Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Virginia

Each occupation's median wage in Virginia 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 Virginia pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Operations Research Analysts$129,460
Bachelor's degree
$71,820 – $194,260+45.6%
2Chief Executives$310,740
Bachelor's degree
$130,000 – $604,090+45.2%
3Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$140,670
Bachelor's degree
$82,660 – $218,040+39.1%
4Web Developers$128,380
Bachelor's degree
$76,640 – $178,230+38.6%
5Bartenders$47,070
No formal educational credential
$27,890 – $90,400+37.1%
6Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,990 – $58,660+31.3%
7Sales Managers$191,130
Bachelor's degree
$94,710 – $302,900+28.9%
8Teachers and Instructors, All Other$85,280
Bachelor's degree
$44,320 – $129,220+28.9%
9Waiters and Waitresses$44,760
No formal educational credential
$28,270 – $74,130+27.1%
10Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$98,410
Associate's degree
$64,000 – $131,810+25.6%
11Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$69,810
Bachelor's degree
$42,850 – $91,770+23.1%
12Credit Analysts$102,430
Bachelor's degree
$63,220 – $164,750+22.7%
13Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$128,270
Bachelor's degree
$67,450 – $203,380+22.3%
14Real Estate Sales Agents$63,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,610 – $122,100+21.1%
15Computer Programmers$121,610
Bachelor's degree
$67,010 – $182,890+21.1%
16Engineers, All Other$148,160
Bachelor's degree
$84,590 – $195,190+20.5%
17Detectives and Criminal Investigators$112,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,730 – $195,190+20.2%
18Logisticians$98,920
Bachelor's degree
$64,000 – $156,750+20.2%
19Public Relations Managers$176,340
Bachelor's degree
$106,880 – $312,040+20.0%
20Computer Occupations, All Other$139,030
Bachelor's degree
$77,130 – $185,950+19.3%
21Project Management Specialists$120,840
Bachelor's degree
$68,020 – $179,970+18.1%
22Opticians, Dispensing$55,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,360 – $77,460+18.1%
23Social and Community Service Managers$94,970
Bachelor's degree
$59,810 – $142,420+18.1%
24Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$59,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,540 – $92,570+17.2%
25Managers, All Other$166,230
Bachelor's degree
$110,100 – $224,040+17.1%
26Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$121,590
Bachelor's degree
$78,820 – $169,200+16.6%
27Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$53,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,690 – $79,230+16.4%
28Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$49,890
Bachelor's degree
$31,670 – $80,310+16.3%
29Management Analysts$117,580
Bachelor's degree
$66,140 – $174,700+15.4%
30General and Operations Managers$122,080
Bachelor's degree
$56,400 – $261,060+15.4%
31Dentists, General$197,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$105,400 – $321,250+15.3%
32Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$59,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,460 – $80,820+15.2%
33Budget Analysts$105,470
Bachelor's degree
$70,610 – $156,750+15.1%
34Database Architects$160,360
Bachelor's degree
$105,210 – $210,160+15.0%
35Computer and Information Systems Managers$201,490
Bachelor's degree
$133,320 – $300,720+15.0%
36Graphic Designers$72,310
Bachelor's degree
$39,020 – $121,680+14.9%
37Buyers and Purchasing Agents$89,210
Bachelor's degree
$51,350 – $149,150+14.8%
38Security Guards$43,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,990 – $73,060+14.8%
39Administrative Services Managers$130,850
Bachelor's degree
$78,540 – $221,050+14.6%
40Financial Specialists, All Other$92,930
Bachelor's degree
$52,240 – $148,700+14.6%
41Education Administrators, All Other$108,820
Bachelor's degree
$55,310 – $164,760+14.3%
42Computer Systems Analysts$120,840
Bachelor's degree
$73,160 – $179,920+14.2%
43Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$75,580
Bachelor's degree
$52,710 – $101,750+14.0%
44Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$79,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,340 – $169,040+14.0%
45Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$77,430
Master's degree
$48,510 – $107,600+13.4%
46Marketing Managers$187,820
Bachelor's degree
$107,710 – $292,430+12.6%
47Tire Repairers and Changers$42,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $55,990+12.4%
48Purchasing Managers$166,230
Bachelor's degree
$109,270 – $222,230+12.3%
49First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$98,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,860 – $179,710+12.2%
50Computer and Information Research Scientists$157,390
Master's degree
$96,300 – $230,630+12.2%

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	vs. national
1	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$129,460	$71,820 – $194,260	+45.6%
2	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$310,740	$130,000 – $604,090	+45.2%
3	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$140,670	$82,660 – $218,040	+39.1%
4	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$128,380	$76,640 – $178,230	+38.6%
5	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$47,070	$27,890 – $90,400	+37.1%
6	Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,770	$36,990 – $58,660	+31.3%
7	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$191,130	$94,710 – $302,900	+28.9%
8	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$85,280	$44,320 – $129,220	+28.9%
9	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$44,760	$28,270 – $74,130	+27.1%
10	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$98,410	$64,000 – $131,810	+25.6%
11	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$69,810	$42,850 – $91,770	+23.1%
12	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$102,430	$63,220 – $164,750	+22.7%
13	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$128,270	$67,450 – $203,380	+22.3%
14	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,980	$36,610 – $122,100	+21.1%
15	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$121,610	$67,010 – $182,890	+21.1%
16	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$148,160	$84,590 – $195,190	+20.5%
17	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$112,760	$62,730 – $195,190	+20.2%
18	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$98,920	$64,000 – $156,750	+20.2%
19	Public Relations ManagersBachelor's degree	$176,340	$106,880 – $312,040	+20.0%
20	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$139,030	$77,130 – $185,950	+19.3%
21	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$120,840	$68,020 – $179,970	+18.1%
22	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,820	$36,360 – $77,460	+18.1%
23	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$94,970	$59,810 – $142,420	+18.1%
24	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,330	$36,540 – $92,570	+17.2%
25	Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$166,230	$110,100 – $224,040	+17.1%
26	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$121,590	$78,820 – $169,200	+16.6%
27	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,170	$38,690 – $79,230	+16.4%
28	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$49,890	$31,670 – $80,310	+16.3%
29	Management AnalystsBachelor's degree	$117,580	$66,140 – $174,700	+15.4%
30	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$122,080	$56,400 – $261,060	+15.4%
31	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$197,110	$105,400 – $321,250	+15.3%
32	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,480	$37,460 – $80,820	+15.2%
33	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$105,470	$70,610 – $156,750	+15.1%
34	Database ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$160,360	$105,210 – $210,160	+15.0%
35	Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree	$201,490	$133,320 – $300,720	+15.0%
36	Graphic DesignersBachelor's degree	$72,310	$39,020 – $121,680	+14.9%
37	Buyers and Purchasing AgentsBachelor's degree	$89,210	$51,350 – $149,150	+14.8%
38	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,640	$30,990 – $73,060	+14.8%
39	Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$130,850	$78,540 – $221,050	+14.6%
40	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$92,930	$52,240 – $148,700	+14.6%
41	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$108,820	$55,310 – $164,760	+14.3%
42	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$120,840	$73,160 – $179,920	+14.2%
43	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$75,580	$52,710 – $101,750	+14.0%
44	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,810	$45,340 – $169,040	+14.0%
45	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$77,430	$48,510 – $107,600	+13.4%
46	Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree	$187,820	$107,710 – $292,430	+12.6%
47	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,370	$31,200 – $55,990	+12.4%
48	Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree	$166,230	$109,270 – $222,230	+12.3%
49	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,170	$50,860 – $179,710	+12.2%
50	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$157,390	$96,300 – $230,630	+12.2%

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 pay the biggest premium in Virginia

More for Virginia

Metro areas in Virginia

By field in Virginia

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state