Computer Programmers Salary
Computer Programmers in Virginia make a median of $121,610 a year, or about $58.47 an hour. The range runs from $67K at the entry level to $183K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $128,294 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 22.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $122K actually covers in Virginia, month by month
About computer programmers
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What this looks like in Virginia
Virginia sits well above the national pay line for computer programmers, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $100K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,646/month, 22.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Virginia offers a genuinely strong financial position for computer programmers at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level computer programmers (10th percentile) start around $67K. Mid-career wages sit at $122K. Top earners bring in $183K or more, a $116K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Programmers salary by metro in Virginia
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $113K | -7% | 310 |
| Charlottesville | $110K | -10% | N/A |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $103K | -15% | 280 |
| Roanoke | $93K | -24% | 50 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $87K | -28% | 30 |
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a computer programmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $122K, rent takes 22.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer programmers in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer programmers typically earn — is $67K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,349/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer programmer a high-paying job in Virginia?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $122K here vs. $100K nationally.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for computer programmers?
Virginia pays $122K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $128K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do computer programmers make in Virginia?
The median is $121,610 a year, that works out to about $58 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,010, and experienced computer programmers can clear $182,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $122K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,283/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 22.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a computer programmers salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer programmers salary is worth about $128,294 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer programmers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.