Average Salaries in Richmond, VA
Explore salaries across 598 occupations in Richmond, VA. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $71.3K, +8.4% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates. Coverage: 598 occupations and 640,050 total jobs in Richmond, VA.
How the metro compares
Richmond, VA pays modestly above the national average. Most occupations here earn more than their national equivalents, but the gap is smaller than in top-tier markets.
Richmond, VA is a mid-sized metro labor market.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Cardiologists. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Richmond, VA
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Highest-paid occupations in Richmond, VA
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiologists | $450.5K | 120 |
| Chief Executives | $326.2K | 820 |
| Psychiatrists | $290.9K | 50 |
| Physicians, All Other | $284.1K | 1,760 |
| Surgeons, All Other | $259.3K | N/A |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $240.2K | N/A |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $235.3K | N/A |
| Obstetricians And Gynecologists | $224.2K | 250 |
| Dentists, General | $218.9K | 650 |
| Physicists | $218.3K | 40 |
Largest occupations in Richmond, VA
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 17,100 | $29.5K |
| Retail Salespersons | 16,210 | $33.6K |
| General And Operations Managers | 15,770 | $108.7K |
| Registered Nurses | 15,700 | $93.6K |
| Cashiers | 14,460 | $30.4K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 12,300 | $37.2K |
| Heavy And Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 11,760 | $58.2K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 11,570 | $29.4K |
| Customer Service Representatives | 10,960 | $42.7K |
| Office Clerks, General | 10,890 | $46.3K |
What Richmond, VA specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Richmond, VA than in the country as a whole, which signals what this metro is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in Richmond, VA
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Life Scientists, All Other | 6.70 | $70.1K |
| Nuclear Engineers | 5.40 | $140.5K |
| Chemical Plant And System Operators | 4.83 | $77.9K |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | 3.75 | $49.5K |
| Surgical Assistants | 3.56 | $51K |
| Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 3.23 | $65.1K |
| Electronic Equipment Installers And Repairers, Motor Vehicles | 3.14 | $45.2K |
| Helpers--Carpenters | 3.02 | $42.7K |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, And Hearing Officers | 2.96 | $89.4K |
| Obstetricians And Gynecologists | 2.81 | $224.2K |
Comparable metros
| Metro | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $98.7K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $95.7K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $92.6K | Cardiologists |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87.1K | Cardiologists |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $83.8K | Radiologists |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $82.7K | Radiologists |
| Boulder, CO | $82.3K | Surgeons, All Other |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82.3K | Radiologists |
Common salary questions for Richmond, VA
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other metros with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.