Moving between states / Michigan

Flag of West VirginiaWest VirginiatoFlag of MichiganMichigan, Electrician

Moving from West Virginia to Michigan as a journeyman electrician

What a journeyman electrician licensed in West Virginia has to do to work in Michigan, what the move does to your pay, and who in Michigan is hiring from out of state.

Exam required. Michigan licenses electricians through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Electrical Administrative Board and does not reciprocate with any state. Your West Virginia hours count toward eligibility, so get them certified in writing by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal, Electrician Licensing before you move and book the Michigan exam early.

What the move does to your paycheck

On a $60,000 salary Michigan takes roughly $526 a year more than West Virginia does.

SalaryWest Virginia state taxMichigan state taxDifference a year
$40,000$1,350$1,700-$350
$60,000$2,024$2,550-$526
$90,000$3,037$3,825-$788

Rough figures for a single filer: exact in the flat-rate and no-tax states, approximated at 70% of the top bracket in the progressive ones. In Michigan: Detroit and some cities add a local income tax. Property and sales tax are not in it.

CNA: West Virginia to Michigan

Transfers by reciprocity. Your West Virginia certificate stays on the West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification, Nurse Aide Registry; to work in Michigan you apply to the Michigan Nurse Aide Registry (administered by Prometric for the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) for reciprocity. It accepts an active certificate in good standing from another state; there is no retest if your record is clean. Most registries list you within two to six weeks.

RN and LPN: West Virginia to Michigan

Endorsement needed. Michigan is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so your West Virginia multistate licence does not work there. Apply to the Michigan Board of Nursing for licensure by endorsement before you move; it commonly takes six to twelve weeks. Your West Virginia licence stays valid for compact states.

CDL: West Virginia to Michigan

Transfers at the DMV. A commercial driver's licence transfers like any licence: within 30 days of becoming a Michigan resident you surrender the West Virginia CDL at a Michigan driver licence office, pass the vision test, pay the fee, and your endorsements carry over. A hazmat endorsement needs a fresh TSA threat assessment in Michigan. Your driving record follows you through the federal CDLIS system.

No statewide program in Michigan pays people to move in. Towns sometimes list an offer through MakeMyMove, and employers in short-staffed trades pay relocation themselves; ask for it in writing before you accept.

Going the other way? West Virginia has Ascend West Virginia. See moving from Michigan to West Virginia.

Openings filed in Michigan

58 open positions filed with the Department of Labor by Michigan employers who could not fill them locally.

Your own route from West Virginia to Michigan

Tell us your trade and your licence. We write the steps for your case, check the job offer for scams, and keep your resume ready for Michigan employers.

Plan my move to Michigan

Same move, by trade

CNA: West Virginia to Michigan · RN or LPN: West Virginia to Michigan · Truck driver: West Virginia to Michigan · All licences: West Virginia to Michigan

From West Virginia to the states next to Michigan

Ohio (progressive, top rate 3.5%) · Indiana (flat 3% state income tax) · Wisconsin (progressive, top rate 7.65%)

To Michigan from the states next to West Virginia

Ohio · Pennsylvania · Maryland · Virginia · Kentucky

Everything about working in Michigan · All moves between states · All 50 states

Moving for a job? Start with your state.

Licence transfer, what the state takes from your pay, and who pays you to come. Free, no account.

Pick the state