Salaries in Portsmouth, VA

Here’s the thing about Portsmouth: it doesn’t shout about its paychecks. You’ll find more six-figure salaries here than in cities twice its size, but you’d never guess it from the quiet waterfront.

Let’s talk real dollars. With a cost of living index of 97.4, your money stretches about 2.6% further here than the national average. That $68,918 average salary feels more like $70,757 in purchasing power. But here’s the catch—as a single person, spending over 22% of a median household’s income on a one-bedroom apartment ($1,287/month) eats into that advantage fast. It’s a bargain compared to Norfolk or Virginia Beach, but it’s no free lunch.

Portsmouth’s economy runs on three things: the shipyard, healthcare, and logistics. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard is the giant here, a massive federal employer that anchors a whole ecosystem of skilled trades and project managers. Sentara Healthcare is another major player. This is a city where construction managers, software developers, and project managers thrive because of that steady industrial and medical demand. It’s a practical town for practical, high-paying work.

The honest truth? Wages are solid, but they aren’t exploding. With a low 2.8% unemployment rate, employers have to compete for talent, which helps. But for someone with a bachelor’s degree (only 28.3% of the population has one), you’re in a smaller, more valuable pool. The data below shows the top earners—marketing managers and pharmacists are pulling in salaries that feel like a steal at these prices.

So, who wins here? The skilled professional who wants their salary to go further. Let’s break down the numbers.