Counties in Virginia by average weekly wage (QCEW)

Goochland County had the highest average weekly wage (QCEW) of 133 counties in 2020, at $2,034. Grayson County had the lowest, at $574. The median was $835 and the figure for Virginia was $1,253. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest2,034Goochland County
Median835133 counties
Virginia1,253History

Map of counties, 2020

Accomack County: 852 USDAlbemarle County: 1,141 USDAlleghany County: 715 USDAmelia County: 769 USDAmherst County: 778 USDAppomattox County: 630 USDArlington County: 2,002 USDAugusta County: 934 USDBath County: 882 USDBedford County: 776 USDBland County: 901 USDBotetourt County: 866 USDBrunswick County: 726 USDBuchanan County: 934 USDBuckingham County: 772 USDCampbell County: 965 USDCaroline County: 817 USDCarroll County: 639 USDCharles City County: 953 USDCharlotte County: 714 USDChesterfield County: 1,001 USDClarke County: 873 USDCraig County: 699 USDCulpeper County: 896 USDCumberland County: 699 USDDickenson County: 803 USDDinwiddie County: 986 USDEssex County: 742 USDFairfax County: 1,865 USDFauquier County: 1,056 USDFloyd County: 641 USDFluvanna County: 857 USDFranklin County: 722 USDFrederick County: 983 USDGiles County: 852 USDGloucester County: 746 USDGoochland County: 2,034 USDGrayson County: 574 USDGreene County: 718 USDGreensville County: 908 USDHalifax County: 774 USDHanover County: 914 USDHenrico County: 1,156 USDHenry County: 700 USDHighland County: 640 USDIsle of Wight County: 1,012 USDJames City County: 885 USDKing and Queen County: 794 USDKing George County: 1,575 USDKing William County: 921 USDLancaster County: 758 USDLee County: 697 USDLoudoun County: 1,407 USDLouisa County: 955 USDLunenburg County: 735 USDMadison County: 769 USDMathews County: 609 USDMecklenburg County: 743 USDMiddlesex County: 720 USDMontgomery County: 967 USDNelson County: 739 USDNew Kent County: 861 USDNorthampton County: 671 USDNorthumberland County: 976 USDNottoway County: 756 USDOrange County: 805 USDPage County: 699 USDPatrick County: 609 USDPittsylvania County: 748 USDPowhatan County: 848 USDPrince Edward County: 767 USDPrince George County: 1,098 USDPrince William County: 1,061 USDPulaski County: 796 USDRappahannock County: 780 USDRichmond County: 788 USDRoanoke County: 901 USDRockbridge County: 680 USDRockingham County: 918 USDRussell County: 807 USDScott County: 694 USDShenandoah County: 796 USDSmyth County: 734 USDSouthampton County: 765 USDSpotsylvania County: 896 USDStafford County: 1,125 USDSurry County: 1,575 USDSussex County: 850 USDTazewell County: 695 USDWarren County: 835 USDWashington County: 757 USDWestmoreland County: 682 USDWise County: 712 USDWythe County: 737 USDYork County: 814 USDAlexandria city: 1,621 USDBristol city: 731 USDBuena Vista city: 668 USDCharlottesville city: 1,192 USDChesapeake city: 934 USDColonial Heights city: 683 USDCovington city: 1,028 USDDanville city: 773 USDEmporia city: 658 USDFairfax city: 1,211 USDFalls Church city: 1,494 USDFranklin city: 626 USDFredericksburg city: 1,004 USDGalax city: 650 USDHampton city: 1,013 USDHarrisonburg city: 878 USDHopewell city: 1,125 USDLexington city: 933 USDLynchburg city: 937 USDManassas city: 1,390 USDManassas Park city: 1,010 USDMartinsville city: 689 USDNewport News city: 1,112 USDNorfolk city: 1,185 USDNorton city: 802 USDPetersburg city: 818 USDPoquoson city: 694 USDPortsmouth city: 1,120 USDRadford city: 929 USDRichmond city: 1,352 USDRoanoke city: 998 USDSalem city: 1,002 USDStaunton city: 763 USDSuffolk city: 1,056 USDVirginia Beach city: 931 USDWaynesboro city: 800 USDWilliamsburg city: 910 USDWinchester city: 1,048 USD
  • Under 700
  • 700 to 770
  • 770 to 840
  • 840 to 930
  • 930 to 1,100
  • 1,100 and over
USD, 2020. 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, 2020

Goochland County: 2,034 USDGoochland County2,034Arlington County: 2,002 USDArlington County2,002Fairfax County: 1,865 USDFairfax County1,865Alexandria city: 1,621 USDAlexandria city1,621King George County: 1,575 USDKing George County1,575Surry County: 1,575 USDSurry County1,575Falls Church city: 1,494 USDFalls Church city1,494Loudoun County: 1,407 USDLoudoun County1,407Manassas city: 1,390 USDManassas city1,390Richmond city: 1,352 USDRichmond city1,352Fairfax city: 1,211 USDFairfax city1,211Charlottesville city: 1,192 USDCharlottesville city1,192Norfolk city: 1,185 USDNorfolk city1,185Henrico County: 1,156 USDHenrico County1,156Albemarle County: 1,141 USDAlbemarle County1,141Hopewell city: 1,125 USDHopewell city1,125Stafford County: 1,125 USDStafford County1,125Portsmouth city: 1,120 USDPortsmouth city1,120Newport News city: 1,112 USDNewport News city1,112Prince George County: 1,098 USDPrince George County1,098Prince William County: 1,061 USDPrince William County1,061Fauquier County: 1,056 USDFauquier County1,056Suffolk city: 1,056 USDSuffolk city1,056Winchester city: 1,048 USDWinchester city1,048Covington city: 1,028 USDCovington city1,028Hampton city: 1,013 USDHampton city1,013Isle of Wight County: 1,012 USDIsle of Wight County1,012Manassas Park city: 1,010 USDManassas Park city1,010Fredericksburg city: 1,004 USDFredericksburg city1,004Salem city: 1,002 USDSalem city1,002Chesterfield County: 1,001 USDChesterfield County1,001Roanoke city: 998 USDRoanoke city998Dinwiddie County: 986 USDDinwiddie County986Frederick County: 983 USDFrederick County983Northumberland County: 976 USDNorthumberland County976Montgomery County: 967 USDMontgomery County967Campbell County: 965 USDCampbell County965Louisa County: 955 USDLouisa County955Charles City County: 953 USDCharles City County953Lynchburg city: 937 USDLynchburg city937Goochland County: 2,034 USDGoochland County2,034Arlington County: 2,002 USDArlington County2,002Fairfax County: 1,865 USDFairfax County1,865Alexandria city: 1,621 USDAlexandria city1,621King George County: 1,575 USDKing George County1,575Surry County: 1,575 USDSurry County1,575Falls Church city: 1,494 USDFalls Church city1,494Loudoun County: 1,407 USDLoudoun County1,407Manassas city: 1,390 USDManassas city1,390Richmond city: 1,352 USDRichmond city1,352Fairfax city: 1,211 USDFairfax city1,211Charlottesville city: 1,192 USDCharlottesville city1,192Norfolk city: 1,185 USDNorfolk city1,185Henrico County: 1,156 USDHenrico County1,156Albemarle County: 1,141 USDAlbemarle County1,141Hopewell city: 1,125 USDHopewell city1,125Stafford County: 1,125 USDStafford County1,125Portsmouth city: 1,120 USDPortsmouth city1,120Newport News city: 1,112 USDNewport News city1,112Prince George County: 1,098 USDPrince George County1,098Prince William County: 1,061 USDPrince William County1,061Fauquier County: 1,056 USDFauquier County1,056Suffolk city: 1,056 USDSuffolk city1,056Winchester city: 1,048 USDWinchester city1,048Covington city: 1,028 USDCovington city1,028Hampton city: 1,013 USDHampton city1,013Isle of Wight County: 1,012 USDIsle of Wight County1,012Manassas Park city: 1,010 USDManassas Park city1,010Fredericksburg city: 1,004 USDFredericksburg city1,004Salem city: 1,002 USDSalem city1,002Chesterfield County: 1,001 USDChesterfield County1,001Roanoke city: 998 USDRoanoke city998Dinwiddie County: 986 USDDinwiddie County986Frederick County: 983 USDFrederick County983Northumberland County: 976 USDNorthumberland County976Montgomery County: 967 USDMontgomery County967Campbell County: 965 USDCampbell County965Louisa County: 955 USDLouisa County955Charles City County: 953 USDCharles City County953Lynchburg city: 937 USDLynchburg city937
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

RankCounties2020
USD
Change on 2019
1Goochland County2,034+5.9%
2Arlington County2,002+8.4%
3Fairfax County1,865+8.5%
4Alexandria city1,621+6.2%
5King George County1,575+3.9%
5Surry County1,575+1.5%
7Falls Church city1,494+8.2%
8Loudoun County1,407+9.8%
9Manassas city1,390+9.4%
10Richmond city1,352+9.8%
11Fairfax city1,211+9.5%
12Charlottesville city1,192+12.8%
13Norfolk city1,185+7.2%
14Henrico County1,156+7.9%
15Albemarle County1,141+7.5%
16Hopewell city1,125+7.6%
16Stafford County1,125+8.9%
18Portsmouth city1,120+2.6%
19Newport News city1,112+5.3%
20Prince George County1,098+5.4%
21Prince William County1,061+9.8%
22Fauquier County1,056+8.3%
22Suffolk city1,056+10.1%
24Winchester city1,048+8.6%
25Covington city1,028+1.3%
26Hampton city1,013+6.7%
27Isle of Wight County1,012+17.7%
28Manassas Park city1,010+6.8%
29Fredericksburg city1,004+7.2%
30Salem city1,002+4.9%
31Chesterfield County1,001+7.3%
32Roanoke city998+7.4%
33Dinwiddie County986+13.7%
34Frederick County983+7.4%
35Northumberland County976+3.6%
36Montgomery County967+7.9%
37Campbell County965+4.3%
38Louisa County955-0.3%
39Charles City County953+5.7%
40Lynchburg city937+7.8%
41Augusta County934+6.5%
41Buchanan County934-3.2%
41Chesapeake city934+7.6%
44Lexington city933+7.7%
45Virginia Beach city931+9%
46Radford city929+8.5%
47King William County921+6%
48Rockingham County918+6.9%
49Hanover County914+8.3%
50Williamsburg city910+9.1%
51Greensville County908+7.1%
52Bland County901+5%
52Roanoke County901+7.5%
54Culpeper County896+5.8%
54Spotsylvania County896+13%
56James City County885+14.5%
57Bath County882+14.1%
58Harrisonburg city878+14.2%
59Clarke County873+3.3%
60Botetourt County866+5.9%
61New Kent County861+9%
62Fluvanna County857+5.9%
63Accomack County852+11.4%
63Giles County852+7.3%
65Sussex County850+10.1%
66Powhatan County848+7.2%
67Warren County835+6.4%
68Petersburg city818+2.1%
69Caroline County817+8.5%
70York County814+4.1%
71Russell County807+2.3%
72Orange County805+7.8%
73Dickenson County803+3.2%
74Norton city802+3.1%
75Waynesboro city800+9.3%
76Pulaski County796-0.1%
76Shenandoah County796+6.7%
78King and Queen County794+6.1%
79Richmond County788+5.1%
80Rappahannock County780+4.1%
81Amherst County778+5.6%
82Bedford County776+4%
83Halifax County774+5.6%
84Danville city773+4.9%
85Buckingham County772+3.8%
86Amelia County769+6.8%
86Madison County769+8.6%
88Prince Edward County767+7.7%
89Southampton County765+7.6%
90Staunton city763+5.1%
91Lancaster County758+7.2%
92Washington County757+5.7%
93Nottoway County756+5.9%
94Pittsylvania County748+4.6%
95Gloucester County746+7%
96Mecklenburg County743+9.1%
97Essex County742+10.1%
98Nelson County739+7.9%
99Wythe County737+7.3%
100Lunenburg County735+5.9%
101Smyth County734+5.8%
102Bristol city731+6.4%
103Brunswick County726+2.5%
104Franklin County722+7.3%
105Middlesex County720+5.6%
106Greene County718+3.8%
107Alleghany County715+5.8%
108Charlotte County714+5.3%
109Wise County712+6.6%
110Henry County700+6.1%
111Craig County699+5.3%
111Cumberland County699+5.9%
111Page County699+7.5%
114Lee County697+7.9%
115Tazewell County695+0.6%
116Poquoson city694+5.6%
116Scott County694+7.6%
118Martinsville city689+7.8%
119Colonial Heights city683+8.8%
120Westmoreland County682+11.1%
121Rockbridge County680+6.3%
122Northampton County671+7.7%
123Buena Vista city668+0.6%
124Emporia city658+9.7%
125Galax city650+6.2%
126Floyd County641+8.6%
127Highland County640+6%
128Carroll County639+3.7%
129Appomattox County630+7.3%
130Franklin city626+5.6%
131Mathews County609+8.6%
131Patrick County609+5.5%
133Grayson County574+2.1%

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/2020/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), 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2020/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), 2020. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2020/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2020. 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), 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2020/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2020.

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), 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2020/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2020 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_virginia_by_2020,
  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), 2020}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2020/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2020. 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/2020/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), 2020
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2020/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/virginia-counties?period=2020.
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/2020/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 $2,034 in 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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

Grayson County, with $574 in 2020.

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