Highest paying jobs in Virginia Beach - Norfolk for high school graduates
Highest paying jobs in Virginia Beach for high school graduates
The average college graduate in 2019 earned $78,000 a year, while the average high school graduate takes home just $45,000, according to research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. To put it in perspective, the average annual wage for workers in the U.S. that same year was $51,916.27.
Of course, college isn't for everyone. There are many reasons high-school graduates may choose to not continue on to college, not the least of which being cost. Average tuition costs continue to rise each year, the exception being the 2020-2021 school year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Average tuition at a public, in-state university coming in at $9,687; tuition for out-of-state students at public schools, and for everyone at private universities, is significantly higher at $21,874 and $35,087, respectively.
Just because you decide higher education isn't in the cards doesn't mean you have to resign yourself to a lifetime of low-paying jobs. You just need to be strategic about the career you choose. Stacker compiled a list of the highest paying jobs for high school graduates in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2020 annual mean wage.
Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay the most for high school graduates.
#50. Chefs and head cooks
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $53,100 (#137 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,740
- Employment: 101,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($98,210)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($90,840)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($86,460)
- Job description: Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.
#49. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $53,200 (#172 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 1,060
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,000
- Employment: 147,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($84,460)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($81,920)
--- Bismarck, ND ($78,350)
- Job description: Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.
#48. Machinists
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $53,250 (#54 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 2,850
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,800
- Employment: 360,340
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($68,950)
--- Anchorage, AK ($64,610)
--- Farmington, NM ($64,190)
- Job description: Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.
#47. Maintenance workers, machinery
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $53,370 (#80 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 320
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,960
- Employment: 65,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Florence, SC ($80,250)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($78,290)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($69,070)
- Job description: Lubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance.
#46. Sheet metal workers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $53,660 (#117 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 2,090
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,320
- Employment: 128,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($132,900)
--- Kankakee, IL ($91,140)
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($87,030)
- Job description: Fabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as ducts, control boxes, drainpipes, and furnace casings. Work may involve any of the following: setting up and operating fabricating machines to cut, bend, and straighten sheet metal; shaping metal over anvils, blocks, or forms using hammer; operating soldering and welding equipment to join sheet metal parts; or inspecting, assembling, and smoothing seams and joints of burred surfaces. Includes sheet metal duct installers who install prefabricated sheet metal ducts used for heating, air conditioning, or other purposes.
#45. Industrial machinery mechanics
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $53,720 (#238 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 1,910
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,350
- Employment: 385,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($84,180)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($84,150)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($77,580)
- Job description: Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. May also install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to plans.
#44. Real estate brokers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $53,930 (#56 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 480
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,630
- Employment: 44,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($134,770)
--- Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ ($129,820)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($116,510)
- Job description: Operate real estate office, or work for commercial real estate firm, overseeing real estate transactions. Other duties usually include selling real estate or renting properties and arranging loans.
#43. Brokerage clerks
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $54,390 (#53 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,460
- Employment: 44,720
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($75,240)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($73,770)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($69,860)
- Job description: Perform duties related to the purchase, sale, or holding of securities. Duties include writing orders for stock purchases or sales, computing transfer taxes, verifying stock transactions, accepting and delivering securities, tracking stock price fluctuations, computing equity, distributing dividends, and keeping records of daily transactions and holdings.
#42. Layout workers, metal and plastic
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $54,460 (#3 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 600
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,980
- Employment: 7,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($60,630)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($58,020)
--- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC ($54,460)
- Job description: Lay out reference points and dimensions on metal or plastic stock or workpieces, such as sheets, plates, tubes, structural shapes, castings, or machine parts, for further processing. Includes shipfitters.
#41. Insurance sales agents
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $54,510 (#254 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 2,250
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,100
- Employment: 409,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,540)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($105,840)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($105,190)
- Job description: Sell life, property, casualty, health, automotive, or other types of insurance. May refer clients to independent brokers, work as an independent broker, or be employed by an insurance company.
#40. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $54,640 (#92 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,170
- Employment: 29,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($106,910)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,970)
--- Springfield, IL ($102,660)
- Job description: Operate or maintain stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or industrial processes. Operate equipment such as steam engines, generators, motors, turbines, and steam boilers.
#39. Millwrights
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $54,890 (#79 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,080
- Employment: 44,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Elmira, NY ($94,190)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($90,570)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($85,090)
- Job description: Install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings.
#38. Security and fire alarm systems installers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $54,910 (#46 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,150
- Employment: 68,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($71,820)
--- Anchorage, AK ($68,510)
--- Rockford, IL ($65,040)
- Job description: Install, program, maintain, and repair security and fire alarm wiring and equipment. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes.
#37. Pile driver operators
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $55,910 (#13 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $71,880
- Employment: 3,820
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($106,390)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($106,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,650)
- Job description: Operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations of structures such as buildings, bridges, and piers.
#36. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $56,360 (#256 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 4,590
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,490
- Employment: 977,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($115,620)
--- Lawrence, KS ($97,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($94,870)
- Job description: Sell services to individuals or businesses. May describe options or resolve client problems.
#35. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $57,230 (#172 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 1,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,230
- Employment: 503,390
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($92,040)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($89,100)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($86,180)
- Job description: Provide high-level administrative support by conducting research, preparing statistical reports, and handling information requests, as well as performing routine administrative functions such as preparing correspondence, receiving visitors, arranging conference calls, and scheduling meetings. May also train and supervise lower-level clerical staff.
#34. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $57,240 (#30 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,420
- Employment: 22,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($76,240)
--- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI ($75,500)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($75,140)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of agricultural, forestry, aquacultural, and related workers.
#33. Automotive body and related repairers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $58,360 (#33 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 1,030
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,430
- Employment: 137,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($81,730)
--- Midland, TX ($76,760)
--- Raleigh, NC ($75,460)
- Job description: Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.
#32. Construction and building inspectors
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $58,940 (#159 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 870
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,470
- Employment: 113,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,820)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,920)
--- Salinas, CA ($98,360)
- Job description: Inspect structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations. Inspections may be general in nature or may be limited to a specific area, such as electrical systems or plumbing.
#31. Cargo and freight agents
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $59,030 (#4 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 950
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,170
- Employment: 96,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yakima, WA ($72,590)
--- St. Cloud, MN ($67,360)
--- Springfield, MO ($59,660)
- Job description: Expedite and route movement of incoming and outgoing cargo and freight shipments in airline, train, and trucking terminals and shipping docks. Take orders from customers and arrange pickup of freight and cargo for delivery to loading platform. Prepare and examine bills of lading to determine shipping charges and tariffs.
#30. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $59,800 (#122 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 6,920
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,010
- Employment: 1,427,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($78,770)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($77,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($75,820)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of clerical and administrative support workers.
#29. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $60,270 (#6 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,250
- Employment: 15,380
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($79,090)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($70,180)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($66,910)
- Job description: Repair, maintain, or install electric motors, wiring, or switches.
#28. Occupational health and safety technicians
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $60,520 (#44 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,870
- Employment: 20,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($80,790)
--- Knoxville, TN ($77,510)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($76,950)
- Job description: Collect data on work environments for analysis by occupational health and safety specialists. Implement and conduct evaluation of programs designed to limit chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic risks to workers.
#27. Power plant operators
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $61,140 (#82 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,890
- Employment: 32,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($114,420)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,830)
--- Redding, CA ($106,030)
- Job description: Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.
#26. Food service managers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $62,600 (#119 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 700
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,000
- Employment: 197,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($97,610)
--- Trenton, NJ ($95,640)
--- Waterbury, CT ($88,100)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages.
#25. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $63,010 (#7 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 3,190
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,000
- Employment: 362,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($69,410)
--- Pine Bluff, AR ($68,850)
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($66,920)
- Job description: Coordinate and expedite the flow of work and materials within or between departments of an establishment according to production schedule. Duties include reviewing and distributing production, work, and shipment schedules; conferring with department supervisors to determine progress of work and completion dates; and compiling reports on progress of work, inventory levels, costs, and production problems.
#24. Dental laboratory technicians
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $63,030 (#3 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,230
- Employment: 30,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($68,750)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($66,610)
--- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC ($63,030)
- Job description: Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.
#23. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $63,050 (#56 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 1,030
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,860
- Employment: 122,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($93,060)
--- Salinas, CA ($91,790)
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($89,000)
- Job description: Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.
#22. Crane and tower operators
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $63,880 (#43 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 880
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,010
- Employment: 44,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($89,250)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($84,670)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($84,410)
- Job description: Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.
#21. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $64,030 (#173 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 350
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,410
- Employment: 114,930
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($114,820)
--- Redding, CA ($112,850)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($111,810)
- Job description: Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers.
#20. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $64,630 (#16 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 330
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,040
- Employment: 103,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($85,110)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($77,260)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($76,940)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in landscaping or groundskeeping activities. Work may involve reviewing contracts to ascertain service, machine, and workforce requirements; answering inquiries from potential customers regarding methods, material, and price ranges; and preparing estimates according to labor, material, and machine costs.
#19. Advertising sales agents
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $64,670 (#51 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 390
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,040
- Employment: 110,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($112,850)
--- Winston-Salem, NC ($104,930)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($92,370)
- Job description: Sell or solicit advertising space, time, or media in publications, signage, TV, radio, or Internet establishments or public spaces.
#18. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $65,430 (#60 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 320
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,600
- Employment: 53,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($115,020)
--- Trenton, NJ ($113,630)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($113,070)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of correctional officers and jailers.
#17. Real estate sales agents
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $65,720 (#46 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 2,160
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,990
- Employment: 168,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($106,280)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($101,300)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($98,580)
- Job description: Rent, buy, or sell property for clients. Perform duties such as study property listings, interview prospective clients, accompany clients to property site, discuss conditions of sale, and draw up real estate contracts. Includes agents who represent buyer.
#16. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $65,940 (#61 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,400
- Employment: 50,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($95,240)
--- Madison, WI ($90,020)
--- Salinas, CA ($87,650)
- Job description: Install, repair, and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, safety and flow valves, and other mechanical governors.
#15. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $66,390 (#167 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 750
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,650
- Employment: 287,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($97,980)
--- Waterbury, CT ($92,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($88,750)
- Job description: Review settled claims to determine that payments and settlements are made in accordance with company practices and procedures. Confer with legal counsel on claims requiring litigation. May also settle insurance claims.
#14. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $66,890 (#10 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,620
- Employment: 10,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($83,080)
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($77,290)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($71,970)
- Job description: Supervise and coordinate the activities of ground crew in the loading, unloading, securing, and staging of aircraft cargo or baggage. May determine the quantity and orientation of cargo and compute aircraft center of gravity. May accompany aircraft as member of flight crew and monitor and handle cargo in flight, and assist and brief passengers on safety and emergency procedures. Includes loadmasters.
#13. Property, real estate, and community association managers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $67,530 (#103 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 620
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,210
- Employment: 219,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charleston-North Charleston, SC ($117,770)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($113,800)
--- Boulder, CO ($107,230)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the selling, buying, leasing, or governance activities of commercial, industrial, or residential real estate properties. Includes managers of homeowner and condominium associations, rented or leased housing units, buildings, or land (including rights-of-way).
#12. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $69,050 (#166 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 4,720
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,990
- Employment: 614,080
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,870)
--- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($103,930)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($100,620)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.
#11. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $71,320 (#174 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 3,530
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,100
- Employment: 475,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,680)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,140)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,810)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers. May also advise customers on recommended services. Excludes team or work leaders.
#10. Lodging managers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $72,490 (#32 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,270
- Employment: 31,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY ($108,990)
--- Reno, NV ($106,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,560)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that provides lodging and other accommodations.
#9. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $73,120 (#63 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 2,470
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,800
- Employment: 599,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($101,930)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($100,590)
--- Longview, WA ($99,590)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators. Excludes team or work leaders.
#8. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $73,660 (#92 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 3,810
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,500
- Employment: 1,278,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Danbury, CT ($112,810)
--- Napa, CA ($101,850)
--- Santa Fe, NM ($93,680)
- Job description: Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.
#7. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $75,580 (#41 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,200
- Employment: 24,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($109,710)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,080)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($101,990)
- Job description: Assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.
#6. Detectives and criminal investigators
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $84,270 (#113 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 430
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,300
- Employment: 105,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,380)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($127,090)
--- Anchorage, AK ($126,530)
- Job description: Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
#5. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $86,770 (#182 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 550
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,180
- Employment: 122,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($200,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($182,810)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($182,720)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.
#4. Transportation inspectors
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $86,880 (#29 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,320
- Employment: 27,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($119,270)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($117,900)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($104,370)
- Job description: Inspect equipment or goods in connection with the safe transport of cargo or people. Includes rail transportation inspectors, such as freight inspectors, rail inspectors, and other inspectors of transportation vehicles not elsewhere classified.
#3. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $88,450 (#97 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 1,270
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,120
- Employment: 240,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN ($124,150)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($122,460)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($119,130)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of sales workers other than retail sales workers. May perform duties such as budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.
#2. Commercial pilots
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $100,420 (#48 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $110,830
- Employment: 37,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sioux City, IA-NE-SD ($153,990)
--- Medford, OR ($152,730)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,290)
- Job description: Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air carrier routes, or helicopters. Requires Commercial Pilot certificate. Includes charter pilots with similar certification, and air ambulance and air tour pilots. Excludes regional, national, and international airline pilots.
#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
- Annual mean salary: $101,240 (#113 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 550
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,100
- Employment: 132,210
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($163,580)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($137,680)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($136,410)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate transportation, storage, or distribution activities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable government laws or regulations. Includes logistics managers.
