{"data":{"id":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-20-7-1c","jurisdiction":"us-wv","citation":"W. Va. Code § 20-7-1c","heading":"Natural resources police officer, ranks, salary schedule, base pay, exceptions.","body":"(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, the ranks within the law-enforcement section of the Division of Natural Resources are colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, captain, lieutenant, sergeant, corporal, natural resources police officer first class, senior natural resources police officer, natural resources police officer and natural resources police officer-in-training. Each officer while in uniform shall wear the insignia of rank as provided by the chief natural resources police officer.\n(b) Beginning on July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2011, Natural Resources Police Officers shall be paid the minimum annual salaries based on the following schedule:\nANNUAL SALARY SCHEDULE (BASE PAY)\nSUPERVISORY AND NONSUPERVISORY RANKS\nNatural Resources Police Officer In Training (first year until end of probation) $26,337\nNatural Resources Police Officer (second year) $29,768\nNatural Resources Police Officer (third year) $30,140\nSenior Natural Resources Police Officer (fourth and\nfifth year) $30,440\nSenior Natural Resources Police Officer First Class\n(after fifth year) $32,528\nSenior Natural Resources Police Officer (after\ntenth year) $33,104\nSenior Natural Resources Police Officer (after\nfifteenth year) $33,528\nCorporal (after sixteenth year) $36,704\nSergeant $40,880\nFirst Sergeant $42,968\nLieutenant $47,144\nCaptain $49,232\nMajor $51,320\nLieutenant Colonel $53,408\nColonel\nBeginning July 1, 2011, and continuing thereafter, Natural Resources Police Officers shall be paid the minimum annual salaries based on the following schedule:\nANNUAL SALARY SCHEDULE (BASE PAY)\nSUPERVISORY AND NONSUPERVISORY RANKS\nNatural Resources Police Officer in Training (first\nyear until end of probation) $31,222\nNatural Resources Police Officer (second year) $34,881\nNatural Resources Police Officer (third year) $35,277\nSenior Natural Resources Police Officer (fourth and\nfifth year) $35,601\nSenior Natural Resources Police Officer First Class\n(after fifth year) $37,797\nSenior Natural Resources Police Officer (after tenth\nyear) $38,397\nSenior Natural Resources Police Officer (after\nfifteenth year) $38,833\nCorporal (after sixteenth year) $42,105\nSergeant $46,401\nFirst Sergeant $48,549\nLieutenant $52,857\nCaptain $55,005\nMajor $57,153\nLieutenant Colonel $59,301\nColonel $66,000\nBeginning July 1, 2017, the director may set additional annual compensation for Natural Resources Police Officers based on rank and length of service in addition to the minimum annual salaries provided in this section in an amount payable solely from the Law Enforcement Program Fund and the Special Revenue License Fund. Each Natural Resources Police Officer whose minimum salary is fixed and specified in the Annual Salary Schedule in this section is entitled to the length of service increases set forth in section one-a of this article.\nIn applying the salary schedules set forth in this section where salary increases are provided for length of service, Natural Resources Police Officers in service at the time the schedules become effective shall be given credit for prior service and shall be paid salaries the same length of service entitles them to receive under the provisions of this section.\n(c) This section does not apply to special or emergency Natural Resources Police Officers appointed under the authority of section one of this article.\n(d) Nothing in this section prohibits other pay increases as provided under section two, article five, chapter five of this code: Provided, That any across-the-board pay increase granted by the Legislature or the Governor, and any increase in the base pay for the ranks within the law-enforcement section authorized by the director, will be added to, and reflected in, the minimum salaries set forth in this section; and that any merit increases granted to an officer over and above the annual salary schedule listed in subsection (b) of this section are retained by an officer when he or she advances from one rank to another: Provided, however, That any Natural Resources Police Officer who receives an increase in compensation pursuant to the amendment and reenactment of this section in 2011 shall not receive any across-the-board pay increase granted by the Legislature or the Governor in 2011.","path":["CHAPTER 20. NATURAL RESOURCES.","ARTICLE 7. LAW ENFORCEMENT, MOTORBOATING, LITTER."],"source_url":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/20-7-1C/","current_through":"as of 2026-08-03; contains at least the enactments of the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T00:25:36Z","sha256":"4709b1473f9c5177677c456e643dfd407ebbf4dbb79d07f63711e6d14aa74577","source_id":"us-wv","stale":true,"prev":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-20-7-1b","next":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-20-7-1d"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}