PARKERSBURG - A study by researchers at Marshall University shows the polymer industry in West Virginia directly and indirectly employs more than 22,000 people and provides among the highest paid jobs in the state.

The Center for Business and Economic Research study was prepared for the Polymer Alliance Zone of Wood, Jackson and Mason counties. Polymer Alliance is headquartered in Davisville.

The industry employs 2,478 people with an average salary of $73,153 in Wood, Jackson and Mason counties. Nearly 8,000 people with an average pay of $54,084 50 percent higher than the state average are employed by more than 75 plastic and polymer manufacturers across West Virginia, the report said using third quarter 2008 statistics.

"Polymer industry salaries exceed most industries and are also above average for manufacturing," the report said. "Exceptions include coal mining, utilities and chemical manufacturing."

The mining industry on the average pays $72,062, chemical manufacturing pays $71,410 and utilities pay $66,293, the report said.

"It is a very high wage job compared to other industry in the state," said Karen Facemyer, president of the Polymer Alliance Zone.

A press conference announcing the report was held Wednesday morning in Charleston at the Capitol with Gov. Joe Manchin, plant Manager Bill Hopkins of the DuPont Washington Works and Christine Risch, director of research at the Center for Business & Economic Research.

The polymer industry in West Virginia directly and indirectly employs 22,630 people who were paid $1.19 billion, the report said. About $178 million in taxes was paid to the state.

Total economic activity generated by the industry was $2.2 billion.

"West Virginia had a gross state product of around $61 billion in 2008, a measure of all economic activity within the state. With $2.2 billion in local economic activity the polymer industry is responsible for 3.6 percent of the state's gross product," the report said.