Average Salaries in Virginia
Explore salaries across 769 occupations in Virginia. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $67.4K, +9.6% 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 2024 estimates. Coverage: 769 occupations and 4,027,310 total jobs in Virginia.
How the state compares
Virginia 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.
Virginia has a large and diverse labor market, with meaningful employment across most occupations.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Family Medicine Physicians. 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 Virginia
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.
Top wages
Highest-paid occupations in Virginia
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | $219.5K | 3,480 |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | $219.5K | 70 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $200.0K | 980 |
| Computer And Information Systems Managers | $192.9K | 18,740 |
| Pediatricians, General | $189.1K | 1,220 |
| Dermatologists | $187.2K | N/A |
| Air Traffic Controllers | $185.9K | 1,130 |
| Dentists, General | $182.6K | 3,890 |
| Marketing Managers | $177.3K | 7,170 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $177.0K | 4,230 |
Most jobs
Largest occupations in Virginia
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 103,390 | $29.1K |
| Retail Salespersons | 101,260 | $32.8K |
| General And Operations Managers | 99,710 | $121.5K |
| Cashiers | 84,500 | $29.8K |
| Software Developers | 83,290 | $134.5K |
| Registered Nurses | 77,420 | $88.8K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 68,080 | $36.2K |
| Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 64,720 | $34.0K |
| Management Analysts | 64,710 | $109.7K |
| Office Clerks, General | 62,540 | $45.1K |
What Virginia 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 Virginia than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Location quotient
Most concentrated occupations in Virginia
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Engineers And Naval Architects | 8.44 | $100.6K |
| Mathematicians | 6.91 | $142.2K |
| Ship Engineers | 6.05 | $82.0K |
| Layout Workers, Metal And Plastic | 5.36 | $72.8K |
| Social Scientists And Related Workers, All Other | 4.50 | $144.3K |
| Database Architects | 4.18 | N/A |
| Political Scientists | 4.18 | $164.0K |
| Information Security Analysts | 3.95 | $132.5K |
| Telemarketers | 3.93 | $36.4K |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | 3.39 | $177.0K |
Peer markets
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $86.2K | Obstetricians And Gynecologists |
| California | $77.6K | Chief Executives |
| Washington | $77.0K | Podiatrists |
| New York | $76.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Massachusetts | $75.6K | Dentists, All Other Specialists |
| New Jersey | $73.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Alaska | $73.0K | Dentists, General |
| Connecticut | $72.7K | Nurse Anesthetists |
Metros inside Virginia
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Inside this state
Major metros in Virginia
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $64.4K | 738,100 |
| Richmond, VA | $66.8K | 641,320 |
| Roanoke, VA | $58.6K | 144,590 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $66.8K | 98,950 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $59.6K | 90,200 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $60.7K | 65,380 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $61.8K | 59,430 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $58.9K | 58,910 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $58.6K | 42,490 |
Common salary questions for Virginia
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 states 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.