Salaries in Virginia Beach, VA

You might think Virginia Beach is all about tourism and the Navy, but you'd be wrong. The city's real economic engine is a surprisingly diverse mix of tech, healthcare, and professional services. With a population of nearly 454,000, it's a major metro in its own right, and the job market is tighter than you'd expect—unemployment is just 2.8%.

Here’s the real story on your paycheck: Virginia Beach has a cost of living index of 97.4, meaning it's about 2.6% cheaper than the national average. That might not sound like much, but it adds up. A median household income of $91,141 goes further here than it would in many comparable coastal cities. For example, a one-bedroom apartment runs about $1,287 a month. When you stack that against the average salary of $69,223, you get a city that feels more financially sane than you'd expect for its location.

So who’s actually thriving here? It’s not just service workers. Top-paying roles like Marketing Managers (earning a COL-adjusted $160k) and Software Developers ($129k) have a strong foothold. The presence of major employers like Cox Communications, Anthem, and the sprawling Naval Air Station Oceana creates steady demand for project managers, construction managers, and healthcare professionals. It's a blue-collar city with a white-collar spine.

But there's a catch. While wages are decent, they aren't exploding. The real question is whether salaries are keeping pace with the slow creep of housing costs and inflation. For young professionals in tech or marketing, or for dual-income households, Virginia Beach offers a compelling blend of salary and affordability. For those in lower-wage sectors, it's a tougher squeeze.

The data below breaks it all down—from the highest-paying jobs to the real cost of living. It’ll tell you if your career fits this specific coastal economy.