Highest paying jobs in Charlottesville, VA
The best paying occupations in the Charlottesville, VA metro area, ranked by median annual wage. Metro wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure that too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.
Cost of living: prices here run 0.9% below the national average (2024).
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianCharlottesville, VA | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree | $317,900 | $139,670 – $645,330 | 180 |
| 2 | Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree | $286,090 | $222,860 – $320,340 | 1,000 |
| 3 | Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree | $241,460 | $187,730 – $310,600 | 60 |
| 4 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $170,250 | $103,890 – $293,800 | 450 |
| 5 | Sales ManagersBachelor's degree | $169,390 | $91,200 – $288,300 | 210 |
| 6 | Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree | $168,400 | $129,970 – $217,670 | 90 |
| 7 | Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree | $165,980 | $98,440 – $278,130 | 120 |
| 8 | Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree | $163,230 | $112,030 – $240,600 | 390 |
| 9 | Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $162,400 | $121,330 – $293,190 | 130 |
| 10 | Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree | $155,290 | $99,470 – $234,780 | 150 |
| 11 | Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $153,340 | $101,340 – $190,840 | 50 |
| 12 | Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree | $150,260 | $108,220 – $226,200 | 70 |
| 13 | Data ScientistsBachelor's degree | $149,800 | $64,160 – $211,100 | — |
| 14 | LawyersDoctoral or professional degree | $149,430 | $75,770 – $289,550 | 390 |
| 15 | PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree | $148,950 | $86,920 – $229,570 | 50 |
| 16 | Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree | $144,580 | $67,850 – $185,950 | 220 |
| 17 | Physical Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree | $144,580 | $98,520 – $185,950 | 100 |
| 18 | Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree | $144,580 | $93,190 – $220,320 | 40 |
| 19 | Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree | $142,950 | $111,560 – $185,920 | 480 |
| 20 | PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree | $142,220 | $130,800 – $182,400 | 320 |
| 21 | Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $141,770 | $87,090 – $222,240 | 440 |
| 22 | Public Relations ManagersBachelor's degree | $140,170 | $99,820 – $227,180 | 140 |
| 23 | Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree | $139,240 | $60,860 – $195,190 | 40 |
| 24 | Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree | $135,930 | $77,130 – $219,130 | 130 |
| 25 | Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree | $134,810 | $65,850 – $312,350 | — |
| 26 | Physician AssistantsMaster's degree | $133,540 | $115,330 – $164,880 | 130 |
| 27 | Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $131,540 | $83,360 – $229,680 | 370 |
| 28 | Software DevelopersBachelor's degree | $128,520 | $81,200 – $196,240 | 1,390 |
| 29 | VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree | $127,460 | $57,620 – $220,280 | 90 |
| 30 | Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree | $126,940 | $55,660 – $424,320 | 200 |
| 31 | Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree | $126,340 | $74,610 – $187,450 | 210 |
| 32 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree | $125,980 | $77,840 – $168,160 | 140 |
| 33 | Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree | $124,800 | $84,080 – $190,420 | 80 |
| 34 | Training and Development ManagersBachelor's degree | $124,800 | $101,680 – $191,150 | 30 |
| 35 | Database ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $122,780 | $91,630 – $178,360 | 80 |
| 36 | Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree | $122,690 | $92,680 – $229,310 | 30 |
| 37 | Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree | $122,600 | $86,120 – $175,000 | 110 |
| 38 | Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree | $120,380 | $83,000 – $194,290 | 50 |
| 39 | Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $119,430 | $66,240 – $149,430 | 350 |
| 40 | Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $116,340 | $68,820 – $194,700 | 110 |
| 41 | Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree | $113,510 | $87,210 – $177,810 | 40 |
| 42 | StatisticiansMaster's degree | $112,870 | $74,530 – $164,490 | 30 |
| 43 | Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree | $111,800 | $65,050 – $177,990 | 100 |
| 44 | Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree | $111,060 | $76,160 – $161,150 | 130 |
| 45 | Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree | $110,290 | $68,740 – $133,940 | 450 |
| 46 | Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree | $109,770 | $65,060 – $166,010 | — |
| 47 | Construction ManagersBachelor's degree | $108,540 | $83,370 – $170,160 | 240 |
| 48 | Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $107,780 | $72,170 – $179,420 | 230 |
| 49 | Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree | $107,690 | $96,940 – $130,120 | 120 |
| 50 | General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree | $107,200 | $54,990 – $224,860 | 2,530 |