High paying jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC run 2.1% below the national average (2024), so a Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

OccupationMedian, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC · Employed

1Surgical Assistants$99,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,670 – $126,560270
2Dental Hygienists$98,890
Associate's degree
$93,630 – $105,730940
3Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$96,870
Associate's degree
$59,290 – $131,2101,430
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$86,630
Associate's degree
$75,620 – $104,770370
5Home Appliance Repairers$81,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,860 – $93,790320
6Respiratory Therapists$80,990
Associate's degree
$66,270 – $102,100710
7Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$80,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,410 – $106,480650
8Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$78,540
Associate's degree
$43,640 – $107,340570
9Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$78,100
Associate's degree
$39,300 – $118,170610
10Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$77,290
Associate's degree
$59,930 – $97,4501,050
11Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$76,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,000 – $78,120530
12Physical Therapist Assistants$73,300
Associate's degree
$51,700 – $82,000790
13Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$72,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,320 – $92,060500
14Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$68,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,170 – $100,520420
15Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$68,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,020 – $100,3901,380
16Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers$67,790
Associate's degree
$57,990 – $82,490280
17Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic$67,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,650 – $93,850770
18Occupational Therapy Assistants$65,730
Associate's degree
$57,740 – $81,260300
19Maintenance Workers, Machinery$65,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,670 – $95,300540
20Surgical Technologists$65,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,540 – $94,000420
21Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,810 – $89,6601,680
22Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$64,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,960 – $96,750580
23Riggers$64,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,160 – $76,5401,350
24Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,230 – $77,3203,410
25Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,590 – $80,740950
26Sheet Metal Workers$63,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,090 – $73,7002,080
27Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$63,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,650 – $96,7602,920
28Real Estate Sales Agents$62,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,750 – $109,8901,140
29Machinists$62,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,880 – $76,5402,350
30Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,820
Associate's degree
$44,340 – $80,220380
31Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$62,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,510 – $78,1803,740
32Electricians$62,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,970 – $81,2805,740
33Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,030
Associate's degree
$44,290 – $93,750410
34Transportation Security Screeners$62,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,720 – $68,200240
35Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$61,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,720 – $75,4105,100
36Computer Network Support Specialists$61,840
Associate's degree
$43,260 – $97,200940
37Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,080 – $130,5503,650
38Postal Service Clerks$60,740
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,360310
39Postal Service Mail Carriers$60,550
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $81,0401,470
40Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,160 – $75,900370
41Automotive Body and Related Repairers$60,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,900 – $123,130820
42Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$59,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,440 – $63,4401,780
43Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,790
Associate's degree
$47,460 – $77,7201,670
44Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$59,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,050 – $94,0304,320
45Computer User Support Specialists$59,650
Some college, no degree
$39,530 – $92,6602,430
46Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$59,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,230 – $78,870640
47Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,490
No formal educational credential
$48,880 – $75,280330
48Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$59,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,220 – $76,9602,840
49Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$59,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,720 – $73,8001,360
50Dental Laboratory Technicians$58,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,160 – $85,010280

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

#	Occupation	MedianVirginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Surgical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$99,530	$50,670 – $126,560	270
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$98,890	$93,630 – $105,730	940
3	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$96,870	$59,290 – $131,210	1,430
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$86,630	$75,620 – $104,770	370
5	Home Appliance RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,000	$47,860 – $93,790	320
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$80,990	$66,270 – $102,100	710
7	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,450	$58,410 – $106,480	650
8	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$78,540	$43,640 – $107,340	570
9	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,100	$39,300 – $118,170	610
10	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,290	$59,930 – $97,450	1,050
11	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,350	$38,000 – $78,120	530
12	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,300	$51,700 – $82,000	790
13	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,380	$49,320 – $92,060	500
14	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,350	$49,170 – $100,520	420
15	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,290	$49,020 – $100,390	1,380
16	Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and RepairersAssociate's degree	$67,790	$57,990 – $82,490	280
17	Layout Workers, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,540	$44,650 – $93,850	770
18	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$65,730	$57,740 – $81,260	300
19	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,500	$51,670 – $95,300	540
20	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,370	$39,540 – $94,000	420
21	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,620	$46,810 – $89,660	1,680
22	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,490	$43,960 – $96,750	580
23	RiggersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,440	$49,160 – $76,540	1,350
24	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,370	$51,230 – $77,320	3,410
25	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,260	$45,590 – $80,740	950
26	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,390	$38,090 – $73,700	2,080
27	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,240	$44,650 – $96,760	2,920
28	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,940	$36,750 – $109,890	1,140
29	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,900	$48,880 – $76,540	2,350
30	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,820	$44,340 – $80,220	380
31	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,670	$46,510 – $78,180	3,740
32	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,350	$43,970 – $81,280	5,740
33	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,030	$44,290 – $93,750	410
34	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,000	$32,720 – $68,200	240
35	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,870	$45,720 – $75,410	5,100
36	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$61,840	$43,260 – $97,200	940
37	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,780	$37,080 – $130,550	3,650
38	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$60,740	$42,600 – $76,360	310
39	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$60,550	$43,120 – $81,040	1,470
40	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,440	$42,160 – $75,900	370
41	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,100	$36,900 – $123,130	820
42	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,970	$44,440 – $63,440	1,780
43	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,790	$47,460 – $77,720	1,670
44	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,690	$52,050 – $94,030	4,320
45	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$59,650	$39,530 – $92,660	2,430
46	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,610	$45,230 – $78,870	640
47	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$48,880 – $75,280	330
48	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,470	$39,220 – $76,960	2,840
49	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,200	$43,720 – $73,800	1,360
50	Dental Laboratory TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,720	$38,160 – $85,010	280

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC. 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC that need no experience

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