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 — 2024
| Percentile | Virginia | National |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17K | $15K |
| 25th | $29K | $26K |
| 50th (median)median | $65K | $59K |
| 75th | $107K | $97K |
| 90th | $160K | $145K |
| 95th | $220K | $200K |
| 99th | $386K | $350K |
State figures derived from BLS OEWS 2024 state median. National figures from BLS national percentile data.
Key insight
Virginia's state median of $65K 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 $65K based on 2024 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.
Salary percentiles by state
Alabama
$48K median
Alaska
$62K median
Arizona
$58K median
Arkansas
$46K median
California
$72K median
Colorado
$67K median
Connecticut
$70K median
Delaware
$62K median
Florida
$55K median
Georgia
$55K median
Hawaii
$60K median
Idaho
$52K median
Illinois
$62K median
Indiana
$52K median
Iowa
$55K median
Kansas
$52K median
Kentucky
$49K median
Louisiana
$48K median
Maine
$55K median
Maryland
$68K median
Massachusetts
$75K median
Michigan
$55K median
Minnesota
$64K median
Mississippi
$43K median
Missouri
$52K median
Montana
$50K median
Nebraska
$55K median
Nevada
$55K median
New Hampshire
$68K median
New Jersey
$70K median
New Mexico
$49K median
New York
$68K median
North Carolina
$56K median
North Dakota
$55K median
Ohio
$54K median
Oklahoma
$48K median
Oregon
$63K median
Pennsylvania
$58K median
Rhode Island
$62K median
South Carolina
$50K median
South Dakota
$48K median
Tennessee
$52K median
Texas
$58K median
Utah
$60K median
Vermont
$57K median
Virginia
$65K median
Washington
$74K median
Washington D.C.
$85K median
West Virginia
$44K median
Wisconsin
$57K median
Wyoming
$55K median