Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Virginia

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Interpreters and Translators$63,030
Bachelor's degree
$43,160 – $123,490-35.6%-18.9% nominal
2Special Education Teachers, Middle School$63,820
Bachelor's degree
$51,360 – $100,010-27.8%-9.1% nominal
3Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$53,320
Bachelor's degree
$41,470 – $78,230-26.3%-7.2% nominal
4Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$63,520
Bachelor's degree
$50,590 – $99,370-25.6%-6.3% nominal
5Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,300
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,280-23.0%-3.1% nominal
6Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,340
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,030 – $90,290-21.9%-1.6% nominal
7Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$79,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,340 – $169,040-21.4%-1.0% nominal
8Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$63,920
Bachelor's degree
$48,850 – $100,930-21.3%-0.9% nominal
9Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$40,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,560 – $74,510-21.2%-0.8% nominal
10General and Operations Managers$122,080
Bachelor's degree
$56,400 – $261,060-20.8%-0.3% nominal
11Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$65,550
Bachelor's degree
$49,770 – $100,290-20.7%-0.1% nominal
12Education Administrators, All Other$108,820
Bachelor's degree
$55,310 – $164,760-19.7%+1.1% nominal
13Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$62,910
Bachelor's degree
$48,450 – $167,130-19.6%+1.2% nominal
14Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,800 – $148,700-19.4%+1.6% nominal
15Chemists$96,650
Bachelor's degree
$52,870 – $166,230-19.3%+1.6% nominal
16Producers and Directors$65,900
Bachelor's degree
$40,780 – $119,090-18.2%+3.0% nominal
17Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$44,750
Some college, no degree
$36,080 – $68,480-17.2%+4.3% nominal
18Bill and Account Collectors$43,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,160 – $64,100-16.3%+5.4% nominal
19Roofers$48,420
No formal educational credential
$38,220 – $66,420-16.2%+5.6% nominal
20Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$119,990
Bachelor's degree
$80,700 – $176,490-16.0%+5.8% nominal
21Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$67,740
Bachelor's degree
$50,830 – $101,120-16.0%+5.8% nominal
22Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$60,930
Bachelor's degree
$40,140 – $102,280-15.2%+6.8% nominal
23Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$67,660
Master's degree
$45,700 – $103,380-15.0%+7.1% nominal
24Sailors and Marine Oilers$49,120
No formal educational credential
$32,660 – $60,650-14.7%+7.4% nominal
25Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$93,620
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,540 – $186,810-14.6%+7.5% nominal
26Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$40,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,170 – $52,280-14.4%+7.8% nominal
27Food Service Managers$71,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,970 – $103,470-13.8%+8.5% nominal
28Dental Assistants$46,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,720 – $58,910-13.6%+8.8% nominal
29Electrical Engineers$119,030
Bachelor's degree
$80,320 – $173,400-13.5%+8.9% nominal
30Civil Engineers$97,120
Bachelor's degree
$74,000 – $150,710-13.4%+9.0% nominal
31Sheet Metal Workers$52,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $73,640-13.4%+9.0% nominal
32Pharmacists$144,060
Doctoral or professional degree
$106,800 – $173,550-13.2%+9.3% nominal
33Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$82,230
Bachelor's degree
$57,720 – $135,580-13.2%+9.3% nominal
34Compliance Officers$80,380
Bachelor's degree
$48,640 – $133,620-13.0%+9.6% nominal
35Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$79,190
Doctoral or professional degree
$46,210 – $154,320-12.9%+9.7% nominal
36Information and Record Clerks, All Other$50,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,060 – $73,430-12.9%+9.7% nominal
37Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$46,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,420 – $62,000-12.8%+9.8% nominal
38Physical Therapists$101,450
Doctoral or professional degree
$75,720 – $132,860-12.2%+10.5% nominal
39Mechanical Engineers$104,180
Bachelor's degree
$77,840 – $160,770-12.2%+10.6% nominal
40Occupational Therapists$100,710
Master's degree
$70,200 – $134,570-11.7%+11.2% nominal
41Computer Network Support Specialists$76,760
Associate's degree
$47,060 – $127,430-11.6%+11.3% nominal
42Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$46,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,930 – $65,920-11.6%+11.4% nominal
43Computer Network Architects$141,340
Bachelor's degree
$85,050 – $210,180-11.6%+11.4% nominal
44Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$49,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,160 – $71,360-11.5%+11.4% nominal
45Speech-Language Pathologists$96,250
Master's degree
$66,890 – $132,400-11.5%+11.5% nominal
46Training and Development Specialists$77,690
Bachelor's degree
$41,870 – $130,180-11.4%+11.5% nominal
47Data Entry Keyers$38,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,010 – $54,670-10.9%+12.2% nominal
48Personal Financial Advisors$102,640
Bachelor's degree
$51,440 – $420,980-10.8%+12.4% nominal
49Audio and Video Technicians$53,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,060 – $85,320-10.8%+12.3% nominal
50Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$37,140
Associate's degree
$30,290 – $60,710-10.8%+12.3% 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	Interpreters and TranslatorsBachelor's degree	$63,030	$43,160 – $123,490	-35.6%-18.9% nominal
2	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$63,820	$51,360 – $100,010	-27.8%-9.1% nominal
3	Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareBachelor's degree	$53,320	$41,470 – $78,230	-26.3%-7.2% nominal
4	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$63,520	$50,590 – $99,370	-25.6%-6.3% nominal
5	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,300	$45,530 – $75,280	-23.0%-3.1% nominal
6	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,340	$44,030 – $90,290	-21.9%-1.6% nominal
7	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,810	$45,340 – $169,040	-21.4%-1.0% nominal
8	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$63,920	$48,850 – $100,930	-21.3%-0.9% nominal
9	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,820	$26,560 – $74,510	-21.2%-0.8% nominal
10	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$122,080	$56,400 – $261,060	-20.8%-0.3% nominal
11	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$65,550	$49,770 – $100,290	-20.7%-0.1% nominal
12	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$108,820	$55,310 – $164,760	-19.7%+1.1% nominal
13	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$62,910	$48,450 – $167,130	-19.6%+1.2% nominal
14	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,400	$37,800 – $148,700	-19.4%+1.6% nominal
15	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$96,650	$52,870 – $166,230	-19.3%+1.6% nominal
16	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$65,900	$40,780 – $119,090	-18.2%+3.0% nominal
17	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$44,750	$36,080 – $68,480	-17.2%+4.3% nominal
18	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,770	$31,160 – $64,100	-16.3%+5.4% nominal
19	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$48,420	$38,220 – $66,420	-16.2%+5.6% nominal
20	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$119,990	$80,700 – $176,490	-16.0%+5.8% nominal
21	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$67,740	$50,830 – $101,120	-16.0%+5.8% nominal
22	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$60,930	$40,140 – $102,280	-15.2%+6.8% nominal
23	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$67,660	$45,700 – $103,380	-15.0%+7.1% nominal
24	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$49,120	$32,660 – $60,650	-14.7%+7.4% nominal
25	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$93,620	$65,540 – $186,810	-14.6%+7.5% nominal
26	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$40,920	$36,170 – $52,280	-14.4%+7.8% nominal
27	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,230	$50,970 – $103,470	-13.8%+8.5% nominal
28	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,670	$37,720 – $58,910	-13.6%+8.8% nominal
29	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$119,030	$80,320 – $173,400	-13.5%+8.9% nominal
30	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$97,120	$74,000 – $150,710	-13.4%+9.0% nominal
31	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,220	$37,440 – $73,640	-13.4%+9.0% nominal
32	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$144,060	$106,800 – $173,550	-13.2%+9.3% nominal
33	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$82,230	$57,720 – $135,580	-13.2%+9.3% nominal
34	Compliance OfficersBachelor's degree	$80,380	$48,640 – $133,620	-13.0%+9.6% nominal
35	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$79,190	$46,210 – $154,320	-12.9%+9.7% nominal
36	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,670	$33,060 – $73,430	-12.9%+9.7% nominal
37	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,430	$28,420 – $62,000	-12.8%+9.8% nominal
38	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$101,450	$75,720 – $132,860	-12.2%+10.5% nominal
39	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$104,180	$77,840 – $160,770	-12.2%+10.6% nominal
40	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$100,710	$70,200 – $134,570	-11.7%+11.2% nominal
41	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,760	$47,060 – $127,430	-11.6%+11.3% nominal
42	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,060	$35,930 – $65,920	-11.6%+11.4% nominal
43	Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$141,340	$85,050 – $210,180	-11.6%+11.4% nominal
44	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,880	$36,160 – $71,360	-11.5%+11.4% nominal
45	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$96,250	$66,890 – $132,400	-11.5%+11.5% nominal
46	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$77,690	$41,870 – $130,180	-11.4%+11.5% nominal
47	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,900	$28,010 – $54,670	-10.9%+12.2% nominal
48	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$102,640	$51,440 – $420,980	-10.8%+12.4% nominal
49	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,960	$39,060 – $85,320	-10.8%+12.3% nominal
50	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$37,140	$30,290 – $60,710	-10.8%+12.3% 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 lost the most to inflation in Virginia

More for Virginia

Metro areas in Virginia

By field in Virginia

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state