Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Charlottesville, VA

Each occupation's median wage in Charlottesville, VA compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Charlottesville, VA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Charlottesville, VA run 0.9% below the national average (2024), so a Charlottesville, VA salary is worth about 1.01× 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 Charlottesville, VA

OccupationMedian, Charlottesville, VA · vs. national

1Legal Support Workers, All Other$139,240
Associate's degree
$60,860 – $195,190+93.1%
2Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$135,930
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,130 – $219,130+60.6%
3Chief Executives$317,900
Bachelor's degree
$139,670 – $645,330+48.6%
4Bartenders$48,210
No formal educational credential
$30,200 – $82,320+40.4%
5Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$104,570
Master's degree
$56,490 – $132,440+33.0%
6Medical Equipment Repairers$78,940
Associate's degree
$49,380 – $102,700+28.0%
7Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$64,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,570 – $107,170+27.6%
8Maintenance Workers, Machinery$77,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,840 – $109,070+26.6%
9Rehabilitation Counselors$59,260
Master's degree
$38,930 – $100,900+26.5%
10Waiters and Waitresses$44,030
No formal educational credential
$28,700 – $77,230+25.0%
11Engineers, All Other$153,340
Bachelor's degree
$101,340 – $190,840+24.7%
12Computer Occupations, All Other$144,580
Bachelor's degree
$67,850 – $185,950+24.0%
13Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$84,430
Master's degree
$47,230 – $107,600+23.7%
14Medical Records Specialists$62,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,610 – $75,290+22.4%
15Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$66,830
Associate's degree
$43,920 – $79,650+21.3%
16Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$77,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,570 – $92,600+21.3%
17Opticians, Dispensing$57,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,370 – $75,360+20.9%
18Personal Financial Advisors$126,940
Bachelor's degree
$55,660 – $424,320+20.8%
19Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$58,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,440 – $77,260+20.6%
20Self-Enrichment Teachers$56,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,840 – $104,000+20.4%
21Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$125,980
Bachelor's degree
$77,840 – $168,160+20.1%
22Tutors$52,000
Some college, no degree
$34,190 – $93,500+20.0%
23Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$43,960
No formal educational credential
$34,540 – $60,880+19.9%
24Library Technicians$52,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,550 – $62,930+18.2%
25Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$119,430
Bachelor's degree
$66,240 – $149,430+18.1%
26Physical Scientists, All Other$144,580
Bachelor's degree
$98,520 – $185,950+18.0%
27Social and Community Service Managers$94,430
Bachelor's degree
$59,680 – $130,180+17.5%
28Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$59,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,980 – $83,610+16.8%
29Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$53,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,950 – $68,220+16.4%
30Biological Technicians$66,590
Bachelor's degree
$53,090 – $83,810+15.8%
31Sales Managers$169,390
Bachelor's degree
$91,200 – $288,300+14.2%
32Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$52,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,580 – $70,880+12.8%
33Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$48,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,590 – $60,420+12.6%
34Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$53,060
Associate's degree
$37,180 – $71,990+12.0%
35Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$74,190
Bachelor's degree
$60,120 – $93,490+12.0%
36Training and Development Specialists$77,450
Bachelor's degree
$43,200 – $119,030+11.8%
37Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$53,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,670 – $63,450+11.7%
38Security Guards$42,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,770 – $71,190+10.9%
39Coaches and Scouts$52,450
Bachelor's degree
$25,810 – $107,950+10.8%
40Occupational Therapy Assistants$79,770
Associate's degree
$62,450 – $84,090+10.3%
41Dental Hygienists$107,690
Associate's degree
$96,940 – $130,120+9.8%
42Interpreters and Translators$65,910
Bachelor's degree
$48,670 – $129,560+9.5%
43Web Developers$101,210
Bachelor's degree
$69,030 – $154,010+9.2%
44Counter and Rental Clerks$44,960
No formal educational credential
$30,910 – $70,880+8.9%
45Human Resources Specialists$82,430
Bachelor's degree
$48,880 – $137,200+8.5%
46Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$55,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $81,890+8.4%
47Fundraisers$78,610
Bachelor's degree
$46,950 – $123,680+8.4%
48Physical Therapist Assistants$74,010
Associate's degree
$55,440 – $85,720+8.2%
49Nurse Practitioners$142,950
Master's degree
$111,560 – $185,920+8.0%
50Physicians, All Other$286,090
Doctoral or professional degree
$222,860 – $320,340+7.6%

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

#	Occupation	MedianCharlottesville, VA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$139,240	$60,860 – $195,190	+93.1%
2	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$135,930	$77,130 – $219,130	+60.6%
3	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$317,900	$139,670 – $645,330	+48.6%
4	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$48,210	$30,200 – $82,320	+40.4%
5	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$104,570	$56,490 – $132,440	+33.0%
6	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$78,940	$49,380 – $102,700	+28.0%
7	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,170	$39,570 – $107,170	+27.6%
8	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,060	$50,840 – $109,070	+26.6%
9	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$59,260	$38,930 – $100,900	+26.5%
10	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$44,030	$28,700 – $77,230	+25.0%
11	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$153,340	$101,340 – $190,840	+24.7%
12	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$144,580	$67,850 – $185,950	+24.0%
13	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$84,430	$47,230 – $107,600	+23.7%
14	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,600	$39,610 – $75,290	+22.4%
15	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$66,830	$43,920 – $79,650	+21.3%
16	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,480	$48,570 – $92,600	+21.3%
17	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,140	$37,370 – $75,360	+20.9%
18	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$126,940	$55,660 – $424,320	+20.8%
19	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,570	$38,440 – $77,260	+20.6%
20	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,370	$33,840 – $104,000	+20.4%
21	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$125,980	$77,840 – $168,160	+20.1%
22	TutorsSome college, no degree	$52,000	$34,190 – $93,500	+20.0%
23	Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural AnimalsNo formal educational credential	$43,960	$34,540 – $60,880	+19.9%
24	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,690	$32,550 – $62,930	+18.2%
25	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$119,430	$66,240 – $149,430	+18.1%
26	Physical Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$144,580	$98,520 – $185,950	+18.0%
27	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$94,430	$59,680 – $130,180	+17.5%
28	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,130	$36,980 – $83,610	+16.8%
29	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,170	$40,950 – $68,220	+16.4%
30	Biological TechniciansBachelor's degree	$66,590	$53,090 – $83,810	+15.8%
31	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$169,390	$91,200 – $288,300	+14.2%
32	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,640	$38,580 – $70,880	+12.8%
33	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,680	$35,590 – $60,420	+12.6%
34	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$53,060	$37,180 – $71,990	+12.0%
35	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$74,190	$60,120 – $93,490	+12.0%
36	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$77,450	$43,200 – $119,030	+11.8%
37	Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,100	$37,670 – $63,450	+11.7%
38	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,170	$29,770 – $71,190	+10.9%
39	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$52,450	$25,810 – $107,950	+10.8%
40	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$79,770	$62,450 – $84,090	+10.3%
41	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$107,690	$96,940 – $130,120	+9.8%
42	Interpreters and TranslatorsBachelor's degree	$65,910	$48,670 – $129,560	+9.5%
43	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$101,210	$69,030 – $154,010	+9.2%
44	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$44,960	$30,910 – $70,880	+8.9%
45	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$82,430	$48,880 – $137,200	+8.5%
46	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,970	$39,520 – $81,890	+8.4%
47	FundraisersBachelor's degree	$78,610	$46,950 – $123,680	+8.4%
48	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$74,010	$55,440 – $85,720	+8.2%
49	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$142,950	$111,560 – $185,920	+8.0%
50	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$286,090	$222,860 – $320,340	+7.6%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Charlottesville, VA

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