Virginia Salary Percentile
Calculator
Virginia has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 5.75% and the largest concentration of federal defense and intelligence contractors in the country. Northern Virginia is a global technology hub anchored by Amazon's HQ2 and the world's largest concentration of data centers.
Enter your gross annual salary (pre-tax). Hourly workers: multiply hourly rate by 2,080.
Virginia salary percentiles — May 2025
| Percentile | Virginia | National |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34K | $31K |
| 25th | $41K | $38K |
| 50th (median)median | $56K | $51K |
| 75th | $88K | $81K |
| 90th | $140K | $129K |
State figures derived from BLS OEWS May 2025 state median. National figures from BLS national percentile data.
Key insight
Virginia's state median of $56K is 10% above the national median. Northern Virginia's tech corridor (where Amazon, Capital One, Booz Allen, and SAIC are based) runs 40-50% above the state median.
Virginia salary — frequently asked questions
What is the median salary in Virginia?
The median annual salary in Virginia is approximately $56K based on May 2025 BLS data, above the national median. Northern Virginia dominates the state economy and pulls the median significantly higher. Richmond and Hampton Roads are closer to the state median; rural southwest Virginia is well below it.
Why is Northern Virginia so wealthy?
Northern Virginia has the highest concentration of defense and intelligence contractors in the world. The NSA, CIA, Pentagon, and dozens of three-letter agencies create massive demand for cleared technical workers. Amazon's HQ2 (in Arlington) added another major tech employer. Data centers (Ashburn, VA is the largest internet exchange point in the world) and cybersecurity firms round out the tech ecosystem.
What is a good salary in Northern Virginia?
Northern Virginia has become one of the most expensive housing markets in the Mid-Atlantic. A salary of $90,000-$110,000 provides comfortable single living in Northern Virginia. Security-cleared software engineers and defense contractors frequently earn $150,000-$250,000. The Alexandria-Arlington-McLean corridor is particularly high-cost.
How does Virginia's income tax compare to Maryland?
Virginia has a top marginal state income tax rate of 5.75%, similar to Maryland's state rate, but Virginia does not have a county piggyback tax like Maryland. Effective total state income tax in Virginia is typically 3-5% lower than Maryland for most income levels, which is a meaningful difference for high earners comparing the two jurisdictions.
What is the average salary in Virginia?
"Average" and "median" measure different things, but BLS reports the median: the midpoint where half of Virginia workers earn more and half earn less. The Virginia median is $56K, above the national median of $51K. Use the calculator above to see exactly where your salary ranks.
Salary percentiles by state
Alabama
$46K median
Alaska
$61K median
Arizona
$50K median
Arkansas
$44K median
California
$58K median
Colorado
$60K median
Connecticut
$60K median
Delaware
$52K median
Florida
$48K median
Georgia
$48K median
Hawaii
$56K median
Idaho
$48K median
Illinois
$52K median
Indiana
$48K median
Iowa
$49K median
Kansas
$48K median
Kentucky
$47K median
Louisiana
$46K median
Maine
$51K median
Maryland
$60K median
Massachusetts
$64K median
Michigan
$49K median
Minnesota
$57K median
Mississippi
$40K median
Missouri
$48K median
Montana
$49K median
Nebraska
$49K median
Nevada
$48K median
New Hampshire
$56K median
New Jersey
$59K median
New Mexico
$47K median
New York
$60K median
North Carolina
$48K median
North Dakota
$52K median
Ohio
$49K median
Oklahoma
$46K median
Oregon
$57K median
Pennsylvania
$50K median
Rhode Island
$57K median
South Carolina
$46K median
South Dakota
$47K median
Tennessee
$47K median
Texas
$49K median
Utah
$50K median
Vermont
$56K median
Virginia
$56K median
Washington
$63K median
Washington D.C.
$92K median
West Virginia
$45K median
Wisconsin
$50K median
Wyoming
$50K median