High paying entry level jobs in Virginia

These occupations in Virginia 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 Virginia run 1.1% above the national average (2024), so a Virginia salary is worth about 0.99× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Virginia.

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

Find high paying jobs in Virginia

OccupationMedian, Virginia · Employed

1Dentists, General$197,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$105,400 – $321,2504,140
2Lawyers$167,210
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,330 – $320,22018,580
3Computer and Information Research Scientists$157,390
Master's degree
$96,300 – $230,6303,590
4Engineers, All Other$148,160
Bachelor's degree
$84,590 – $195,1905,060
5Pharmacists$144,060
Doctoral or professional degree
$106,800 – $173,5507,980
6Aerospace Engineers$143,210
Bachelor's degree
$95,420 – $226,9502,540
7Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$140,670
Bachelor's degree
$82,660 – $218,0403,380
8Computer Occupations, All Other$139,030
Bachelor's degree
$77,130 – $185,95017,000
9Computer Hardware Engineers$139,030
Bachelor's degree
$87,630 – $195,2901,720
10Software Developers$136,460
Bachelor's degree
$83,350 – $211,93088,280
11Physician Assistants$135,940
Master's degree
$98,330 – $213,0104,340
12Operations Research Analysts$129,460
Bachelor's degree
$71,820 – $194,2606,980
13Web Developers$128,380
Bachelor's degree
$76,640 – $178,2304,590
14Nurse Practitioners$127,810
Master's degree
$99,990 – $161,4707,110
15Veterinarians$126,730
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,350 – $220,1702,700
16Financial Risk Specialists$126,510
Bachelor's degree
$77,080 – $191,7201,770
17Data Scientists$126,430
Bachelor's degree
$76,420 – $207,8908,920
18Computer Programmers$121,610
Bachelor's degree
$67,010 – $182,8903,070
19Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$121,590
Bachelor's degree
$78,820 – $169,20010,160
20Project Management Specialists$120,840
Bachelor's degree
$68,020 – $179,97043,860
21Computer Systems Analysts$120,840
Bachelor's degree
$73,160 – $179,92023,190
22Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$119,990
Bachelor's degree
$80,700 – $176,4903,280
23Electrical Engineers$119,030
Bachelor's degree
$80,320 – $173,4007,260
24Network and Computer Systems Administrators$109,610
Bachelor's degree
$69,580 – $170,11012,430
25Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$106,780
Doctoral or professional degree
$54,950 – $200,1401,670
26Financial and Investment Analysts$105,490
Bachelor's degree
$67,540 – $176,69010,410
27Budget Analysts$105,470
Bachelor's degree
$70,610 – $156,7502,730
28Mechanical Engineers$104,180
Bachelor's degree
$77,840 – $160,7707,470
29Business Teachers, Postsecondary$103,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,680 – $234,4602,450
30Dental Hygienists$102,950
Associate's degree
$86,730 – $125,5603,770
31Industrial Engineers$102,550
Bachelor's degree
$69,880 – $157,1605,580
32Credit Analysts$102,430
Bachelor's degree
$63,220 – $164,7502,460
33Physical Therapists$101,450
Doctoral or professional degree
$75,720 – $132,8607,630
34Occupational Therapists$100,710
Master's degree
$70,200 – $134,5704,150
35Logisticians$98,920
Bachelor's degree
$64,000 – $156,75010,540
36Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$98,410
Associate's degree
$64,000 – $131,8103,720
37Civil Engineers$97,120
Bachelor's degree
$74,000 – $150,71011,350
38Chemists$96,650
Bachelor's degree
$52,870 – $166,2301,640
39Biological Scientists, All Other$96,030
Bachelor's degree
$64,650 – $151,1001,650
40Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$95,660
Associate's degree
$77,540 – $122,9302,160
41Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$93,620
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,540 – $186,8104,560
42Registered Nurses$93,600
Bachelor's degree
$67,830 – $125,58077,490
43Database Administrators$93,320
Bachelor's degree
$60,840 – $160,1905,940
44Accountants and Auditors$93,290
Bachelor's degree
$60,000 – $156,73047,100
45Financial Specialists, All Other$92,930
Bachelor's degree
$52,240 – $148,7005,070
46Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$90,800
Bachelor's degree
$56,180 – $138,3503,910
47Urban and Regional Planners$86,030
Master's degree
$61,790 – $133,5201,740
48Teachers and Instructors, All Other$85,280
Bachelor's degree
$44,320 – $129,2203,020
49Business Operations Specialists, All Other$85,200
Bachelor's degree
$46,650 – $156,75045,160
50Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$84,060
Doctoral or professional degree
$43,320 – $177,3301,580

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

#	Occupation	MedianVirginia	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$197,110	$105,400 – $321,250	4,140
2	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$167,210	$79,330 – $320,220	18,580
3	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$157,390	$96,300 – $230,630	3,590
4	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$148,160	$84,590 – $195,190	5,060
5	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$144,060	$106,800 – $173,550	7,980
6	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$143,210	$95,420 – $226,950	2,540
7	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$140,670	$82,660 – $218,040	3,380
8	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$139,030	$77,130 – $185,950	17,000
9	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$139,030	$87,630 – $195,290	1,720
10	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$136,460	$83,350 – $211,930	88,280
11	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$135,940	$98,330 – $213,010	4,340
12	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$129,460	$71,820 – $194,260	6,980
13	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$128,380	$76,640 – $178,230	4,590
14	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$127,810	$99,990 – $161,470	7,110
15	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$126,730	$63,350 – $220,170	2,700
16	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$126,510	$77,080 – $191,720	1,770
17	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$126,430	$76,420 – $207,890	8,920
18	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$121,610	$67,010 – $182,890	3,070
19	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$121,590	$78,820 – $169,200	10,160
20	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$120,840	$68,020 – $179,970	43,860
21	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$120,840	$73,160 – $179,920	23,190
22	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$119,990	$80,700 – $176,490	3,280
23	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$119,030	$80,320 – $173,400	7,260
24	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$109,610	$69,580 – $170,110	12,430
25	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$106,780	$54,950 – $200,140	1,670
26	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$105,490	$67,540 – $176,690	10,410
27	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$105,470	$70,610 – $156,750	2,730
28	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$104,180	$77,840 – $160,770	7,470
29	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,860	$47,680 – $234,460	2,450
30	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$102,950	$86,730 – $125,560	3,770
31	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$102,550	$69,880 – $157,160	5,580
32	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$102,430	$63,220 – $164,750	2,460
33	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$101,450	$75,720 – $132,860	7,630
34	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$100,710	$70,200 – $134,570	4,150
35	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$98,920	$64,000 – $156,750	10,540
36	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$98,410	$64,000 – $131,810	3,720
37	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$97,120	$74,000 – $150,710	11,350
38	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$96,650	$52,870 – $166,230	1,640
39	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$96,030	$64,650 – $151,100	1,650
40	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$95,660	$77,540 – $122,930	2,160
41	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$93,620	$65,540 – $186,810	4,560
42	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$93,600	$67,830 – $125,580	77,490
43	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$93,320	$60,840 – $160,190	5,940
44	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$93,290	$60,000 – $156,730	47,100
45	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$92,930	$52,240 – $148,700	5,070
46	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$90,800	$56,180 – $138,350	3,910
47	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$86,030	$61,790 – $133,520	1,740
48	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$85,280	$44,320 – $129,220	3,020
49	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$85,200	$46,650 – $156,750	45,160
50	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$84,060	$43,320 – $177,330	1,580

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Virginia. 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.

More for Virginia

Metro areas in Virginia

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Virginia

Without a degree

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

High paying entry level jobs in Virginia

More for Virginia

Metro areas in Virginia

By field in Virginia

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state