Average Salary in Virginia
What workers in Virginia earn: mean and median wages, monthly and hourly pay, the full wage distribution, household income and cost-of-living context. Wage data: BLS OEWS May 2025.
- Mean annual wage$74,040Rank #11 of 51 · US $69,770
- Median annual wage$55,690Rank #17 of 51 · US $50,980
- Mean hourly wage$35.60Median $26.78/hour
- Median monthly pay$4,641Mean $6,170/month
- Median household income$92,090ACS 2024 · rank #13
- Price level (RPP)101.1US = 100 · BEA 2024
What is the average salary in Virginia?
The average (mean) annual wage across all occupations in Virginia is $74,040, and the median annual wage is $55,690, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 OEWS estimates. The mean is 6.1% above the national mean of $69,770; the median is 9.2% above the national median of $50,980. Virginia ranks #11 of the 50 states and DC for mean wage and #17 for median wage.
The mean is $18,350 (33%) higher than the median. That gap is normal: a minority of very high earners pulls the average up, so the median is the better guide to what a typical worker in Virginia earns. Why mean and median differ →
The estimates cover 4,109,320 wage and salary jobs in Virginia (self-employed workers are not included).
Monthly, weekly and hourly pay in Virginia
Gross pay before taxes. Monthly = annual ÷ 12, bi-weekly = annual ÷ 26, weekly = annual ÷ 52. Hourly figures are published by BLS.
| Pay period | Mean (average) | Median (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | $74,040 | $55,690 |
| Monthly | $6,170 | $4,641 |
| Bi-weekly paycheck | $2,848 | $2,142 |
| Weekly | $1,424 | $1,071 |
| Hourly | $35.60 | $26.78 |
Estimate take-home pay on the Virginia median wage (2026 tax year) →
What is a good salary in Virginia?
“Good” depends on your household and where in the state you live, but the wage distribution shows where a salary stands relative to other workers in Virginia:
| Percentile | Annual | Monthly | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,530 | $2,544 | 90% of workers earn more |
| 25th | $37,720 | $3,143 | 75% earn more |
| 50th (median) | $55,690 | $4,641 | half earn more, half less |
| 75th | $89,420 | $7,452 | top 25% earn more than this |
| 90th | $139,010 | $11,584 | top 10% earn more than this |
In practice, a salary above $55,690 beats more than half of Virginia workers, about $89,420 puts you in the top quarter, and $139,010 or more puts you in the top 10%. These are individual wages, not household income. Compare percentiles across states →
Household income and earnings in Virginia
| Measure (ACS 2024) | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $92,090 | $81,604 |
| Median family income | $114,278 | $101,265 |
| Per-capita income | $50,866 | $45,256 |
| Median earnings, all workers with earnings | $51,322 | $46,949 |
| Median earnings, men working full-time year-round | $73,833 | $66,965 |
| Median earnings, women working full-time year-round | $61,112 | $55,678 |
Household income adds up the income of everyone in a household — often two earners, plus Social Security, investment and self-employment income — so it is higher than any per-worker wage figure. Women working full-time year-round in Virginia have median earnings equal to 83% of men’s. Household income in every state →
Salary vs. cost of living in Virginia
Prices in Virginia are about 1.1% above the national average (BEA regional price parity 101.1; housing 106.8). Adjusted for that, the median wage of $55,690 is worth $55,084 at national-average prices (rank #15), and the mean wage is worth $73,234 (rank #8). Cost-of-living adjusted ranking →
Virginia taxes wage income, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures above by federal tax, FICA and state income tax.
Virginia vs. neighboring states
| State | Mean wage | Median wage | RPP | Adjusted median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $74,040 | $55,690 | 101.1 | $55,084 |
| Kentucky | $58,990 | $46,920 | 90.2 | $52,018 |
| Maryland | $77,580 | $59,510 | 105.0 | $56,676 |
| North Carolina | $64,290 | $47,970 | 94.3 | $50,870 |
| Tennessee | $60,800 | $47,380 | 91.9 | $51,556 |
| West Virginia | $56,470 | $45,300 | 89.5 | $50,615 |
| District of Columbia | $111,010 | $91,540 | 109.9 | $83,294 |
Highest-paying occupations in Virginia
Detailed occupations with at least 300 jobs in the state, ranked by mean annual wage. “$239,200+” means BLS reports only that the wage is at or above that level.
| Occupation | Mean wage | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $239,200+ | $239,200+ | 920 |
| Cardiologists | $446,630 | $461,450 | 810 |
| Chief Executives | $340,580 | $310,740 | 4,870 |
| Psychiatrists | $272,960 | $295,010 | 370 |
| Physicians, All Other | $266,010 | $278,530 | 8,480 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $254,820 | $252,110 | 700 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $252,590 | $222,630 | 2,930 |
| Pediatricians, General | $210,010 | $195,940 | 750 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $206,920 | $201,490 | 17,550 |
| Financial Managers | $199,320 | $185,220 | 20,850 |
Most common jobs in Virginia and what they pay
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 104,460 | $30,110 | $14.48 |
| General and Operations Managers | 103,590 | $122,080 | $58.69 |
| Retail Salespersons | 100,290 | $34,240 | $16.46 |
| Software Developers | 88,280 | $136,460 | $65.61 |
| Cashiers | 83,890 | $30,580 | $14.70 |
| Registered Nurses | 77,490 | $93,600 | $45.00 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 70,070 | $30,300 | $14.57 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 69,660 | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| Office Clerks, General | 66,550 | $46,410 | $22.31 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 65,970 | $35,170 | $16.91 |
The largest occupation in Virginia is fast food and counter workers, with 104,460 jobs and a median wage of $30,110. Many of the most common jobs pay well below the state median, which is one reason the overall median sits far below the mean.
Salaries for 54 common occupations in Virginia
| Occupation | Mean wage | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physician | $252,590 | $222,630 | 2,930 |
| Dentist (General) | $197,820 | $197,110 | 4,140 |
| Marketing Manager | $195,940 | $187,820 | 6,890 |
| Financial Manager | $199,320 | $185,220 | 20,850 |
| Lawyer | $179,240 | $167,210 | 18,580 |
| Pharmacist | $141,990 | $144,060 | 7,980 |
| Software Developer | $146,340 | $136,460 | 88,280 |
| Physician Assistant | $142,630 | $135,940 | 4,340 |
| Information Security Analyst | $141,360 | $134,900 | 19,120 |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $142,340 | $129,270 | 10,210 |
| Web Developer | $129,540 | $128,380 | 4,590 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $129,060 | $127,810 | 7,110 |
| Data Scientist | $134,590 | $126,430 | 8,920 |
| General and Operations Manager | $141,370 | $122,080 | 103,590 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $123,030 | $120,840 | 23,190 |
| Project Management Specialist | $123,390 | $120,840 | 43,860 |
| Construction Manager | $127,200 | $119,110 | 7,290 |
| Electrical Engineer | $123,830 | $119,030 | 7,260 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrator | $116,130 | $109,610 | 12,430 |
| Financial and Investment Analyst | $117,380 | $105,490 | 10,410 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $114,770 | $104,180 | 7,470 |
| Dental Hygienist | $105,120 | $102,950 | 3,770 |
| Physical Therapist | $104,070 | $101,450 | 7,630 |
| Occupational Therapist | $102,130 | $100,710 | 4,150 |
| Civil Engineer | $105,340 | $97,120 | 11,350 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $99,590 | $96,250 | 4,460 |
| Registered Nurse | $93,850 | $93,600 | 77,490 |
| Accountant and Auditor | $100,660 | $93,290 | 47,100 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $89,620 | $82,090 | 28,540 |
| High School Teacher | $75,060 | $72,170 | 31,100 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $70,450 | $65,870 | 19,970 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $71,540 | $65,550 | 37,880 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN) | $66,300 | $64,920 | 15,550 |
| Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $70,740 | $63,990 | 10,250 |
| Middle School Teacher | $69,870 | $63,520 | 18,290 |
| Electrician | $67,850 | $62,900 | 23,630 |
| Child, Family and School Social Worker | $66,500 | $61,330 | 9,410 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $61,590 | $61,090 | 8,070 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter and Steamfitter | $60,650 | $60,470 | 13,780 |
| HVAC Technician | $61,190 | $59,730 | 14,690 |
| Automotive Service Technician | $61,600 | $59,330 | 17,880 |
| Welder | $60,410 | $59,180 | 10,100 |
| Firefighter | $58,240 | $58,670 | 11,160 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $57,770 | $56,860 | 48,750 |
| Carpenter | $55,390 | $55,690 | 20,460 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerk | $53,740 | $51,620 | 31,990 |
| Correctional Officer | $54,450 | $50,140 | 11,270 |
| Secretary and Administrative Assistant | $49,720 | $47,620 | 31,580 |
| Medical Assistant | $44,050 | $44,740 | 16,650 |
| Construction Laborer | $43,670 | $43,560 | 25,830 |
| Nursing Assistant (CNA) | $42,160 | $43,200 | 40,580 |
| Customer Service Representative | $44,960 | $42,730 | 59,850 |
| Retail Salesperson | $36,290 | $34,240 | 100,290 |
| Cashier | $32,140 | $30,580 | 83,890 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Virginia?
The average (mean) annual wage in Virginia is $74,040, or $35.60 per hour, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates. The median wage — what a typical worker earns — is $55,690 a year ($26.78 per hour).
What is the average monthly salary in Virginia?
Dividing the annual figures by 12, the mean wage in Virginia works out to about $6,170 per month and the median wage to about $4,641 per month, before taxes.
What is considered a good salary in Virginia?
Earning more than the median of $55,690 puts you above half of all workers in Virginia. A salary of $89,420 or more is in the top 25%, and $139,010 or more is in the top 10% of wage earners in the state.
What is the median household income in Virginia?
Median household income in Virginia was $92,090 in the Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, compared with $81,604 nationally. Household income combines all earners and income sources in a home.
Does Virginia have a state income tax on wages?
Yes. Virginia taxes wage income, so state income tax is deducted from paychecks in addition to federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare.