Jobs that actually got a raise in Virginia

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Waiters and Waitresses$44,760
No formal educational credential
$28,270 – $74,130+72.7%+117.5% nominal
2Tax Preparers$58,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,330 – $98,700+58.3%+99.4% nominal
3Bartenders$47,070
No formal educational credential
$27,890 – $90,400+53.8%+93.6% nominal
4Transportation Security Screeners$69,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,130 – $76,900+32.0%+66.3% nominal
5Tire Repairers and Changers$42,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $55,990+31.9%+66.2% nominal
6Manicurists and Pedicurists$36,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,370 – $59,430+30.7%+64.6% nominal
7Psychiatric Technicians$48,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,580 – $58,530+29.7%+63.3% nominal
8Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$49,890
Bachelor's degree
$31,670 – $80,310+28.6%+61.9% nominal
9Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$35,090
No formal educational credential
$29,040 – $42,930+27.5%+60.5% nominal
10Amusement and Recreation Attendants$30,910
No formal educational credential
$25,900 – $44,830+26.3%+59.1% nominal
11Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$32,410
No formal educational credential
$27,370 – $46,360+25.7%+58.3% nominal
12Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$35,870
No formal educational credential
$27,780 – $45,760+25.5%+58.1% nominal
13Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$59,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,460 – $80,820+25.3%+57.7% nominal
14Production Workers, All Other$38,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,650 – $60,310+24.2%+56.4% nominal
15Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$59,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,990 – $76,910+23.2%+55.1% nominal
16Nursing Assistants$43,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,560 – $50,980+22.7%+54.6% nominal
17Counter and Rental Clerks$45,540
No formal educational credential
$31,340 – $74,890+22.7%+54.5% nominal
18Dishwashers$33,130
No formal educational credential
$27,300 – $40,450+22.2%+53.9% nominal
19Recreation Workers$36,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,390 – $53,800+21.4%+52.9% nominal
20Food Preparation Workers$34,900
No formal educational credential
$28,460 – $42,480+21.1%+52.5% nominal
21Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$33,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,550 – $38,470+21.0%+52.3% nominal
22Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$55,840
No formal educational credential
$39,040 – $71,330+20.6%+51.9% nominal
23Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,990 – $58,660+20.6%+51.9% nominal
24Cooks, Fast Food$29,950
No formal educational credential
$27,400 – $37,730+20.3%+51.5% nominal
25Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$32,140
No formal educational credential
$26,490 – $38,500+20.0%+51.1% nominal
26Childcare Workers$34,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,150 – $44,100+19.6%+50.6% nominal
27Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$44,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,880 – $63,420+19.5%+50.4% nominal
28Packers and Packagers, Hand$35,000
No formal educational credential
$27,240 – $46,880+19.3%+50.3% nominal
29Massage Therapists$62,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,070 – $119,570+19.1%+50.0% nominal
30Helpers--Electricians$44,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,710 – $59,120+18.7%+49.4% nominal
31Fast Food and Counter Workers$30,110
No formal educational credential
$27,130 – $37,550+18.3%+48.9% nominal
32Animal Caretakers$34,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,050 – $46,180+17.4%+47.9% nominal
33Library Assistants, Clerical$38,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,250 – $54,180+17.0%+47.3% nominal
34Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$30,490
No formal educational credential
$27,230 – $44,630+16.0%+46.1% nominal
35Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$38,520
Some college, no degree
$28,220 – $57,030+15.9%+45.9% nominal
36Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$33,820
No formal educational credential
$28,210 – $41,710+15.6%+45.5% nominal
37Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,580 – $79,170+15.3%+45.2% nominal
38Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$34,450
No formal educational credential
$27,540 – $47,500+15.3%+45.2% nominal
39Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$39,380
No formal educational credential
$31,050 – $53,700+14.4%+44.0% nominal
40Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$28,580
No formal educational credential
$26,720 – $34,140+14.2%+43.8% nominal
41Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$39,020
Bachelor's degree
$27,670 – $53,540+14.1%+43.7% nominal
42Home Health and Personal Care Aides$30,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,980 – $40,650+14.0%+43.6% nominal
43Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$46,530
No formal educational credential
$28,120 – $61,040+13.9%+43.4% nominal
44Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$106,780
Doctoral or professional degree
$54,950 – $200,140+13.9%+43.5% nominal
45Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,290 – $60,720+13.3%+42.7% nominal
46Retail Salespersons$34,240
No formal educational credential
$27,540 – $46,590+12.3%+41.4% nominal
47Cooks, Restaurant$36,750
No formal educational credential
$29,340 – $45,740+12.2%+41.2% nominal
48Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$35,170
No formal educational credential
$28,290 – $47,240+11.4%+40.3% nominal
49Order Clerks$42,580
Some college, no degree
$35,140 – $61,620+11.4%+40.3% nominal
50Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$37,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,430 – $48,580+10.9%+39.6% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$44,760	$28,270 – $74,130	+72.7%+117.5% nominal
2	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,520	$36,330 – $98,700	+58.3%+99.4% nominal
3	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$47,070	$27,890 – $90,400	+53.8%+93.6% nominal
4	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,910	$46,130 – $76,900	+32.0%+66.3% nominal
5	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,370	$31,200 – $55,990	+31.9%+66.2% nominal
6	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$36,630	$29,370 – $59,430	+30.7%+64.6% nominal
7	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,320	$38,580 – $58,530	+29.7%+63.3% nominal
8	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$49,890	$31,670 – $80,310	+28.6%+61.9% nominal
9	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$35,090	$29,040 – $42,930	+27.5%+60.5% nominal
10	Amusement and Recreation AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$30,910	$25,900 – $44,830	+26.3%+59.1% nominal
11	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$32,410	$27,370 – $46,360	+25.7%+58.3% nominal
12	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$35,870	$27,780 – $45,760	+25.5%+58.1% nominal
13	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,480	$37,460 – $80,820	+25.3%+57.7% nominal
14	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,340	$33,650 – $60,310	+24.2%+56.4% nominal
15	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,970	$41,990 – $76,910	+23.2%+55.1% nominal
16	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,200	$31,560 – $50,980	+22.7%+54.6% nominal
17	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$45,540	$31,340 – $74,890	+22.7%+54.5% nominal
18	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$33,130	$27,300 – $40,450	+22.2%+53.9% nominal
19	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,120	$27,390 – $53,800	+21.4%+52.9% nominal
20	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$34,900	$28,460 – $42,480	+21.1%+52.5% nominal
21	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,270	$28,550 – $38,470	+21.0%+52.3% nominal
22	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$55,840	$39,040 – $71,330	+20.6%+51.9% nominal
23	Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,770	$36,990 – $58,660	+20.6%+51.9% nominal
24	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$29,950	$27,400 – $37,730	+20.3%+51.5% nominal
25	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$32,140	$26,490 – $38,500	+20.0%+51.1% nominal
26	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,330	$28,150 – $44,100	+19.6%+50.6% nominal
27	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,950	$31,880 – $63,420	+19.5%+50.4% nominal
28	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$35,000	$27,240 – $46,880	+19.3%+50.3% nominal
29	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,220	$38,070 – $119,570	+19.1%+50.0% nominal
30	Helpers--ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,530	$33,710 – $59,120	+18.7%+49.4% nominal
31	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$30,110	$27,130 – $37,550	+18.3%+48.9% nominal
32	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,380	$28,050 – $46,180	+17.4%+47.9% nominal
33	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,020	$29,250 – $54,180	+17.0%+47.3% nominal
34	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$30,490	$27,230 – $44,630	+16.0%+46.1% nominal
35	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$38,520	$28,220 – $57,030	+15.9%+45.9% nominal
36	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$33,820	$28,210 – $41,710	+15.6%+45.5% nominal
37	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,920	$50,580 – $79,170	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
38	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$34,450	$27,540 – $47,500	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
39	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$39,380	$31,050 – $53,700	+14.4%+44.0% nominal
40	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$28,580	$26,720 – $34,140	+14.2%+43.8% nominal
41	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$39,020	$27,670 – $53,540	+14.1%+43.7% nominal
42	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30,300	$26,980 – $40,650	+14.0%+43.6% nominal
43	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$46,530	$28,120 – $61,040	+13.9%+43.4% nominal
44	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$106,780	$54,950 – $200,140	+13.9%+43.5% nominal
45	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,900	$32,290 – $60,720	+13.3%+42.7% nominal
46	Retail SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$34,240	$27,540 – $46,590	+12.3%+41.4% nominal
47	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$36,750	$29,340 – $45,740	+12.2%+41.2% nominal
48	Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$35,170	$28,290 – $47,240	+11.4%+40.3% nominal
49	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$42,580	$35,140 – $61,620	+11.4%+40.3% nominal
50	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,450	$30,430 – $48,580	+10.9%+39.6% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Virginia

More for Virginia

Metro areas in Virginia

By field in Virginia

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state