Counties in Virginia by average weekly wage (QCEW)

Goochland County had the highest average weekly wage (QCEW) of 133 counties in 2018, at $1,853. Mathews County had the lowest, at $549. The median was $750 and the figure for Virginia was $1,120. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest1,853Goochland County
Median750133 counties
Virginia1,120History

Map of counties, 2018

Accomack County: 753 USDAlbemarle County: 1,049 USDAlleghany County: 659 USDAmelia County: 682 USDAmherst County: 728 USDAppomattox County: 576 USDArlington County: 1,784 USDAugusta County: 863 USDBath County: 716 USDBedford County: 724 USDBland County: 852 USDBotetourt County: 806 USDBrunswick County: 663 USDBuchanan County: 879 USDBuckingham County: 712 USDCampbell County: 913 USDCaroline County: 750 USDCarroll County: 614 USDCharles City County: 891 USDCharlotte County: 662 USDChesterfield County: 911 USDClarke County: 852 USDCraig County: 649 USDCulpeper County: 818 USDCumberland County: 649 USDDickenson County: 765 USDDinwiddie County: 828 USDEssex County: 648 USDFairfax County: 1,661 USDFauquier County: 947 USDFloyd County: 570 USDFluvanna County: 772 USDFranklin County: 652 USDFrederick County: 875 USDGiles County: 779 USDGloucester County: 665 USDGoochland County: 1,853 USDGrayson County: 564 USDGreene County: 673 USDGreensville County: 803 USDHalifax County: 717 USDHanover County: 826 USDHenrico County: 1,040 USDHenry County: 645 USDHighland County: 609 USDIsle of Wight County: 908 USDJames City County: 744 USDKing and Queen County: 732 USDKing George County: 1,477 USDKing William County: 858 USDLancaster County: 705 USDLee County: 629 USDLoudoun County: 1,263 USDLouisa County: 974 USDLunenburg County: 648 USDMadison County: 690 USDMathews County: 549 USDMecklenburg County: 662 USDMiddlesex County: 733 USDMontgomery County: 874 USDNelson County: 667 USDNew Kent County: 717 USDNorthampton County: 598 USDNorthumberland County: 829 USDNottoway County: 672 USDOrange County: 715 USDPage County: 631 USDPatrick County: 564 USDPittsylvania County: 691 USDPowhatan County: 758 USDPrince Edward County: 684 USDPrince George County: 1,004 USDPrince William County: 946 USDPulaski County: 777 USDRappahannock County: 732 USDRichmond County: 735 USDRoanoke County: 811 USDRockbridge County: 619 USDRockingham County: 830 USDRussell County: 769 USDScott County: 628 USDShenandoah County: 722 USDSmyth County: 667 USDSouthampton County: 694 USDSpotsylvania County: 766 USDStafford County: 998 USDSurry County: 1,568 USDSussex County: 739 USDTazewell County: 703 USDWarren County: 761 USDWashington County: 702 USDWestmoreland County: 608 USDWise County: 664 USDWythe County: 664 USDYork County: 749 USDAlexandria city: 1,501 USDBristol city: 684 USDBuena Vista city: 642 USDCharlottesville city: 1,085 USDChesapeake city: 842 USDColonial Heights city: 608 USDCovington city: 1,030 USDDanville city: 719 USDEmporia city: 582 USDFairfax city: 1,071 USDFalls Church city: 1,344 USDFranklin city: 586 USDFredericksburg city: 886 USDGalax city: 611 USDHampton city: 903 USDHarrisonburg city: 745 USDHopewell city: 1,058 USDLexington city: 831 USDLynchburg city: 851 USDManassas city: 1,204 USDManassas Park city: 942 USDMartinsville city: 638 USDNewport News city: 1,019 USDNorfolk city: 1,069 USDNorton city: 724 USDPetersburg city: 787 USDPoquoson city: 644 USDPortsmouth city: 1,051 USDRadford city: 851 USDRichmond city: 1,186 USDRoanoke city: 899 USDSalem city: 942 USDStaunton city: 724 USDSuffolk city: 902 USDVirginia Beach city: 823 USDWaynesboro city: 723 USDWilliamsburg city: 823 USDWinchester city: 923 USD
  • Under 650
  • 650 to 700
  • 700 to 750
  • 750 to 840
  • 840 to 950
  • 950 and over
USD, 2018. 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, 2018

Goochland County: 1,853 USDGoochland County1,853Arlington County: 1,784 USDArlington County1,784Fairfax County: 1,661 USDFairfax County1,661Surry County: 1,568 USDSurry County1,568Alexandria city: 1,501 USDAlexandria city1,501King George County: 1,477 USDKing George County1,477Falls Church city: 1,344 USDFalls Church city1,344Loudoun County: 1,263 USDLoudoun County1,263Manassas city: 1,204 USDManassas city1,204Richmond city: 1,186 USDRichmond city1,186Charlottesville city: 1,085 USDCharlottesville city1,085Fairfax city: 1,071 USDFairfax city1,071Norfolk city: 1,069 USDNorfolk city1,069Hopewell city: 1,058 USDHopewell city1,058Portsmouth city: 1,051 USDPortsmouth city1,051Albemarle County: 1,049 USDAlbemarle County1,049Henrico County: 1,040 USDHenrico County1,040Covington city: 1,030 USDCovington city1,030Newport News city: 1,019 USDNewport News city1,019Prince George County: 1,004 USDPrince George County1,004Stafford County: 998 USDStafford County998Louisa County: 974 USDLouisa County974Fauquier County: 947 USDFauquier County947Prince William County: 946 USDPrince William County946Manassas Park city: 942 USDManassas Park city942Salem city: 942 USDSalem city942Winchester city: 923 USDWinchester city923Campbell County: 913 USDCampbell County913Chesterfield County: 911 USDChesterfield County911Isle of Wight County: 908 USDIsle of Wight County908Hampton city: 903 USDHampton city903Suffolk city: 902 USDSuffolk city902Roanoke city: 899 USDRoanoke city899Charles City County: 891 USDCharles City County891Fredericksburg city: 886 USDFredericksburg city886Buchanan County: 879 USDBuchanan County879Frederick County: 875 USDFrederick County875Montgomery County: 874 USDMontgomery County874Augusta County: 863 USDAugusta County863King William County: 858 USDKing William County858Goochland County: 1,853 USDGoochland County1,853Arlington County: 1,784 USDArlington County1,784Fairfax County: 1,661 USDFairfax County1,661Surry County: 1,568 USDSurry County1,568Alexandria city: 1,501 USDAlexandria city1,501King George County: 1,477 USDKing George County1,477Falls Church city: 1,344 USDFalls Church city1,344Loudoun County: 1,263 USDLoudoun County1,263Manassas city: 1,204 USDManassas city1,204Richmond city: 1,186 USDRichmond city1,186Charlottesville city: 1,085 USDCharlottesville city1,085Fairfax city: 1,071 USDFairfax city1,071Norfolk city: 1,069 USDNorfolk city1,069Hopewell city: 1,058 USDHopewell city1,058Portsmouth city: 1,051 USDPortsmouth city1,051Albemarle County: 1,049 USDAlbemarle County1,049Henrico County: 1,040 USDHenrico County1,040Covington city: 1,030 USDCovington city1,030Newport News city: 1,019 USDNewport News city1,019Prince George County: 1,004 USDPrince George County1,004Stafford County: 998 USDStafford County998Louisa County: 974 USDLouisa County974Fauquier County: 947 USDFauquier County947Prince William County: 946 USDPrince William County946Manassas Park city: 942 USDManassas Park city942Salem city: 942 USDSalem city942Winchester city: 923 USDWinchester city923Campbell County: 913 USDCampbell County913Chesterfield County: 911 USDChesterfield County911Isle of Wight County: 908 USDIsle of Wight County908Hampton city: 903 USDHampton city903Suffolk city: 902 USDSuffolk city902Roanoke city: 899 USDRoanoke city899Charles City County: 891 USDCharles City County891Fredericksburg city: 886 USDFredericksburg city886Buchanan County: 879 USDBuchanan County879Frederick County: 875 USDFrederick County875Montgomery County: 874 USDMontgomery County874Augusta County: 863 USDAugusta County863King William County: 858 USDKing William County858
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

RankCounties2018
USD
Change on 2017
1Goochland County1,853+0.1%
2Arlington County1,784+4.6%
3Fairfax County1,661+2.7%
4Surry County1,568+9.4%
5Alexandria city1,501+3.2%
6King George County1,477+1.4%
7Falls Church city1,344+0.2%
8Loudoun County1,263+4%
9Manassas city1,2040%
10Richmond city1,186+2.4%
11Charlottesville city1,085+3.7%
12Fairfax city1,071+2.8%
13Norfolk city1,069+3.8%
14Hopewell city1,058+3.2%
15Portsmouth city1,051+3.2%
16Albemarle County1,049+2.2%
17Henrico County1,040+1.8%
18Covington city1,030+7.9%
19Newport News city1,019+0.6%
20Prince George County1,004+0.3%
21Stafford County998+2.4%
22Louisa County974+5.9%
23Fauquier County947+3%
24Prince William County946+4.4%
25Manassas Park city942+6.4%
25Salem city942+3.2%
27Winchester city923+0.5%
28Campbell County913+0.4%
29Chesterfield County911+2.5%
30Isle of Wight County908+6%
31Hampton city903-1.3%
32Suffolk city902+1%
33Roanoke city899+2.2%
34Charles City County891+4.5%
35Fredericksburg city886+5.7%
36Buchanan County879+4.9%
37Frederick County875+3.3%
38Montgomery County874+5.4%
39Augusta County863+3.7%
40King William County858+2.3%
41Bland County852+4%
41Clarke County852+1.9%
43Lynchburg city851+2.9%
43Radford city851+1.9%
45Chesapeake city842+2.6%
46Lexington city831+2.5%
47Rockingham County830+3.2%
48Northumberland County829+7.2%
49Dinwiddie County828+3.2%
50Hanover County826+0.2%
51Virginia Beach city823+2.2%
51Williamsburg city823+1.1%
53Culpeper County818+2.3%
54Roanoke County811+2.9%
55Botetourt County806+4.9%
56Greensville County803+6.2%
57Petersburg city787+4.2%
58Giles County779+4.7%
59Pulaski County777+5.6%
60Fluvanna County772+3.6%
61Russell County769+1.2%
62Spotsylvania County766+2.7%
63Dickenson County765+3.2%
64Warren County761+3.7%
65Powhatan County758+0.5%
66Accomack County753+4.1%
67Caroline County750+0.1%
68York County749+2.7%
69Harrisonburg city745+4.6%
70James City County744+2.2%
71Sussex County739+1.7%
72Richmond County735+2.7%
73Middlesex County733+11.6%
74King and Queen County732-1.9%
74Rappahannock County732-29.7%
76Amherst County728+3.7%
77Bedford County724+2.1%
77Norton city724+4.8%
77Staunton city724+6.8%
80Waynesboro city723-2.7%
81Shenandoah County722+3.1%
82Danville city719+5.3%
83Halifax County717+3.3%
83New Kent County717+1%
85Bath County716-3.5%
86Orange County715+2%
87Buckingham County712+0.8%
88Lancaster County705+0.6%
89Tazewell County703+5.4%
90Washington County702+1.3%
91Southampton County694+1.6%
92Pittsylvania County691+3.9%
93Madison County690+0.9%
94Bristol city684+0.7%
94Prince Edward County684+1%
96Amelia County682+0.3%
97Greene County673+2%
98Nottoway County672+0.4%
99Nelson County667+2.6%
99Smyth County667+1.4%
101Gloucester County665+2%
102Wise County664+0.9%
102Wythe County664+2.3%
104Brunswick County663-3.1%
105Charlotte County662+2.3%
105Mecklenburg County662+1.7%
107Alleghany County659+0.3%
108Franklin County652+2.8%
109Craig County649-2%
109Cumberland County649-1.2%
111Essex County648+1.7%
111Lunenburg County648+2%
113Henry County645+3.5%
114Poquoson city644+4.7%
115Buena Vista city642-4.9%
116Martinsville city638-0.6%
117Page County631+4.1%
118Lee County629-0.2%
119Scott County628-0.6%
120Rockbridge County619+3.2%
121Carroll County614+3.7%
122Galax city611+3.9%
123Highland County609+3.6%
124Colonial Heights city608-0.8%
124Westmoreland County608+4.6%
126Northampton County598-0.2%
127Franklin city586+0.5%
128Emporia city582-6.4%
129Appomattox County576+4%
130Floyd County570+1.1%
131Grayson County5640%
131Patrick County564+2%
133Mathews County549+2%

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/2018/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), 2018) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2018/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), 2018. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2018/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2018. 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), 2018. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2018/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2018.

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), 2018 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2018/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_virginia_by_2018,
  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), 2018}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2018/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2018. 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/2018/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), 2018
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2018/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2018.
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/2018/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 $1,853 in 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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

Mathews County, with $549 in 2018.

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