High paying entry level jobs in Richmond, VA

These occupations in Richmond, VA ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Richmond, VA run 2.1% below the national average (2024), so a Richmond, VA salary is worth about 1.02× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Richmond, VA

OccupationMedian, Richmond, VA · Employed

1Dentists, General$218,880
Doctoral or professional degree
$128,340 – $308,250650
2Pharmacists$144,940
Doctoral or professional degree
$106,310 – $165,6901,350
3Lawyers$144,910
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,210 – $342,1103,780
4Nuclear Engineers$140,460
Bachelor's degree
$101,870 – $175,040350
5Software Developers$132,120
Bachelor's degree
$84,290 – $208,9907,680
6Nurse Practitioners$127,820
Master's degree
$96,720 – $147,6101,440
7Physician Assistants$126,810
Master's degree
$93,040 – $171,850620
8Data Scientists$122,510
Bachelor's degree
$68,510 – $208,1701,050
9Veterinarians$121,670
Doctoral or professional degree
$81,070 – $216,120420
10Electrical Engineers$116,760
Bachelor's degree
$80,730 – $159,3101,160
11Computer Programmers$112,690
Bachelor's degree
$61,540 – $162,880310
12Computer Occupations, All Other$111,070
Bachelor's degree
$57,610 – $164,7601,280
13Operations Research Analysts$109,650
Bachelor's degree
$53,810 – $159,4101,020
14Engineers, All Other$107,990
Bachelor's degree
$70,050 – $166,430330
15Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$106,300
Bachelor's degree
$73,200 – $159,050720
16Occupational Therapists$105,550
Master's degree
$76,930 – $122,460740
17Computer Systems Analysts$105,190
Bachelor's degree
$72,410 – $168,4102,990
18Financial Risk Specialists$105,060
Bachelor's degree
$61,680 – $177,300380
19Dental Hygienists$104,250
Associate's degree
$94,870 – $119,350780
20Financial and Investment Analysts$104,160
Bachelor's degree
$61,660 – $178,6001,630
21Mechanical Engineers$104,130
Bachelor's degree
$73,990 – $139,800640
22Industrial Engineers$103,180
Bachelor's degree
$76,920 – $157,420740
23Physical Therapists$102,700
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,870 – $125,8901,300
24Project Management Specialists$102,170
Bachelor's degree
$62,390 – $163,1506,380
25Network and Computer Systems Administrators$99,750
Bachelor's degree
$63,670 – $159,1701,660
26Database Administrators$99,690
Bachelor's degree
$55,690 – $158,160600
27Business Teachers, Postsecondary$98,170
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,750 – $221,250400
28Social Workers, All Other$96,970
Bachelor's degree
$43,860 – $126,820230
29Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$95,660
Associate's degree
$79,740 – $103,010440
30Registered Nurses$93,580
Bachelor's degree
$74,730 – $117,97015,700
31Budget Analysts$92,550
Bachelor's degree
$64,780 – $132,370420
32Logisticians$92,500
Bachelor's degree
$62,040 – $132,0801,340
33Civil Engineers$91,300
Bachelor's degree
$73,060 – $136,8601,680
34Chemists$87,580
Bachelor's degree
$52,840 – $162,520320
35Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,510
Associate's degree
$58,820 – $132,450480
36Accountants and Auditors$84,220
Bachelor's degree
$59,290 – $134,2907,920
37Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$83,420
Bachelor's degree
$57,140 – $130,720690
38Teachers and Instructors, All Other$82,370
Bachelor's degree
$41,600 – $104,920610
39Respiratory Therapists$81,750
Associate's degree
$66,960 – $96,420630
40Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$81,660
Bachelor's degree
$45,080 – $170,1204,550
41Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$81,220
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,040 – $137,190300
42Financial Specialists, All Other$81,070
Bachelor's degree
$54,880 – $128,220870
43Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,600
Associate's degree
$60,250 – $98,1501,130
44Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$80,550
Doctoral or professional degree
$42,710 – $168,280230
45Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$80,350
Bachelor's degree
$60,020 – $110,450780
46Human Resources Specialists$79,340
Bachelor's degree
$47,980 – $127,4204,540
47Business Operations Specialists, All Other$78,420
Bachelor's degree
$45,640 – $128,4205,880
48Legal Support Workers, All Other$77,840
Associate's degree
$46,950 – $185,100330
49Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$77,430
Master's degree
$54,140 – $95,570720
50Urban and Regional Planners$77,340
Master's degree
$61,000 – $105,100260

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianRichmond, VA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$218,880	$128,340 – $308,250	650
2	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$144,940	$106,310 – $165,690	1,350
3	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$144,910	$77,210 – $342,110	3,780
4	Nuclear EngineersBachelor's degree	$140,460	$101,870 – $175,040	350
5	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$132,120	$84,290 – $208,990	7,680
6	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$127,820	$96,720 – $147,610	1,440
7	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$126,810	$93,040 – $171,850	620
8	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$122,510	$68,510 – $208,170	1,050
9	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$121,670	$81,070 – $216,120	420
10	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$116,760	$80,730 – $159,310	1,160
11	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$112,690	$61,540 – $162,880	310
12	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$111,070	$57,610 – $164,760	1,280
13	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$109,650	$53,810 – $159,410	1,020
14	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$107,990	$70,050 – $166,430	330
15	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$106,300	$73,200 – $159,050	720
16	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$105,550	$76,930 – $122,460	740
17	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$105,190	$72,410 – $168,410	2,990
18	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$105,060	$61,680 – $177,300	380
19	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$104,250	$94,870 – $119,350	780
20	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$104,160	$61,660 – $178,600	1,630
21	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$104,130	$73,990 – $139,800	640
22	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$103,180	$76,920 – $157,420	740
23	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$102,700	$77,870 – $125,890	1,300
24	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$102,170	$62,390 – $163,150	6,380
25	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$99,750	$63,670 – $159,170	1,660
26	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$99,690	$55,690 – $158,160	600
27	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$98,170	$47,750 – $221,250	400
28	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$96,970	$43,860 – $126,820	230
29	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$95,660	$79,740 – $103,010	440
30	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$93,580	$74,730 – $117,970	15,700
31	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$92,550	$64,780 – $132,370	420
32	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$92,500	$62,040 – $132,080	1,340
33	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$91,300	$73,060 – $136,860	1,680
34	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$87,580	$52,840 – $162,520	320
35	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,510	$58,820 – $132,450	480
36	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$84,220	$59,290 – $134,290	7,920
37	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$83,420	$57,140 – $130,720	690
38	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$82,370	$41,600 – $104,920	610
39	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$81,750	$66,960 – $96,420	630
40	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$81,660	$45,080 – $170,120	4,550
41	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$81,220	$48,040 – $137,190	300
42	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$81,070	$54,880 – $128,220	870
43	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,600	$60,250 – $98,150	1,130
44	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$80,550	$42,710 – $168,280	230
45	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$80,350	$60,020 – $110,450	780
46	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$79,340	$47,980 – $127,420	4,540
47	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$78,420	$45,640 – $128,420	5,880
48	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$77,840	$46,950 – $185,100	330
49	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$77,430	$54,140 – $95,570	720
50	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$77,340	$61,000 – $105,100	260

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Richmond, VA. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Richmond, VA to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Richmond, VA

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