May 5, 2026 Governor Morrisey Signs Pay Raise for State Workers During Wheeling Ceremony ...

WHEELING, W.Va. - Governor Patrick Morrisey today ceremonially signed legislation delivering a 3% pay raise for West Virginia state employees during an event at the Northern Community College Wheeling campus.

"Our state workers have earned this raise, and they deserve it," said Governor Morrisey. "From our teachers and law enforcement officers to our highway workers and first responders, these are the people who keep West Virginia running every day. This pay raise recognizes their contributions and helps address affordability challenges facing families across our state."

The legislation provides an average three percent pay increase for all state employees paid through the general revenue budget, including teachers, law enforcement officers, highway workers, and civil servants. The administration also implemented changes to the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) that limited premium increases to three percent this year, breaking a cycle of double-digit increases that had reached 14 percent and 10 percent in the previous two years.

The event marked the completion of a $2 million exterior renovation of the historic Wheeling campus building, preserving a National Register landmark and supporting continued investment in higher education infrastructure. State leaders have worked with the Higher Education Policy Commission and institutions across West Virginia to align investments with workforce needs and long-term economic growth.

Evidence of that growth can be found in the more than $12.8 billion in private-sector investment and over 12,000 projected jobs the state has announced since October, reflecting a record pace of economic development.

"We are focused on building a stronger economy while supporting the people who make that growth possible," said Governor Morrisey. "That includes reducing red tape, creating jobs, investing in education, and ensuring our public servants are treated fairly."