Top Paying Jobs in Virginia
Virginia has 100 tracked occupation categories totaling 671,750 jobs. The highest-paying occupations include Anesthesiologists ($488,310), Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric ($478,710), Cardiologists ($461,450). The cost of living index is 94.79 (national average = 100). Median 2-bedroom rent is $1,646/month.
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State-level averages. Salaries, rent, and cost of living vary significantly between metros. For more accurate data, select a metro area from the list below or browse all metros.
$166K
Avg. median salary
94.79
Cost of living index
$1,646
Median 2BR rent
8,797,004
Population
Highest paying careers in Virginia
| Rank | Occupation | Category | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Operations Research Analysts | Technology | $129K | $62.24/hr |
| 62 | Medical and Health Services Managers | Management | $129K | $62.15/hr |
| 63 | Astronomers | Science | $129K | $61.99/hr |
| 64 | Nuclear Engineers | Engineering | $129K | $61.97/hr |
| 65 | Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | Education | $129K | N/A |
| 66 | Web Developers | Technology | $128K | $61.72/hr |
| 67 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | Sales | $128K | $61.67/hr |
| 68 | Industrial Production Managers | Management | $128K | $61.65/hr |
| 69 | Nurse Practitioners | Healthcare | $128K | $61.45/hr |
| 70 | Veterinarians | Healthcare | $127K | $60.93/hr |
Affordability snapshot: Virginia
These are statewide averages. Costs vary widely between metros, click into a specific city for precise numbers.
Cost of living vs. national average-5.2% less expensive
2-bedroom apartment (FMR)$1,646/mo
Planning a move? Compare costs with other locations:
Metro areas in Virginia
Click a metro for detailed salary, rent, and cost-of-living data specific to that area.
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford
$1,271/mo rentRPP 92.7
Charlottesville$1,824/mo rentRPP 99.1
Harrisonburg$1,322/mo rentRPP 94.9
Lynchburg$1,187/mo rentRPP 89.4
Richmond$1,655/mo rentRPP 97.9
Roanoke$1,254/mo rentRPP 93.6
Staunton-Stuarts Draft$1,261/mo rentRPP 91.1
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk$1,713/mo rentRPP 97.9
Winchester$1,573/mo rentRPP 96.5
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Monthly budget breakdown with HUD and BLS data