A November 2019 WOW 13 News article revealed that in West Virginia, the nursing shortage is imminent – and serious. In fact, according to the chair of the department of nursing at the University of Charleston, the state will need at least 1,400 nurses just to keep up with the number of nurses retiring. To make matters worse, West Virginia’s nursing schools are only graduating between 800-900 nurses each year.
And while entry-level nurses are needed to fill the void, advanced nursing professionals are also in need to replace highly experienced nurses leaving the field due to retirement.
Stakeholders increasingly suggest that advanced nursing professionals like advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and administrators obtain a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), since it offers the highest level of practical training to nurses and enables them to provide the highest quality care for patients.
Earning a DNP also offers an assurance of high salaries according to a 2018 survey of nurse practitioners by the Advance Healthcare Network. This survey identified that nurse practitioners with a DNP average 7% more a year compared to NPs whose highest degree was a master’s.
Statewide Salary Data for DNP-Educated APRNs and More in West Virginia
DNP-educated nurses in all their various roles are consistently recognized for earning top salaries (West Virginia Department of Commerce, 2018):
- Nurse Administrators and Executives – $125,010-$169,030
- Nurse Educators – $71,160-$84,160
- Nurse-Midwives – $103,890+
- Nurse Practitioners – $109,840-$131,570
- Nurse Anesthetists – $200,560+
Salaries for DNP Nurses in the Largest Cities of West Virginia
The West Virginia Department of Commerce provides salary information for DNP-educated advanced nursing professionals in the largest cities of the state (2018):
Nurse Administrators and Executives:
- Beckley: $109,580-$134,930
- Charleston: $129,640+
- Huntington: $115,120-$131,780
- Morgantown: $156,600-$207,330
- Weirton: $102,810-$125,150
- Wheeling: $113,840-$180,280
Nurse Practitioners:
- Beckley: $104,220-$120,070
- Charleston: $125,130-$178,510
- Weirton: $114,420-$125,540
- Huntington: $103,760-$121,420
- Morgantown: $99,770-$118,620
- Wheeling: $102,090-$119,790
Nurse Anesthetists:
- Huntington: $192,310-$206,590
- Morgantown: $199,100+
- Wheeling: $203,730
An Overview of Hourly Wages for West Virginia’s DNP-Educated Nurses
A 2019 Medscape Compensation Report revealed that more than three-quarters (78%) of all APRNs are paid overtime, which also revealed that hourly wages among these nursing professionals are typical.
The West Virginia Department of Commerce provides hourly wages for DNP-prepared nurses, as of 2018:
- Nurse practitioners: $52.81-$63.26
- Nurse administrators and executives: $60.10-$81.27
- Nurse anesthetists: $96.42
- Nurse-midwives: $49.95
Salary and employment data compiled by the West Virginia Department of Commerce in May of 2018 – (http://lmi.workforcewv.org/). Salary data represents state and MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) average and median earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
All salary and job growth data accessed in December 2019.
This page includes salaries that fall within the 75th and 90th percentiles for each nursing role to account for the fact that DNP-educated nurses are recognized as earning more than master’s-prepared nurses in the same roles.
