Highest-paying jobs in Norfolk
Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.
In Virginia Beach, the annual mean wage is $53,920 or 7.4% lower than national mean of $58,260, while the highest-paying occupation makes $294,790. Read on to see which jobs make the list.
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in Norfolk metro area

#50. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $102,120
- #82 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,080
- Employment: 42,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)
#49. Veterinarians
- Annual mean salary: $103,150
- #160 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490
National
- Annual mean salary: $109,920
- Employment: 77,260
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,440)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,670)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($140,390)

#48. Training and development managers
- Annual mean salary: $103,310
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $128,800
- Employment: 35,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($180,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($176,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($166,410)

#47. Physicists
- Annual mean salary: $104,140
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $151,580
- Employment: 20,020
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($199,830)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($195,300)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($188,250)
#46. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Annual mean salary: $106,890
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,490
- Employment: 107,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,060)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($138,480)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($136,310)
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Norfolk
#45. Operations research analysts
- Annual mean salary: $107,010
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,830
- Employment: 98,700
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($164,730)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($127,330)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($118,710)

#44. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $107,020
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $124,090
- Employment: 11,790
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($180,550)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($180,490)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($172,600)
#43. General and operations managers
- Annual mean salary: $107,780
- #146 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 14,580
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,250
- Employment: 2,984,920
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($165,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($165,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($159,210)

#42. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $108,150
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460
National
- Annual mean salary: $111,260
- Employment: 155,990
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Corvallis, OR ($178,570)
--- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($165,940)
--- Syracuse, NY ($164,660)

#41. Computer hardware engineers
- Annual mean salary: $108,790
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
National
- Annual mean salary: $136,230
- Employment: 73,750
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,210)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($183,320)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($161,580)
You may also like: Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Norfolk, according to Tripadvisor

#40. Nurse practitioners
- Annual mean salary: $109,470
- #241 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,300
National
- Annual mean salary: $118,040
- Employment: 234,690
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($197,870)
--- Napa, CA ($184,700)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($180,380)
#39. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Annual mean salary: $110,140
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $99,640
- Employment: 58,100
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($136,630)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($134,200)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($133,060)

#38. Software developers
- Annual mean salary: $111,140
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,770
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,990
- Employment: 1,364,180
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($167,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($158,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($148,220)
#37. Computer network architects
- Annual mean salary: $111,230
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,050
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,650
- Employment: 168,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,600)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($152,900)
--- Rapid City, SD ($145,810)

#36. Materials engineers
- Annual mean salary: $111,630
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $101,950
- Employment: 21,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($135,680)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($134,720)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($129,400)
You may also like: Cities with the fastest growing home prices in Norfolk metro area
#35. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Annual mean salary: $111,650
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
National
- Annual mean salary: $104,050
- Employment: 108,550
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Memphis, TN-MS-AR ($176,770)
--- Columbia, SC ($155,570)
--- Danbury, CT ($151,970)

#33 (tie). Medical and health services managers
- Annual mean salary: $111,740
- #173 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,750
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($157,340)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,370)
#33 (tie). Physician assistants
- Annual mean salary: $111,740
- #205 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 830
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,460
- Employment: 132,940
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($167,240)
--- Panama City, FL ($165,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($164,150)
#32. Lawyers
- Annual mean salary: $113,860
- #203 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $148,030
- Employment: 681,010
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($191,460)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($186,610)
#31. Atmospheric and space scientists
- Annual mean salary: $113,870
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,880
- Employment: 8,520
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($118,860)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($118,420)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($114,860)
You may also like: Highest-rated steakhouses in Norfolk, according to Tripadvisor

#30. Database architects
- Annual mean salary: $114,450
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $121,840
- Employment: 50,440
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($187,070)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,830)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($156,530)
#29. Fundraising managers
- Annual mean salary: $114,630
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,400
- Employment: 23,190
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($175,610)
--- Syracuse, NY ($155,700)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($153,980)

#28. Optometrists
- Annual mean salary: $118,060
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,440
- Employment: 38,720
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wilmington, NC ($198,370)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($172,190)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($169,140)

#27. Sales engineers
- Annual mean salary: $118,750
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $118,630
- Employment: 59,550
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salisbury, MD-DE ($169,330)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($158,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($158,320)
#26. Personal financial advisors
- Annual mean salary: $121,310
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 720
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,960
- Employment: 263,030
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($172,780)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,010)
--- East Stroudsburg, PA ($158,790)
You may also like: Highest-rated things to do in Norfolk, according to Tripadvisor

#25. Industrial production managers
- Annual mean salary: $121,390
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($155,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($153,860)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($153,470)
#24. Medical dosimetrists
- Annual mean salary: $121,960
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $124,750
- Employment: 2,400
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($144,120)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($140,710)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($140,300)
#23. Aerospace engineers
- Annual mean salary: $124,490
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 830
National
- Annual mean salary: $122,970
- Employment: 56,640
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA ($166,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,490)
--- Boulder, CO ($148,990)

#22. Purchasing managers
- Annual mean salary: $125,230
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $134,590
- Employment: 69,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($181,030)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($174,760)
#21. Advertising and promotions managers
- Annual mean salary: $126,190
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,860
- Employment: 22,520
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($193,980)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($182,520)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($166,620)
You may also like: Highest-rated dessert shops in Norfolk, according to Tripadvisor
#20. Pharmacists
- Annual mean salary: $127,970
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,380
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,690
- Employment: 312,550
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($168,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($163,840)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($158,420)

#19. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $129,160
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530
National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)

#18. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
- Annual mean salary: $130,690
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $198,190
- Employment: 81,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($255,250)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($243,380)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($242,540)
#17. Compensation and benefits managers
- Annual mean salary: $131,070
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $139,470
- Employment: 15,330
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($190,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($187,770)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,130)

#16. Sales managers
- Annual mean salary: $133,150
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 840
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($198,960)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($196,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($182,820)
You may also like: Highest-earning zip codes in Norfolk metro area
#15. Natural sciences managers
- Annual mean salary: $133,450
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $156,110
- Employment: 74,760
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($222,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($219,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($216,750)

#14. Computer and information research scientists
- Annual mean salary: $135,220
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,650
- Employment: 30,840
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($209,890)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($202,020)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($183,750)
#13. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $140,800
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)
#12. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $142,420
- #153 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
National
- Annual mean salary: $158,970
- Employment: 187,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($206,050)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,430)
#11. Public relations managers
- Annual mean salary: $145,410
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $138,000
- Employment: 59,850
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($183,410)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($182,890)
--- Boulder, CO ($174,250)
You may also like: Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Virginia Beach - Norfolk
#10. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $147,160
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,330
National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)

#9. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $147,370
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,000
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)
#8. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $162,260
- #188 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,110
National
- Annual mean salary: $167,160
- Employment: 108,680
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Manchester, NH ($276,510)
--- Salinas, CA ($234,410)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($229,800)
#7. Nurse anesthetists
- Annual mean salary: $199,580
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $202,470
- Employment: 43,950
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Springfield, IL ($298,890)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($283,550)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($276,810)

#6. Psychiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $221,900
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $249,760
- Employment: 25,520
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($360,840)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($360,740)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($333,190)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Virginia Beach - Norfolk that don't require a college degree
#5. Chief executives
- Annual mean salary: $235,820
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 850
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,020
- Employment: 200,480
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($313,440)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($298,960)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($296,480)
#4. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $274,690
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000
National
- Annual mean salary: $235,930
- Employment: 102,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Coeur d'Alene, ID ($336,820)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($336,140)
--- Gainesville, GA ($330,930)
#3. General internal medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $289,680
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $242,190
- Employment: 58,260
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($359,200)
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($350,330)
--- Sumter, SC ($334,810)
#2. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric
- Annual mean salary: $294,370
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $306,220
- Employment: 16,260
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($366,650)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($364,290)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($354,880)
#1. Radiologists
- Annual mean salary: $294,790
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $301,720
- Employment: 29,530
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($370,570)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($358,680)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($358,450)
You may also like: Highest-rated barbecue restaurants in Norfolk