Salaries in Suffolk, VA

You might think a city of 100,000 people tucked between Virginia Beach and Chesapeake would be a sleepy commuter town. You'd be wrong. In 2026, Suffolk has a lower unemployment rate (2.8%) than the national average and a median household income ($81,154) that punches well above its weight class. It’s a working city with a surprisingly robust professional core.

The real story here is the math. Suffolk’s cost of living sits at 97.4—below the national average. That means your paycheck, whether it’s the city-wide median or one of those top-tier salaries, stretches a bit further. The average salary across all roles is $68,918, but adjusted for that lower cost of living, your purchasing power feels more like $70,757. For context, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,287 a month. It’s not dirt cheap, but it’s a far cry from the financial chokehold you’d find in a major metro.

So, who’s actually earning here? The city’s economy is anchored by a few key sectors. The top-paying jobs tell the story: Marketing Managers and Software Developers are pulling in six figures, but so are Construction Managers and Project Managers. That points to a healthy mix of corporate headquarters and significant industrial development. You’ve got the legacy presence of the railroad and peanut processing, but it’s the growth in professional services, healthcare, and defense contracting that’s fueling those high-end salaries. A lot of that talent lands at major employers like the Lockheed Martin facility or the thriving downtown business district.

Here’s the honest catch: while the money looks good on paper, Suffolk isn’t immune to the larger trends pushing up costs. That 35.9% of residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher is a key metric; it shows a skilled workforce, but also suggests competition for those top-paying roles is real. This city works best for mid-career professionals who want a house, a yard, and a paycheck that doesn’t vanish into rent or a brutal commute. If you’re just starting out, the lower entry-level salaries might feel tight until you climb the ladder.

The data below breaks down the salaries, from the top earners to the averages. It’s a snapshot of what you can actually make and, more importantly, what you can actually afford.