Is Virginia a good state for your salary to go far?

Virginia ranks #41 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 96.5 across 368 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 101.1 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.

What is the cost of living in Virginia?

Virginia's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 101.1, where the US average is 100. That is above the national average, so a dollar buys less than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Virginia

Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in Virginia

Virginia ranks #41 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index (mean 96.5, base = 100). Cost of living 101.1 (US = 100); top income tax 5.75%.

Does a salary go further in Virginia? (cost of living + state tax)

In Virginia, the cost of living is 101.1 on the BEA index (US = 100) and the Gera US Real Pay Index averages 96.5 across 368 occupations, ranking it #41 of 51 states for how far pay goes after 2025 state income tax and 2024 BEA cost of living. Real BLS OEWS; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Virginia ranks #41 of 51 states. Mean across 368 occupations; 100 = the average state, 96.5 means pay goes -3.5% less far after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

96.5

Real pay by occupation in Virginia (best first)

Occupation	BLS median	Real pay	Index
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other	$140,670	$131,925	141.7
Bartenders	$47,070	$44,670	132.8
Sales Managers	$191,130	$178,964	129.8
Waiters and Waitresses	$44,760	$42,517	125.8
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other	$69,810	$65,868	123.7
Computer Occupations, All Other	$139,030	$130,396	123.5
Teachers and Instructors, All Other	$85,280	$80,290	121.2
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other	$98,410	$92,530	120.2
Engineers, All Other	$148,160	$138,907	120.0
Credit Analysts	$102,430	$96,277	119.1
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$112,760	$105,907	118.6
Lawyers	$167,210	$156,666	118.2
Managers, All Other	$166,230	$155,752	118.2
Computer and Information Systems Managers	$201,490	$188,622	117.4
Financial Managers	$185,220	$173,455	116.6
Financial Risk Specialists	$126,510	$118,725	116.4
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products	$128,270	$120,365	116.2
Project Management Specialists	$120,840	$113,439	115.8
Editors	$80,590	$75,918	114.8
Management Analysts	$117,580	$110,400	113.8
Human Resources Managers	$165,980	$155,519	113.7
Graphic Designers	$72,310	$68,199	113.3
Budget Analysts	$105,470	$99,111	112.9
Purchasing Managers	$166,230	$155,752	112.4
Social and Community Service Managers	$94,970	$89,323	112.3
Logisticians	$98,920	$93,005	112.2
Data Scientists	$126,430	$118,650	112.0
Home Appliance Repairers	$59,820	$56,556	111.5
Financial Examiners	$104,060	$97,797	111.2
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers	$79,810	$75,191	111.0
Network and Computer Systems Administrators	$109,610	$102,970	110.9
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers	$98,170	$92,306	110.4
Social Workers, All Other	$92,930	$87,421	110.3
Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians	$63,450	$59,940	110.1
Computer Systems Analysts	$120,840	$113,439	110.0
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants	$80,330	$75,675	110.0
Buyers and Purchasing Agents	$89,210	$83,953	109.8
Opticians, Dispensing	$55,820	$52,827	109.7
Public Relations Specialists	$80,380	$75,722	109.6
Administrative Services Managers	$130,850	$122,770	109.3

Showing the 40 highest real-pay occupations of 368 BLS publishes for Virginia. Real pay = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the 2024 BEA cost of living (101.1, US = 100).

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Virginia, a $85,000 salary is worth about $79,238 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $4,888 (≈ top marginal 5.75% (upper bound)) · take-home $80,113 · BEA cost of living 101.1 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,952, a $16,714 gain over Virginia.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,952	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,959	86.9
3	Louisiana	$93,473	88.2
4	Mississippi	$93,453	87.0
5	Iowa	$93,172	87.8
6	North Dakota	$93,161	89.0
7	Tennessee	$92,522	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$92,167	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,703	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$90,507	90.2
12	West Virginia	$90,397	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Virginia real pay — FAQ

Is Virginia a good state for your salary to go far?: Virginia ranks #41 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 96.5 across 368 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 101.1 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.
What is the cost of living in Virginia?: Virginia's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 101.1, where the US average is 100. That is above the national average, so a dollar buys less than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

Compare other states

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for Virginia is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.