NAICS 44-45
Retail Trade in Charleston, WV
Metro Market Score 50.0 (Challenging), ranked #140 of 378 metros. 772 establishments, 10,343 jobs.
Metro Market Assessment
Metro Market Score 50.0
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging
Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.
Rising Wages
Retail Trade conditions in Charleston are mixed. The 50.0 market score puts it at #140 of 378, with no metric pulling sharply in either direction. Wages, growth, and competition are all within a normal range for this industry.
Industry Concentration
18.3
LQ: 0.99
Rank #69 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
59.0
$38,670 avg wage
Growth Trend
48.4
Employment growth index
Rank #196 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
76.2
YoY wage change index
772 Retail Trade Firms in Charleston
772
Establishments
+0.4% YoY
10,343
Total Employment
-0.2% YoY
$38,670
Average Annual Wage
+2.8% YoY
0.99
Location Quotient
Below national avg
Charleston vs West Virginia Statewide
How this metro's retail trade market compares to West Virginia overall. The state ranks #47/51 for entry risk.
| Measure | Charleston | WV Statewide |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 50.0 Challenging | 52.8 Elevated |
| Score Type | Metro Market Score | Entry Risk Score |
| Rank | #140 of 378 metros | #47 of 51 states |
Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.
Other Industries in Charleston
Retail Trade in Other West Virginia Metros
Data Sources
- Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), Bureau of Labor Statistics. MSA-level establishment counts, employment, wages, and location quotients for the Charleston, WV MSA area.
Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.