Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Virginia Beach - Norfolk

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March 6, 2021
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Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Virginia Beach

Whether you picture hard-working teachers buying school supplies for their students or genius professors shaping future leaders, it's fair to say education encompasses a wide variety of jobs. So much so that there's room to specialize and pursue your passion.

Historically, teachers' pay is a rather contentious topic. The median annual salary across all teaching professions is $57,949—about $3,000 below the median annual salary of all working professionals with a bachelor's degree or higher. Despite this, many of these jobs are rewarding in more ways than one. In other words, education can be very lucrative—particularly within specialty fields.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest- and lowest-paying education jobs in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage. Keep reading to discover the highest- and lowest-paying education jobs in your city.

#44. Teaching assistants, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $24,910
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,460
- Employment: 137,500
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($59,650)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($57,670)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($57,330)

#43. Substitute teachers, short-term

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $26,680
- #188 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,500

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,460
- Employment: 587,120
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salisbury, MD-DE ($58,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($53,870)
--- Salinas, CA ($49,790)

#42. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $26,740
- #184 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,700

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,640
- Employment: 1,346,910
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($41,810)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($41,430)
--- New Bedford, MA ($41,360)

#41. Self-enrichment teachers

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $32,390
- #276 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 990

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,120
- Employment: 252,780
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($65,570)
--- Warner Robins, GA ($65,340)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($64,710)

#40. Library technicians

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $37,240
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,950
- Employment: 88,720
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($58,980)
--- Iowa City, IA ($54,140)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($52,650)

#39. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $38,130
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $72,980
- Employment: 14,070
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($141,190)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($138,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($102,150)

#38. Preschool teachers, except special education

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $38,620
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,620

National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($55,430)
--- Laredo, TX ($50,350)
--- Waterbury, CT ($49,840)

#37. Museum technicians and conservators

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $46,470
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,030
- Employment: 13,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($68,320)
--- New Haven, CT ($63,900)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($63,240)

#36. Social work teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $52,160
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,910
- Employment: 13,640
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,040)
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($95,470)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($92,920)

#35. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $55,980
- #113 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 720

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,420
- Employment: 112,210
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($92,930)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($90,500)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($89,100)

#34. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $57,670
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,980
- Employment: 51,950
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($94,920)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($92,360)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($90,000)

#33. Curators

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,130
- Employment: 12,890
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($82,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($81,640)
--- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY ($76,200)

#32. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $60,760
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,720
- Employment: 15,880
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($132,460)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($101,230)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($94,590)

#31. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $64,770
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,180
- Employment: 67,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($138,190)
--- Fresno, CA ($128,540)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($121,070)

#30. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $64,800
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,330
- Employment: 51,150
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($143,390)
--- Fresno, CA ($127,330)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,750)

#29. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $64,820
- #97 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,160
- Employment: 59,680
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($120,980)
--- Rochester, NY ($108,480)
--- New Haven, CT ($107,320)

#28. Librarians and media collections specialists

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $67,430
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 800

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,920
- Employment: 135,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($89,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,390)
--- Merced, CA ($87,800)

#27. Kindergarten teachers, except special education

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $68,300
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 620

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,210
- Employment: 124,290
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Merced, CA ($97,220)
--- Modesto, CA ($91,230)
--- Kingston, NY ($89,850)

#26. Communications teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $68,900
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,830
- Employment: 29,120
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($139,590)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($128,640)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($124,400)

#25. History teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $69,330
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,210
- Employment: 21,030
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($144,240)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($127,460)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($114,750)

#24. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $70,240
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,970
- Employment: 23,490
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($155,290)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($134,000)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($133,610)

#23. Career/technical education teachers, middle school

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $70,700
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,900
- Employment: 11,860
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($126,110)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($95,660)
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($90,480)

#22. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $71,060
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,690

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,930
- Employment: 1,035,850
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bakersfield, CA ($97,680)
--- Fresno, CA ($93,410)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,350)

#21. Elementary school teachers, except special education

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $71,360
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,030

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,930
- Employment: 1,430,480
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kingston, NY ($92,090)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($90,270)
--- Merced, CA ($89,910)

#20. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $71,710
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,770

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,550
- Employment: 622,330
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kingston, NY ($91,610)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($91,350)
--- El Centro, CA ($89,610)

#19. Special education teachers, preschool

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $72,130
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,060
- Employment: 22,340
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($93,100)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($92,990)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($85,050)

#18. Special education teachers, secondary school

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $72,440
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,710
- Employment: 143,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($98,500)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($93,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,110)

#17. Psychology teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $72,490
- #80 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $87,530
- Employment: 37,480
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($129,120)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($128,700)
--- Fresno, CA ($127,520)

#16. Special education teachers, middle school

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $73,740
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,740
- Employment: 85,840
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($86,410)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($85,440)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($85,340)

#15. Instructional coordinators

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $74,090
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,080

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,180
- Employment: 176,690
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Jackson, MI ($117,990)
--- New Haven, CT ($111,750)
--- Warner Robins, GA ($103,980)

#14. Education teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $74,130
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590

National
- Annual mean salary: $74,560
- Employment: 61,300
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rochester, NY ($108,450)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($107,300)
--- Toledo, OH ($106,940)

#13. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $74,310
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,160

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,420
- Employment: 193,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Merced, CA ($93,990)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($92,040)
--- Fresno, CA ($89,480)

#12. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $75,340
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,800
- Employment: 74,520
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($102,780)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,500)
--- New Haven, CT ($85,740)

#11. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $75,880
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,170
- Employment: 24,860
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($127,820)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($115,340)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($110,010)

#10. Computer science teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $76,090
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,430
- Employment: 31,800
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($151,520)
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($149,560)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($142,520)

#9. Sociology teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $76,840
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $85,240
- Employment: 13,850
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($121,440)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($119,800)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($118,900)

#8. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $78,170
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,650
- Employment: 21,380
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($137,130)
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($135,530)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($132,340)

#7. Biological science teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $84,600
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,700
- Employment: 53,090
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($143,420)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($142,610)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($140,810)

#6. Political science teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $85,460
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,290
- Employment: 15,750
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($155,410)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($142,680)
--- Providence-Warwick, RI-MA ($136,460)

#5. Physics teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $98,470
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $101,110
- Employment: 13,780
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($148,240)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($144,430)
--- Rochester, NY ($144,220)

#4. Business teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $98,980
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,440
- Employment: 83,920
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($177,360)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($154,210)
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($141,870)

#3. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $103,690
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,690
- Employment: 11,020
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($147,800)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($146,430)
--- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI ($138,680)

#2. Economics teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $107,850
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,160
- Employment: 13,270
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($169,320)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($162,330)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($161,460)

#1. Law teachers, postsecondary

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $118,830
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $129,950
- Employment: 16,180
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tallahassee, FL ($174,030)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($168,420)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($155,710)

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