High paying jobs in Virginia that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Virginia and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

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

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$119,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,010 – $205,6403,380
2Detectives and Criminal Investigators$112,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,730 – $195,1903,180
3Dental Hygienists$102,950
Associate's degree
$86,730 – $125,5603,770
4First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$101,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,690 – $179,0303,750
5Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$98,410
Associate's degree
$64,000 – $131,8103,720
6First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$98,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,860 – $179,7109,020
7First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$97,780
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,510 – $124,7803,300
8Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$95,660
Associate's degree
$77,540 – $122,9302,160
9Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$87,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,560 – $132,1602,270
10Respiratory Therapists$82,910
Associate's degree
$65,540 – $106,4703,340
11Ship Engineers$82,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,420 – $150,3001,450
12Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$82,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,150 – $125,1702,260
13First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$80,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,030 – $122,59016,910
14Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,670
Associate's degree
$60,000 – $106,1705,140
15Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$80,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,370 – $119,99010,360
16Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$79,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,340 – $169,0405,570
17Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$79,540
Associate's degree
$56,920 – $123,6104,670
18Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$79,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,220 – $102,4704,120
19First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$78,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,340 – $117,50024,970
20Real Estate Brokers$77,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,250 – $189,3601,500
21Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$76,880
Associate's degree
$38,370 – $131,3302,410
22Computer Network Support Specialists$76,760
Associate's degree
$47,060 – $127,4305,650
23Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$76,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,520 – $106,8602,920
24Construction and Building Inspectors$75,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,090 – $104,4806,550
25Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$74,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,140 – $109,9707,860
26First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,210 – $108,78013,530
27Physical Therapist Assistants$73,760
Associate's degree
$54,170 – $93,6003,370
28Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$72,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,700 – $169,61041,390
29Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$71,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,020 – $92,4701,570
30Food Service Managers$71,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,970 – $103,4703,820
31Transportation Security Screeners$69,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,130 – $76,9001,870
32Surgical Technologists$67,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,980 – $102,0201,910
33Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$67,240
Associate's degree
$42,750 – $104,8902,710
34First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$67,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,670 – $104,53035,160
35Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$67,100
Associate's degree
$45,300 – $99,3201,480
36Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$65,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,000 – $96,82019,970
37Maintenance Workers, Machinery$65,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,570 – $95,3001,420
38Computer User Support Specialists$65,040
Some college, no degree
$44,990 – $101,56020,910
39Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,580 – $79,17015,550
40First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$64,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,600 – $99,6002,230
41Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,060 – $92,2109,470
42Paralegals and Legal Assistants$63,990
Associate's degree
$47,860 – $100,55010,250
43Real Estate Sales Agents$63,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,610 – $122,1005,750
44Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,540 – $82,9404,340
45Riggers$63,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,160 – $76,5401,920
46Architectural and Civil Drafters$63,450
Associate's degree
$47,170 – $93,9702,600
47Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,800 – $148,70022,570
48Chefs and Head Cooks$63,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,010 – $90,4703,600
49Electricians$62,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,780 – $105,72023,630
50Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,0301,980

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	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$119,140	$77,010 – $205,640	3,380
2	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$112,760	$62,730 – $195,190	3,180
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$102,950	$86,730 – $125,560	3,770
4	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,230	$67,690 – $179,030	3,750
5	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$98,410	$64,000 – $131,810	3,720
6	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,170	$50,860 – $179,710	9,020
7	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$97,780	$59,510 – $124,780	3,300
8	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$95,660	$77,540 – $122,930	2,160
9	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$87,610	$54,560 – $132,160	2,270
10	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$82,910	$65,540 – $106,470	3,340
11	Ship EngineersPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,370	$47,420 – $150,300	1,450
12	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,200	$58,150 – $125,170	2,260
13	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,770	$52,030 – $122,590	16,910
14	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,670	$60,000 – $106,170	5,140
15	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,330	$51,370 – $119,990	10,360
16	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,810	$45,340 – $169,040	5,570
17	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,540	$56,920 – $123,610	4,670
18	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,090	$45,220 – $102,470	4,120
19	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,640	$54,340 – $117,500	24,970
20	Real Estate BrokersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,270	$45,250 – $189,360	1,500
21	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,880	$38,370 – $131,330	2,410
22	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,760	$47,060 – $127,430	5,650
23	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,590	$49,520 – $106,860	2,920
24	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,660	$50,090 – $104,480	6,550
25	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,240	$49,140 – $109,970	7,860
26	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,150	$45,210 – $108,780	13,530
27	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,760	$54,170 – $93,600	3,370
28	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,640	$37,700 – $169,610	41,390
29	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,320	$47,020 – $92,470	1,570
30	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,230	$50,970 – $103,470	3,820
31	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,910	$46,130 – $76,900	1,870
32	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,580	$47,980 – $102,020	1,910
33	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$67,240	$42,750 – $104,890	2,710
34	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,170	$45,670 – $104,530	35,160
35	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,100	$45,300 – $99,320	1,480
36	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,870	$50,000 – $96,820	19,970
37	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,500	$46,570 – $95,300	1,420
38	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$65,040	$44,990 – $101,560	20,910
39	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,920	$50,580 – $79,170	15,550
40	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,190	$54,600 – $99,600	2,230
41	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,020	$46,060 – $92,210	9,470
42	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,990	$47,860 – $100,550	10,250
43	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,980	$36,610 – $122,100	5,750
44	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,950	$45,540 – $82,940	4,340
45	RiggersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,620	$49,160 – $76,540	1,920
46	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,450	$47,170 – $93,970	2,600
47	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,400	$37,800 – $148,700	22,570
48	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,270	$43,010 – $90,470	3,600
49	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,900	$40,780 – $105,720	23,630
50	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $75,030	1,980

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 jobs in Virginia that need no degree

More for Virginia

Metro areas in Virginia

By field in Virginia

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree