Jobs in Virginia — Pay & Openings by City
1,175,820 professionals employed across 4 major Virginia metro areas (BLS OEWS May 2025). Average salary: $48,233/yr. Top hiring industry: Defense.
Last updated: 2026-07-23
Top Industries in Virginia
Defense, Technology, Government, Finance are the largest employment sectors in Virginia.
The highest-paying role statewide is typically Operations Manager.
Where you work in Virginia changes what the same job pays. Across the roles we track, Richmond averages $49,451/yr while Virginia Beach averages $47,828/yr — about a 3% gap. Weigh that against commute and cost of living before ruling a metro out.
Jobs in Virginia by City
Every metro below shows the average median pay and total employment across the 46 roles we track from BLS OEWS May 2025 data, plus links to the biggest role hubs by employment.
| City | Avg Median Pay | People Employed | Biggest Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $47,828 | 306,140 | Fast Food Worker jobs · Retail Sales Associate jobs · Operations Manager jobs |
| Norfolk | $47,828 | 306,140 | Fast Food Worker jobs · Retail Sales Associate jobs · Operations Manager jobs |
| Chesapeake | $47,828 | 306,140 | Fast Food Worker jobs · Retail Sales Associate jobs · Operations Manager jobs |
| Richmond | $49,451 | 257,400 | Fast Food Worker jobs · Retail Sales Associate jobs · Operations Manager jobs |
This hub links 12 role hubs across 4 Virginia metros. Employment = BLS OEWS May 2025, not live openings.
Top-Paying Roles in Virginia
State averages across the Virginia metros above. Each linked guide breaks the number down city by city and links to live openings you can apply to.
| Role | Virginia Average Median |
|---|---|
| Operations Manager salary guide | $102,422 |
| Dental Hygienist salary guide | $100,230 |
| Logistics Coordinator salary guide | $91,720 |
| Registered Nurse salary guide | $90,482 |
| Electrician salary guide | $62,100 |
| Plumber salary guide | $61,772 |
| Welder salary guide | $61,430 |
| Warehouse Supervisor salary guide | $60,870 |
| Diesel Mechanic salary guide | $59,747 |
| HVAC Technician salary guide | $59,385 |
| Auto Mechanic salary guide | $59,095 |
| Sales Representative salary guide | $57,580 |
| Truck Driver salary guide | $52,392 |
| Carpenter salary guide | $51,592 |
| Dispatcher salary guide | $48,577 |
15 of these roles have full salary guides. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.