Counties in Virginia by average weekly wage (QCEW)

Goochland County had the highest average weekly wage (QCEW) of 133 counties in 2017, at $1,851. Mathews County had the lowest, at $538. The median was $742 and the figure for Virginia was $1,087. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest1,851Goochland County
Median742133 counties
Virginia1,087History

Map of counties, 2017

Accomack County: 723 USDAlbemarle County: 1,026 USDAlleghany County: 657 USDAmelia County: 680 USDAmherst County: 702 USDAppomattox County: 554 USDArlington County: 1,705 USDAugusta County: 832 USDBath County: 742 USDBedford County: 709 USDBland County: 819 USDBotetourt County: 768 USDBrunswick County: 684 USDBuchanan County: 838 USDBuckingham County: 706 USDCampbell County: 909 USDCaroline County: 749 USDCarroll County: 592 USDCharles City County: 853 USDCharlotte County: 647 USDChesterfield County: 889 USDClarke County: 836 USDCraig County: 662 USDCulpeper County: 800 USDCumberland County: 657 USDDickenson County: 741 USDDinwiddie County: 802 USDEssex County: 637 USDFairfax County: 1,618 USDFauquier County: 919 USDFloyd County: 564 USDFluvanna County: 745 USDFranklin County: 634 USDFrederick County: 847 USDGiles County: 744 USDGloucester County: 652 USDGoochland County: 1,851 USDGrayson County: 564 USDGreene County: 660 USDGreensville County: 756 USDHalifax County: 694 USDHanover County: 824 USDHenrico County: 1,022 USDHenry County: 623 USDHighland County: 588 USDIsle of Wight County: 857 USDJames City County: 728 USDKing and Queen County: 746 USDKing George County: 1,456 USDKing William County: 839 USDLancaster County: 701 USDLee County: 630 USDLoudoun County: 1,214 USDLouisa County: 920 USDLunenburg County: 635 USDMadison County: 684 USDMathews County: 538 USDMecklenburg County: 651 USDMiddlesex County: 657 USDMontgomery County: 829 USDNelson County: 650 USDNew Kent County: 710 USDNorthampton County: 599 USDNorthumberland County: 773 USDNottoway County: 669 USDOrange County: 701 USDPage County: 606 USDPatrick County: 553 USDPittsylvania County: 665 USDPowhatan County: 754 USDPrince Edward County: 677 USDPrince George County: 1,001 USDPrince William County: 906 USDPulaski County: 736 USDRappahannock County: 1,041 USDRichmond County: 716 USDRoanoke County: 788 USDRockbridge County: 600 USDRockingham County: 804 USDRussell County: 760 USDScott County: 632 USDShenandoah County: 700 USDSmyth County: 658 USDSouthampton County: 683 USDSpotsylvania County: 746 USDStafford County: 975 USDSurry County: 1,433 USDSussex County: 727 USDTazewell County: 667 USDWarren County: 734 USDWashington County: 693 USDWestmoreland County: 581 USDWise County: 658 USDWythe County: 649 USDYork County: 729 USDAlexandria city: 1,455 USDBristol city: 679 USDBuena Vista city: 675 USDCharlottesville city: 1,046 USDChesapeake city: 821 USDColonial Heights city: 613 USDCovington city: 955 USDDanville city: 683 USDEmporia city: 622 USDFairfax city: 1,042 USDFalls Church city: 1,341 USDFranklin city: 583 USDFredericksburg city: 838 USDGalax city: 588 USDHampton city: 915 USDHarrisonburg city: 712 USDHopewell city: 1,025 USDLexington city: 811 USDLynchburg city: 827 USDManassas city: 1,204 USDManassas Park city: 885 USDMartinsville city: 642 USDNewport News city: 1,013 USDNorfolk city: 1,030 USDNorton city: 691 USDPetersburg city: 755 USDPoquoson city: 615 USDPortsmouth city: 1,018 USDRadford city: 835 USDRichmond city: 1,158 USDRoanoke city: 880 USDSalem city: 913 USDStaunton city: 678 USDSuffolk city: 893 USDVirginia Beach city: 805 USDWaynesboro city: 743 USDWilliamsburg city: 814 USDWinchester city: 918 USD
  • Under 640
  • 640 to 680
  • 680 to 740
  • 740 to 820
  • 820 to 920
  • 920 and over
USD, 2017. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2017

Goochland County: 1,851 USDGoochland County1,851Arlington County: 1,705 USDArlington County1,705Fairfax County: 1,618 USDFairfax County1,618King George County: 1,456 USDKing George County1,456Alexandria city: 1,455 USDAlexandria city1,455Surry County: 1,433 USDSurry County1,433Falls Church city: 1,341 USDFalls Church city1,341Loudoun County: 1,214 USDLoudoun County1,214Manassas city: 1,204 USDManassas city1,204Richmond city: 1,158 USDRichmond city1,158Charlottesville city: 1,046 USDCharlottesville city1,046Fairfax city: 1,042 USDFairfax city1,042Rappahannock County: 1,041 USDRappahannock County1,041Norfolk city: 1,030 USDNorfolk city1,030Albemarle County: 1,026 USDAlbemarle County1,026Hopewell city: 1,025 USDHopewell city1,025Henrico County: 1,022 USDHenrico County1,022Portsmouth city: 1,018 USDPortsmouth city1,018Newport News city: 1,013 USDNewport News city1,013Prince George County: 1,001 USDPrince George County1,001Stafford County: 975 USDStafford County975Covington city: 955 USDCovington city955Louisa County: 920 USDLouisa County920Fauquier County: 919 USDFauquier County919Winchester city: 918 USDWinchester city918Hampton city: 915 USDHampton city915Salem city: 913 USDSalem city913Campbell County: 909 USDCampbell County909Prince William County: 906 USDPrince William County906Suffolk city: 893 USDSuffolk city893Chesterfield County: 889 USDChesterfield County889Manassas Park city: 885 USDManassas Park city885Roanoke city: 880 USDRoanoke city880Isle of Wight County: 857 USDIsle of Wight County857Charles City County: 853 USDCharles City County853Frederick County: 847 USDFrederick County847King William County: 839 USDKing William County839Buchanan County: 838 USDBuchanan County838Fredericksburg city: 838 USDFredericksburg city838Clarke County: 836 USDClarke County836Goochland County: 1,851 USDGoochland County1,851Arlington County: 1,705 USDArlington County1,705Fairfax County: 1,618 USDFairfax County1,618King George County: 1,456 USDKing George County1,456Alexandria city: 1,455 USDAlexandria city1,455Surry County: 1,433 USDSurry County1,433Falls Church city: 1,341 USDFalls Church city1,341Loudoun County: 1,214 USDLoudoun County1,214Manassas city: 1,204 USDManassas city1,204Richmond city: 1,158 USDRichmond city1,158Charlottesville city: 1,046 USDCharlottesville city1,046Fairfax city: 1,042 USDFairfax city1,042Rappahannock County: 1,041 USDRappahannock County1,041Norfolk city: 1,030 USDNorfolk city1,030Albemarle County: 1,026 USDAlbemarle County1,026Hopewell city: 1,025 USDHopewell city1,025Henrico County: 1,022 USDHenrico County1,022Portsmouth city: 1,018 USDPortsmouth city1,018Newport News city: 1,013 USDNewport News city1,013Prince George County: 1,001 USDPrince George County1,001Stafford County: 975 USDStafford County975Covington city: 955 USDCovington city955Louisa County: 920 USDLouisa County920Fauquier County: 919 USDFauquier County919Winchester city: 918 USDWinchester city918Hampton city: 915 USDHampton city915Salem city: 913 USDSalem city913Campbell County: 909 USDCampbell County909Prince William County: 906 USDPrince William County906Suffolk city: 893 USDSuffolk city893Chesterfield County: 889 USDChesterfield County889Manassas Park city: 885 USDManassas Park city885Roanoke city: 880 USDRoanoke city880Isle of Wight County: 857 USDIsle of Wight County857Charles City County: 853 USDCharles City County853Frederick County: 847 USDFrederick County847King William County: 839 USDKing William County839Buchanan County: 838 USDBuchanan County838Fredericksburg city: 838 USDFredericksburg city838Clarke County: 836 USDClarke County836
USD. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2017
USD
Change on 2016
1Goochland County1,851+10.8%
2Arlington County1,705+3.1%
3Fairfax County1,618+3.3%
4King George County1,456+3.8%
5Alexandria city1,455+2.2%
6Surry County1,433+2.9%
7Falls Church city1,341+5.8%
8Loudoun County1,214+3.1%
9Manassas city1,204+4.2%
10Richmond city1,158+3.2%
11Charlottesville city1,046+5.8%
12Fairfax city1,042-0.3%
13Rappahannock County1,041+4.6%
14Norfolk city1,030+1.5%
15Albemarle County1,026+2.3%
16Hopewell city1,025-1.3%
17Henrico County1,022+2.6%
18Portsmouth city1,018+4%
19Newport News city1,013+2.9%
20Prince George County1,001+3.2%
21Stafford County975+3.6%
22Covington city955+1.3%
23Louisa County920+0.1%
24Fauquier County919+1.7%
25Winchester city918+2%
26Hampton city915+5.2%
27Salem city913+1%
28Campbell County909+7.1%
29Prince William County906+2.3%
30Suffolk city893+0.4%
31Chesterfield County889+3%
32Manassas Park city885+1.6%
33Roanoke city880+0.9%
34Isle of Wight County857+4.6%
35Charles City County853+6.9%
36Frederick County847+4.1%
37King William County839+1.5%
38Buchanan County838+5.3%
38Fredericksburg city838+3.2%
40Clarke County836+1.8%
41Radford city835+1.3%
42Augusta County832+3.2%
43Montgomery County829+2.9%
44Lynchburg city827+2.4%
45Hanover County824+3.3%
46Chesapeake city821+3.8%
47Bland County819+2.1%
48Williamsburg city814+6.8%
49Lexington city811+3.7%
50Virginia Beach city805+2%
51Rockingham County804-0.2%
52Dinwiddie County802+5.7%
53Culpeper County800+1.5%
54Roanoke County788+2.2%
55Northumberland County773+6.3%
56Botetourt County768+3.6%
57Russell County760+3.3%
58Greensville County756+4.3%
59Petersburg city755+1.6%
60Powhatan County754+0.3%
61Caroline County749+3.5%
62King and Queen County746+3.3%
62Spotsylvania County746+2.6%
64Fluvanna County745+1.4%
65Giles County744+0.8%
66Waynesboro city743+5.5%
67Bath County742+1%
68Dickenson County741+3.6%
69Pulaski County736+4.8%
70Warren County734+2.2%
71York County729+1.1%
72James City County728+0.7%
73Sussex County727+4.6%
74Accomack County723+4.6%
75Richmond County716+1%
76Harrisonburg city712+4.4%
77New Kent County710+1.3%
78Bedford County709+1.4%
79Buckingham County706+1.4%
80Amherst County702+2.5%
81Lancaster County701+3.5%
81Orange County701+2%
83Shenandoah County700+4.5%
84Halifax County694+2.2%
85Washington County693+1.8%
86Norton city691-1.1%
87Brunswick County684+3.8%
87Madison County684+0.3%
89Danville city683+0.9%
89Southampton County683+4.8%
91Amelia County680+2.3%
92Bristol city679-4.1%
93Staunton city678+3.5%
94Prince Edward County677+2.7%
95Buena Vista city675+2.7%
96Nottoway County669+2.1%
97Tazewell County667+7.6%
98Pittsylvania County665+5.6%
99Craig County662+0.3%
100Greene County660+0.5%
101Smyth County658+0.8%
101Wise County658+1.7%
103Alleghany County657-0.2%
103Cumberland County657+6.1%
103Middlesex County657+2.3%
106Gloucester County652+3.5%
107Mecklenburg County651+2.4%
108Nelson County650+3.5%
109Wythe County649+3.3%
110Charlotte County647-2%
111Martinsville city642-1.8%
112Essex County637+2.2%
113Lunenburg County635+0.5%
114Franklin County634+1.8%
115Scott County632+5.2%
116Lee County630+0.5%
117Henry County623+1.3%
118Emporia city622+6.9%
119Poquoson city615+2.8%
120Colonial Heights city613+3.5%
121Page County606+3.4%
122Rockbridge County600+1.4%
123Northampton County599-1.6%
124Carroll County592+1.7%
125Galax city588+4.1%
125Highland County588+1%
127Franklin city583+1%
128Westmoreland County581+0.5%
129Floyd County564+0.7%
129Grayson County564-1.9%
131Appomattox County554+1.5%
132Patrick County553+8%
133Mathews County538+1.1%

Other periods

About this ranking

Total wages paid during the year divided by the average number of covered jobs and by 52, in US dollars, all industries, private and government, from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Counted where the job is located, from the reports employers file each quarter; monthly employment counts the jobs in the pay period that includes the 12th.

In current dollars, not adjusted for inflation. An average per job, so part-time jobs pull it down and high earners pull it up; for the typical job use median_annual_wage. Wages include bonuses, stock options exercised, severance pay and tips, which makes counties with corporate headquarters stand out. Covers about 95 percent of US wage and salary jobs. Excludes the self-employed, most agricultural workers on small farms, the armed forces, elected officials in most states, most railroad employees, some domestic workers and most student workers at schools.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties (Counties in Virginia by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2017) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv

MLA 9

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Virginia by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2017. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2017. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Counties in Virginia by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2017. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2017.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Virginia by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2017 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2017 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_virginia_by_2017,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Virginia by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2017}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2017. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Virginia by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2017
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2017
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2017.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest average weekly wage (QCEW)?

Goochland County, with $1,851 in 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest average weekly wage (QCEW)?

Mathews County, with $538 in 2017.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Average weekly wage (QCEW): other rankings

Counties in Virginia: more rankings