ranked 47th in economic opportunity, it ranked 8th in affordability and 4th in equality. West Virginia performed higher in that ranking than popular moving destinations like Texas and Florida.

Why is West Virginia famous for?

20 Facts You Didn’t Know About West Virginia West Virginia is known for its scenic mountain beauty, unmatched outdoor recreation opportunities and the friendliest folks in the country. But did you know that nearly 80% of the state is covered by forests? Or that the state’s youngest & oldest governor are the same person? Here are 20 facts you may not have known about this slice of heaven:

Let’s start with the fact that it almost wasn’t named West Virginia. The state was originally going to be named “Kanawha” to honor a Native American tribe; however, after its succession from the Commonwealth of Virginia, officials still wanted Virginia to be part of its name. West Virginia is the only state completely within the Appalachian Mountain range, aptly given the nickname the Mountain State. North America’s largest alluvial diamond was found in Peterstown. It is known as the Punch Jones Diamond after William “Punch” Jones and his father Grover found the diamond in 1928. Outdoor advertising got its start in Wheeling when the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company painted bridges and barns with “Treat Yourself to the Best, Chew Mail Pouch.” The first rural free delivery mail service took place in 1896 in Charles Town through the Post Office Department’s pilot program to determine the feasibility for rural delivery for the rest of the country. Harrisville is home to America’s oldest dime store, Berdine’s Five and Dime, which has been continuously operating since 1908. Cecil Underwood made history in 1956 when he became the state’s youngest governor at 34 – then again in 1996 when he became the state’s oldest governor after being reelected at 74. West Virginia is the third most forested state. In fact, the Monongahela National Forest covers nearly a million acres of land and spans across 10 counties. Standing tall at 292 feet, the State Capitol dome is higher than the dome at the nation’s capital. West Virginia is located within a day’s drive from 75% of the U.S. population, yet remains an untouched gem among outdoor enthusiasts. The Golden Delicious Apple originated in Clay County in 1905. The largest sycamore tree in the world was located in Webster Springs until it fell in 2010 when it was estimated to be over 500 years old! The Phil G. McDonald Bridge in Beckley is the highest truss bridge in the world at 700 feet tall, although it’s often overshadowed by the famous New River Gorge Bridge. West Virginia was home to the first land battle of the Civil War at the Battle of Philippi in 1861. You don’t have to travel far to see the world – West Virginia holds the record for having the most towns named after cities in other countries, including Athens, Berlin, Cairo, Calcutta, Geneva and Shanghai.

This post was last updated on February 28, 2022 : 20 Facts You Didn’t Know About West Virginia

What is West Virginia most popular for?

When Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861, the portion now known as West Virginia broke off to form its own state. Admitted to the Union in 1863, West Virginia was the only state created from breaking apart from a Confederate state during the Civil War and played a key role as a border state.

During Reconstruction, the new 35th state’s mineral resource industries boomed, and logging and coal mining both remain important parts of the state’s economy today. West Virginia also played a pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution with the development of bituminous coal, a cheaper alternative to wood.

Located in the Appalachian region, West Virginia has some of the most rugged land in the country. The state’s rolling mountains, hills and valleys earned it the nickname of the Mountain State, and it is well-known for its range of outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, skiing and whitewater rafting.

Most of the level land lies along the major rivers, which include the Ohio, Guyandotte and Greenbrier rivers. Only nine states are smaller than West Virginia in total area. West Virginia’s economy has depended heavily on its mineral resources, and declining coal production in recent years has hurt the state economically.

Today, mining safety and ecological concerns are major challenges to West Virginia.

What is middle class income in WV?

Middle Class Defined by Region – According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income in 2021 was $70,784. So American families earning between $47,189 and $141,568 are technically in the middle class, according to the Pew Research Center’s definition. Adobe CNBC used U.S. Census Bureau data to determine what a middle class income really is for the 20 most populous U.S. metros. Their analysis used data from the Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey to determine the following middle class income ranges:

In the New York/Newark/Jersey City, New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania metro area, families making between $56,000 and $169,000 are considered middle class. The range in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Anaheim, California, falls between $55,000 and $165,000. For the Chicago, Naperville and Elgin, Illinois area, $52,000 to $156,000 is middle-income. In the Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington, Texas metroplex, $51,000 to $152,000 is the range. Nearby, in the Houston, The Woodlands and Sugar Land, Texas area, middle class income dips to between $47,000 and $142,000. In the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Virginia-Maryland-West Virginia metro area, families making between $74,000 and $221,000 are middle-income. For the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware-Maryland metro region, it ranges from $53,000 to $160,000. In the Florida metros of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, families making between $43,000 and $128,000 are considered middle class. In Atlanta, Sandy Springs and Alpharetta, Georgia, families making between $52,000 and $155,000 are middle-income. For the Boston, Cambridge and Newton, Massachusetts and New Hampshire metro region, the range is $67,000 to $202,000. In the Phoenix metro, including Mesa and Chandler, Arizona, $50,000 to $151,000 is the middle-income range. In California’s Bay Area of San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley, families making between $77,000 and $232,000 are considered middle class. For California’s Inland Empire region of Riverside, San Bernardino and Ontario, the range falls between $51,000 and $154,000. In Detroit, Warren and Dearborn, Michigan, $45,000 to $134,000 is middle income. In the Seattle metro area, including Tacoma and Bellevue, Washington, families making between $68,000 and $203,000 are considered middle class. For the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota-Wisconsin region, families making between $58,000 to $175,000 are middle income. The range in San Diego, Chula Vista and Carlsbad, California, is $61,000 to $182,000. For Florida’s Tampa Bay area, including St. Petersburg and Clearwater, middle income falls between $42,000 and $126,000. The range in the Denver, Aurora and Lakewood, Colorado metro region is between $60,000 and $181,000. And for the Baltimore, Columbia and Towson, Maryland metro areas, $58,000 to $173,000 is middle income.

If you’re still wondering where your household income falls, CNN Money provides an interactive calculator that lets you find out based on your annual income and the county where you live. By Tricia Goss, f or Scripps News, Scripps News is the nation’s only free 24/7 national news network.

You can find Scripps News using your TV’s digital antenna or stream for free. See all the ways you can watch Newsy here: https://scrippsnews.com/where-to-watch/ This story originally appeared on Don’t Waste Your Money, Checkout Don’t Waste Your Money for product reviews and other great ideas to save and make money.

Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

What salary do you need to live comfortably in Virginia?

How much money do you need to live comfortably in Virginia? – To live comfortably in Virginia, an annual income of $64,947 is needed, according to the 50/30/20 budgeting rule (50% for necessities, 30% for discretionary expenses, and 20% for savings). Virginia’s median household income is $74,222, making it an affordable place to live.

What is upper class salary in WV?

How much does an Upper Class make in West Virginia? As of May 2, 2023, the average annual pay for the Upper Class jobs category in West Virginia is $52,754 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $25.36 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,014/week or $4,396/month.

Is West Virginia paying $12 000 to move there?

November 29, 2022 / 7:29 PM / AP West Virginians turn out to celebrate Bridge Day West Virginians turn out to celebrate Bridge Day 00:22 CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A program offering cash and free outdoor adventures to remote workers to move to West Virginia with the hope of offsetting population losses has welcomed 143 new residents in the year since it launched, officials announced Tuesday. The public-private program Ascend West Virginia said it has added a fourth destination where out-of-state workers can apply to live. Applications are being accepted immediately for the Elkins area in the northeastern part of the state. Elkins is on the western edge of the Monongahela National Forest and is within reasonable distance of skiing and golf resorts. The town of about 6,900 residents hosts the Mountain State Forest Festival every fall. “You couldn’t ask for a more small-town charm with amazing music and vibrancy and an incredible recreation scene,” Brad D. Smith, who is the program’s founder and current president of Marshall University, said at a news conference. Applications also are being accepted to the three areas previously announced since the program launched in April 2021: the northern college town of Morgantown, the Greenbrier Valley in the southeastern corner of the state, and the Eastern Panhandle. Under the remote worker program, successful applicants will receive $12,000 along with free passes to indulge in whitewater rafting, golf, rock climbing, horseback riding, skiing and ziplining. The full relocation package is valued at more than $20,000. West Virginia lost a greater percentage of its residents than any other state. From 2010 to 2020, the population dropped 3.2%, or about 59,000 people. It’s been such a problem due to long-term declines in the coal, steel and other industries that West Virginia is now the only state with fewer residents than it had in 1950. In an effort to reverse the exodus, West Virginia is leveraging one of its most appealing assets, its “almost heaven” natural beauty, in direct appeals to outdoor enthusiasts whose jobs enable them to work from anywhere they choose. The program has drawn more than 20,000 applicants since its launch. It has welcomed 87 new residents to Morgantown and 37 to the Greenbrier Valley. Others will relocate to the Eastern Panhandle early next year from 24 U.S. states and Canada. The program said its retention rate is 98%. Program participant Ben Frohman moved to Morgantown a year ago from Arlington, Virginia. He was a federal government employee and has since transitioned into the private sector with a national security advisory firm. He also enrolled in a graduate degree program. His biggest impression of the state was the kindness he encountered after his car had a flat tire at the start of a family trip. A young man and his girlfriend offered their help and went to an auto parts store to buy a tire repair kit while Frohman stayed with his young daughter in the car. The man refused to let Frohman pay for any of the repair items. “He just said, ‘There been so many times that I’ve been helped in my life, I want to pay it forward,'” Frohman said. “People here help each other out as a matter of course. It really left an impression on my family and me.” The program plans to welcome more than 1,000 new remote workers to the state over the next five years. The program was founded through a $25 million gift to West Virginia University by Smith, the former executive chairman of Intuit, and his wife, Alys. As a consolation, those who are not selected will be offered an average of $3,500 in mortgage assistance if they move to West Virginia. “We have had many families choose that option,” Smith said.

In: West Virginia

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