General auto repair / West Virginia
How many general automotive repair shops are in West Virginia?
The Census Bureau counted 459 general automotive repair shops with paid employees in West Virginia in 2023. That is 8.5% more than in 2017.
WEST VIRGINIA · 2023
The count
459
general automotive repair shops with paid employees
- Employees
- 1,846
- Average per site
- 4.0
- Change since 2017
- +8.5%
- State rank
- 42 of 51
What the number means
West Virginia had 459 general automotive repair shops in 2023, ranking number 42 among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Together they employed 1,846 people and paid $74 million in annual payroll, an average of 4.0 employees per site.
These businesses make up 1.28% of every employer establishment in West Virginia, above the 1.01% national share. A site count is not the same as the number of companies: a chain with 40 locations counts 40 times.
72% of general automotive repair shops in West Virginia have fewer than 5 employees, against 66% across the U.S.
West Virginia holds 0.5% of the nation's general automotive repair shops and 0.4% of all U.S. employer establishments, so, measured against the state's overall size, the trade is over-represented. The most common size class is under 5 employees (332 sites). Average payroll per employee is $39,828, against $53,031 for the U.S. trade.
Size of the businesses
| Employees per site | Share | Sites | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | 332 | 72.5% | |
| 5 to 9 | 100 | 21.8% | |
| 10 to 19 | 18 | 3.9% | |
| 20 to 49 | 8 | 1.7% | |
| 50 to 99 | 0 | 0.0% | |
| 100 to 249 | 0 | 0.0% | |
| 250 to 499 | 0 | 0.0% |
Count since 2017
Index: 2017 = 100. Employer establishments only. 2017 count 423; 2019 count 419; 2022 count 453; 2023 count 459. Employment +16.1% since 2017.
Biggest other trades in West Virginia
| Trade | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 1,234 | 23,777 | +3.4% |
| Child day care | 407 | 5,031 | +12.1% |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 406 | 2,981 | +3.0% |
| Landscaping services | 402 | 2,048 | +20.4% |
| Beauty salons | 277 | 1,357 | +1.8% |
| Coffee shops and snack bars | 241 | 2,478 | +50.6% |
| Janitorial services | 194 | 2,892 | +12.1% |
| Fitness centers | 118 | 1,566 | −7.8% |
General auto repair in nearby ranks
| State | Sites | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 532 | 39 |
| Montana | 486 | 40 |
| New Mexico | 468 | 41 |
| South Dakota | 396 | 43 |
| Vermont | 335 | 44 |
| Rhode Island | 330 | 45 |
All states for general automotive repair shops · Every trade in West Virginia
Questions
How many general automotive repair shops are in West Virginia?
The Census Bureau's County Business Patterns counted 459 general automotive repair shops with paid employees in West Virginia in 2023. That ranks West Virginia number 42 among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Is the number of general automotive repair shops in West Virginia growing?
Between 2017 and 2023 the count grew (8.5%), from 423 to 459. Across the United States the count changed by +2.0% over the same period. These years include the 2020 pandemic.
Does this count include self-employed owners with no staff?
No. County Business Patterns covers establishments with at least one paid employee. A sole proprietor with no employees is counted in a separate Census series called Nonemployer Statistics, which this site does not use yet, so the real number of people working in this trade is higher than the figure shown.
Read this before using the number
These counts describe how many businesses already exist. They say nothing about demand, profit, competition near you or how much any owner earns, and we make no estimate of income. Check local licensing, costs and rules before acting on any figure here. See the disclaimer.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023; change measured against 2017, 2019 and 2022). Establishments with paid employees only; employment and payroll carry Census noise infusion. Retrieved November 2, 2026. Method and sources.