Counties in Virginia by wages and salaries paid

Arlington County had the highest wages and salaries paid of 82 counties in 2015, at $16.45 billion. Highland County had the lowest, at $17.36 million. The median was $268.57 million and the figure for Virginia was $225.62 billion. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest16,449.1Arlington County
Lowest17.4Highland County
Median268.682 counties
Virginia225,619.3History

Map of counties, 2015

Accomack County: 512.7 USD millionAmelia County: 97.3 USD millionAmherst County: 348.8 USD millionAppomattox County: 106.4 USD millionArlington County: 16,449.1 USD millionBath County: 95.8 USD millionBedford County: 778.5 USD millionBland County: 87.2 USD millionBotetourt County: 438.5 USD millionBrunswick County: 152.1 USD millionBuchanan County: 334.8 USD millionBuckingham County: 135.9 USD millionCaroline County: 238.4 USD millionCharles City County: 76.5 USD millionCharlotte County: 106.8 USD millionChesterfield County: 6,516.8 USD millionClarke County: 182.5 USD millionCraig County: 27 USD millionCulpeper County: 687.6 USD millionCumberland County: 45.7 USD millionDickenson County: 155 USD millionEssex County: 135 USD millionFauquier County: 1,113.5 USD millionFloyd County: 100.9 USD millionFluvanna County: 192.1 USD millionFranklin County: 527.1 USD millionGiles County: 204.6 USD millionGloucester County: 332 USD millionGoochland County: 1,400.1 USD millionGrayson County: 87.5 USD millionGreene County: 136.6 USD millionHalifax County: 467.3 USD millionHanover County: 2,278.5 USD millionHenrico County: 10,826.7 USD millionHighland County: 17.4 USD millionIsle of Wight County: 519.8 USD millionKing and Queen County: 45.3 USD millionKing George County: 873.8 USD millionKing William County: 175.9 USD millionLancaster County: 173.3 USD millionLee County: 164.3 USD millionLoudoun County: 10,490.1 USD millionLouisa County: 496.6 USD millionLunenburg County: 96.3 USD millionMadison County: 116.5 USD millionMathews County: 49.2 USD millionMecklenburg County: 420.8 USD millionMiddlesex County: 120 USD millionNelson County: 138.6 USD millionNew Kent County: 161.7 USD millionNorthampton County: 175.2 USD millionNorthumberland County: 100.5 USD millionNottoway County: 227.6 USD millionOrange County: 360.1 USD millionPage County: 191.1 USD millionPatrick County: 159.9 USD millionPowhatan County: 298.7 USD millionPrince Edward County: 330.7 USD millionPulaski County: 573.5 USD millionRappahannock County: 87.2 USD millionRichmond County: 114.8 USD millionRussell County: 308.6 USD millionScott County: 170.9 USD millionShenandoah County: 531.9 USD millionSmyth County: 462.5 USD millionStafford County: 2,266.4 USD millionSurry County: 211.6 USD millionSussex County: 151.4 USD millionTazewell County: 561.3 USD millionWarren County: 503.1 USD millionWestmoreland County: 114.4 USD millionWythe County: 417.3 USD millionAlexandria city: 7,602 USD millionChesapeake city: 4,484 USD millionHampton city: 3,120.7 USD millionNewport News city: 5,831.3 USD millionNorfolk city: 10,718.1 USD millionPortsmouth city: 2,855 USD millionRichmond city: 9,508.8 USD millionRoanoke city: 3,377.9 USD millionSuffolk city: 1,496.5 USD millionVirginia Beach city: 8,971.8 USD million
  • Under 100
  • 100 to 200
  • 200 to 300
  • 300 to 500
  • 500 to 2,300
  • 2,300 and over
  • No data
USD million, 2015. Hatched areas have no value for this period. Source: BEA, CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2015

Arlington County: 16,449.1 USD millionArlington County16,449.1Henrico County: 10,826.7 USD millionHenrico County10,826.7Norfolk city: 10,718.1 USD millionNorfolk city10,718.1Loudoun County: 10,490.1 USD millionLoudoun County10,490.1Richmond city: 9,508.8 USD millionRichmond city9,508.8Virginia Beach city: 8,971.8 USD millionVirginia Beach city8,971.8Alexandria city: 7,602 USD millionAlexandria city7,602Chesterfield County: 6,516.8 USD millionChesterfield County6,516.8Newport News city: 5,831.3 USD millionNewport News city5,831.3Chesapeake city: 4,484 USD millionChesapeake city4,484Roanoke city: 3,377.9 USD millionRoanoke city3,377.9Hampton city: 3,120.7 USD millionHampton city3,120.7Portsmouth city: 2,855 USD millionPortsmouth city2,855Hanover County: 2,278.5 USD millionHanover County2,278.5Stafford County: 2,266.4 USD millionStafford County2,266.4Suffolk city: 1,496.5 USD millionSuffolk city1,496.5Goochland County: 1,400.1 USD millionGoochland County1,400.1Fauquier County: 1,113.5 USD millionFauquier County1,113.5King George County: 873.8 USD millionKing George County873.8Bedford County: 778.5 USD millionBedford County778.5Culpeper County: 687.6 USD millionCulpeper County687.6Pulaski County: 573.5 USD millionPulaski County573.5Tazewell County: 561.3 USD millionTazewell County561.3Shenandoah County: 531.9 USD millionShenandoah County531.9Franklin County: 527.1 USD millionFranklin County527.1Isle of Wight County: 519.8 USD millionIsle of Wight County519.8Accomack County: 512.7 USD millionAccomack County512.7Warren County: 503.1 USD millionWarren County503.1Louisa County: 496.6 USD millionLouisa County496.6Halifax County: 467.3 USD millionHalifax County467.3Smyth County: 462.5 USD millionSmyth County462.5Botetourt County: 438.5 USD millionBotetourt County438.5Mecklenburg County: 420.8 USD millionMecklenburg County420.8Wythe County: 417.3 USD millionWythe County417.3Orange County: 360.1 USD millionOrange County360.1Amherst County: 348.8 USD millionAmherst County348.8Buchanan County: 334.8 USD millionBuchanan County334.8Gloucester County: 332 USD millionGloucester County332Prince Edward County: 330.7 USD millionPrince Edward County330.7Russell County: 308.6 USD millionRussell County308.6Arlington County: 16,449.1 USD millionArlington County16,449.1Henrico County: 10,826.7 USD millionHenrico County10,826.7Norfolk city: 10,718.1 USD millionNorfolk city10,718.1Loudoun County: 10,490.1 USD millionLoudoun County10,490.1Richmond city: 9,508.8 USD millionRichmond city9,508.8Virginia Beach city: 8,971.8 USD millionVirginia Beach city8,971.8Alexandria city: 7,602 USD millionAlexandria city7,602Chesterfield County: 6,516.8 USD millionChesterfield County6,516.8Newport News city: 5,831.3 USD millionNewport News city5,831.3Chesapeake city: 4,484 USD millionChesapeake city4,484Roanoke city: 3,377.9 USD millionRoanoke city3,377.9Hampton city: 3,120.7 USD millionHampton city3,120.7Portsmouth city: 2,855 USD millionPortsmouth city2,855Hanover County: 2,278.5 USD millionHanover County2,278.5Stafford County: 2,266.4 USD millionStafford County2,266.4Suffolk city: 1,496.5 USD millionSuffolk city1,496.5Goochland County: 1,400.1 USD millionGoochland County1,400.1Fauquier County: 1,113.5 USD millionFauquier County1,113.5King George County: 873.8 USD millionKing George County873.8Bedford County: 778.5 USD millionBedford County778.5Culpeper County: 687.6 USD millionCulpeper County687.6Pulaski County: 573.5 USD millionPulaski County573.5Tazewell County: 561.3 USD millionTazewell County561.3Shenandoah County: 531.9 USD millionShenandoah County531.9Franklin County: 527.1 USD millionFranklin County527.1Isle of Wight County: 519.8 USD millionIsle of Wight County519.8Accomack County: 512.7 USD millionAccomack County512.7Warren County: 503.1 USD millionWarren County503.1Louisa County: 496.6 USD millionLouisa County496.6Halifax County: 467.3 USD millionHalifax County467.3Smyth County: 462.5 USD millionSmyth County462.5Botetourt County: 438.5 USD millionBotetourt County438.5Mecklenburg County: 420.8 USD millionMecklenburg County420.8Wythe County: 417.3 USD millionWythe County417.3Orange County: 360.1 USD millionOrange County360.1Amherst County: 348.8 USD millionAmherst County348.8Buchanan County: 334.8 USD millionBuchanan County334.8Gloucester County: 332 USD millionGloucester County332Prince Edward County: 330.7 USD millionPrince Edward County330.7Russell County: 308.6 USD millionRussell County308.6
USD million. Source: BEA, CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2015
USD million
Change on 2014
1Arlington County16,449.1+6.8%
2Henrico County10,826.7+5.6%
3Norfolk city10,718.1+4.8%
4Loudoun County10,490.1+6.1%
5Richmond city9,508.8+5.3%
6Virginia Beach city8,971.8+3.7%
7Alexandria city7,602+3%
8Chesterfield County6,516.8+6.6%
9Newport News city5,831.3+2.6%
10Chesapeake city4,484+5.2%
11Roanoke city3,377.9+3.8%
12Hampton city3,120.7-1.6%
13Portsmouth city2,855+3.2%
14Hanover County2,278.5+6.4%
15Stafford County2,266.4+1.9%
16Suffolk city1,496.5+5.6%
17Goochland County1,400.1+13.9%
18Fauquier County1,113.5+5.3%
19King George County873.8+2.1%
20Bedford County778.5+4.3%
21Culpeper County687.6+3.6%
22Pulaski County573.5+5%
23Tazewell County561.3-1.4%
24Shenandoah County531.9+7.2%
25Franklin County527.1+2%
26Isle of Wight County519.8+9.9%
27Accomack County512.7+4.6%
28Warren County503.1-5.7%
29Louisa County496.6+9.8%
30Halifax County467.3+2.2%
31Smyth County462.5+1.6%
32Botetourt County438.5+5.6%
33Mecklenburg County420.8+7.2%
34Wythe County417.3+4.5%
35Orange County360.1+1%
36Amherst County348.8+1.7%
37Buchanan County334.8-9.2%
38Gloucester County332+2.9%
39Prince Edward County330.7+5.9%
40Russell County308.6+8.5%
41Powhatan County298.7+2%
42Caroline County238.4+5.7%
43Nottoway County227.6+6.5%
44Surry County211.6+22.4%
45Giles County204.6+0.2%
46Fluvanna County192.1+6.8%
47Page County191.1+4.6%
48Clarke County182.5+1.5%
49King William County175.9+7.2%
50Northampton County175.2+5.2%
51Lancaster County173.3+0.1%
52Scott County170.9+3.7%
53Lee County164.3+1.4%
54New Kent County161.7+6.9%
55Patrick County159.9+4.4%
56Dickenson County155-4.1%
57Brunswick County152.1+1.7%
58Sussex County151.4+1.3%
59Nelson County138.6+4%
60Greene County136.6+6.6%
61Buckingham County135.9+3.7%
62Essex County135-1.6%
63Middlesex County120+3.7%
64Madison County116.5+3.2%
65Richmond County114.8+3.9%
66Westmoreland County114.4+0.9%
67Charlotte County106.8+9.7%
68Appomattox County106.4+4.2%
69Floyd County100.9+3%
70Northumberland County100.5+6.2%
71Amelia County97.3+1.9%
72Lunenburg County96.3+2.3%
73Bath County95.8+2.8%
74Grayson County87.5+5.2%
75Rappahannock County87.2+14%
76Bland County87.2+4.2%
77Charles City County76.5+7.6%
78Mathews County49.2+3.5%
79Cumberland County45.7+3.8%
80King and Queen County45.3+2.7%
81Craig County27+1.9%
82Highland County17.4-0.2%

Other periods

About this ranking

Total wages and salaries paid to employees for jobs located in a place, including tips, bonuses and pay in kind, before deductions, in millions of current US dollars. United States: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional accounts, table SAINC4 line 50 for the nation and states and CAINC4 line 50 for counties.

Counted where the jobs are, not where the workers live, so places with many commuters coming in can pay more in wages than their residents receive in personal income (the District of Columbia does). Excludes employer contributions to pensions, insurance and social security, and the income of the self-employed.

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 Economic Analysis. CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. 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 Economic Analysis. (2026). CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents (Counties in Virginia by wages and salaries paid, 2015) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip

MLA 9

CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents, Counties in Virginia by wages and salaries paid, 2015. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 5 Feb. 2026, https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/virginia-counties?period=2015. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. 2026. CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Counties in Virginia by wages and salaries paid, 2015. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/virginia-counties?period=2015.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2026) CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents, Counties in Virginia by wages and salaries paid, 2015 [Dataset]. Available at: https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/virginia-counties?period=2015 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_virginia_by_2015,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis}},
  title = {{CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents: Counties in Virginia by wages and salaries paid, 2015}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/virginia-counties?period=2015. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
TI  - CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents: Counties in Virginia by wages and salaries paid, 2015
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/02/05
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/virginia-counties?period=2015
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/virginia-counties?period=2015.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
Embed this chart

Paste this code into a web page or a blog post. The chart shows the latest figures as they are published, with the source and a link back to this page.

Sites that read oEmbed links, such as WordPress, can show the chart when you paste the link to this page.

Use this data in your AI agent

Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:

Rank Counties in Virginia by wages and salaries paid using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"wages_and_salaries","level":"province","within":"Virginia","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=wages_and_salaries&level=province&within=Virginia&limit=10

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

Questions

Which county has the highest wages and salaries paid?

Arlington County, with $16.45 billion in 2015, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Which county has the lowest wages and salaries paid?

Highland County, with $17.36 million in 2015.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Wages and salaries paid: other rankings

Counties in Virginia: more rankings