Counties in Virginia by wages and salaries paid

Arlington County had the highest wages and salaries paid of 82 counties in 2023, at $25.18 billion. Highland County had the lowest, at $21.71 million. The median was $383.09 million and the figure for Virginia was $329.43 billion. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest25,182.3Arlington County
Lowest21.7Highland County
Median383.182 counties
Virginia329,428.5History

Map of counties, 2023

Accomack County: 727.7 USD millionAmelia County: 141.9 USD millionAmherst County: 412.3 USD millionAppomattox County: 172.1 USD millionArlington County: 25,182.3 USD millionBath County: 129.6 USD millionBedford County: 1,053.4 USD millionBland County: 121.6 USD millionBotetourt County: 738.2 USD millionBrunswick County: 184.6 USD millionBuchanan County: 414.4 USD millionBuckingham County: 173.4 USD millionCaroline County: 347.4 USD millionCharles City County: 111.5 USD millionCharlotte County: 150.4 USD millionChesterfield County: 9,916.8 USD millionClarke County: 240 USD millionCraig County: 42.8 USD millionCulpeper County: 1,000.8 USD millionCumberland County: 69.3 USD millionDickenson County: 205 USD millionEssex County: 181.1 USD millionFauquier County: 1,681.2 USD millionFloyd County: 167.1 USD millionFluvanna County: 336.1 USD millionFranklin County: 806.1 USD millionGiles County: 453.6 USD millionGloucester County: 513.6 USD millionGoochland County: 2,604.4 USD millionGrayson County: 145.4 USD millionGreene County: 202.1 USD millionHalifax County: 648.2 USD millionHanover County: 3,734.8 USD millionHenrico County: 15,045.4 USD millionHighland County: 21.7 USD millionIsle of Wight County: 1,001.4 USD millionKing and Queen County: 63 USD millionKing George County: 1,374.1 USD millionKing William County: 257.6 USD millionLancaster County: 279.4 USD millionLee County: 209.7 USD millionLoudoun County: 17,556.3 USD millionLouisa County: 660.5 USD millionLunenburg County: 128.6 USD millionMadison County: 170.9 USD millionMathews County: 76.6 USD millionMecklenburg County: 639.1 USD millionMiddlesex County: 170.2 USD millionNelson County: 211.1 USD millionNew Kent County: 317.1 USD millionNorthampton County: 202.4 USD millionNorthumberland County: 130.9 USD millionNottoway County: 326.4 USD millionOrange County: 543.3 USD millionPage County: 280.6 USD millionPatrick County: 190.1 USD millionPowhatan County: 480.3 USD millionPrince Edward County: 466.1 USD millionPulaski County: 836.5 USD millionRappahannock County: 88.3 USD millionRichmond County: 145.7 USD millionRussell County: 353.8 USD millionScott County: 241 USD millionShenandoah County: 743.9 USD millionSmyth County: 620.9 USD millionStafford County: 3,622.9 USD millionSurry County: 218.6 USD millionSussex County: 199.1 USD millionTazewell County: 708 USD millionWarren County: 781.6 USD millionWestmoreland County: 163.4 USD millionWythe County: 603.5 USD millionAlexandria city: 8,146.6 USD millionChesapeake city: 6,891.7 USD millionHampton city: 3,944.4 USD millionNewport News city: 7,970.5 USD millionNorfolk city: 12,799.9 USD millionPortsmouth city: 3,731.3 USD millionRichmond city: 14,536.8 USD millionRoanoke city: 4,455.5 USD millionSuffolk city: 2,508.2 USD millionVirginia Beach city: 12,962 USD million
  • Under 100
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USD million, 2023. 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, 2023

Arlington County: 25,182.3 USD millionArlington County25,182.3Loudoun County: 17,556.3 USD millionLoudoun County17,556.3Henrico County: 15,045.4 USD millionHenrico County15,045.4Richmond city: 14,536.8 USD millionRichmond city14,536.8Virginia Beach city: 12,962 USD millionVirginia Beach city12,962Norfolk city: 12,799.9 USD millionNorfolk city12,799.9Chesterfield County: 9,916.8 USD millionChesterfield County9,916.8Alexandria city: 8,146.6 USD millionAlexandria city8,146.6Newport News city: 7,970.5 USD millionNewport News city7,970.5Chesapeake city: 6,891.7 USD millionChesapeake city6,891.7Roanoke city: 4,455.5 USD millionRoanoke city4,455.5Hampton city: 3,944.4 USD millionHampton city3,944.4Hanover County: 3,734.8 USD millionHanover County3,734.8Portsmouth city: 3,731.3 USD millionPortsmouth city3,731.3Stafford County: 3,622.9 USD millionStafford County3,622.9Goochland County: 2,604.4 USD millionGoochland County2,604.4Suffolk city: 2,508.2 USD millionSuffolk city2,508.2Fauquier County: 1,681.2 USD millionFauquier County1,681.2King George County: 1,374.1 USD millionKing George County1,374.1Bedford County: 1,053.4 USD millionBedford County1,053.4Isle of Wight County: 1,001.4 USD millionIsle of Wight County1,001.4Culpeper County: 1,000.8 USD millionCulpeper County1,000.8Pulaski County: 836.5 USD millionPulaski County836.5Franklin County: 806.1 USD millionFranklin County806.1Warren County: 781.6 USD millionWarren County781.6Shenandoah County: 743.9 USD millionShenandoah County743.9Botetourt County: 738.2 USD millionBotetourt County738.2Accomack County: 727.7 USD millionAccomack County727.7Tazewell County: 708 USD millionTazewell County708Louisa County: 660.5 USD millionLouisa County660.5Halifax County: 648.2 USD millionHalifax County648.2Mecklenburg County: 639.1 USD millionMecklenburg County639.1Smyth County: 620.9 USD millionSmyth County620.9Wythe County: 603.5 USD millionWythe County603.5Orange County: 543.3 USD millionOrange County543.3Gloucester County: 513.6 USD millionGloucester County513.6Powhatan County: 480.3 USD millionPowhatan County480.3Prince Edward County: 466.1 USD millionPrince Edward County466.1Giles County: 453.6 USD millionGiles County453.6Buchanan County: 414.4 USD millionBuchanan County414.4Arlington County: 25,182.3 USD millionArlington County25,182.3Loudoun County: 17,556.3 USD millionLoudoun County17,556.3Henrico County: 15,045.4 USD millionHenrico County15,045.4Richmond city: 14,536.8 USD millionRichmond city14,536.8Virginia Beach city: 12,962 USD millionVirginia Beach city12,962Norfolk city: 12,799.9 USD millionNorfolk city12,799.9Chesterfield County: 9,916.8 USD millionChesterfield County9,916.8Alexandria city: 8,146.6 USD millionAlexandria city8,146.6Newport News city: 7,970.5 USD millionNewport News city7,970.5Chesapeake city: 6,891.7 USD millionChesapeake city6,891.7Roanoke city: 4,455.5 USD millionRoanoke city4,455.5Hampton city: 3,944.4 USD millionHampton city3,944.4Hanover County: 3,734.8 USD millionHanover County3,734.8Portsmouth city: 3,731.3 USD millionPortsmouth city3,731.3Stafford County: 3,622.9 USD millionStafford County3,622.9Goochland County: 2,604.4 USD millionGoochland County2,604.4Suffolk city: 2,508.2 USD millionSuffolk city2,508.2Fauquier County: 1,681.2 USD millionFauquier County1,681.2King George County: 1,374.1 USD millionKing George County1,374.1Bedford County: 1,053.4 USD millionBedford County1,053.4Isle of Wight County: 1,001.4 USD millionIsle of Wight County1,001.4Culpeper County: 1,000.8 USD millionCulpeper County1,000.8Pulaski County: 836.5 USD millionPulaski County836.5Franklin County: 806.1 USD millionFranklin County806.1Warren County: 781.6 USD millionWarren County781.6Shenandoah County: 743.9 USD millionShenandoah County743.9Botetourt County: 738.2 USD millionBotetourt County738.2Accomack County: 727.7 USD millionAccomack County727.7Tazewell County: 708 USD millionTazewell County708Louisa County: 660.5 USD millionLouisa County660.5Halifax County: 648.2 USD millionHalifax County648.2Mecklenburg County: 639.1 USD millionMecklenburg County639.1Smyth County: 620.9 USD millionSmyth County620.9Wythe County: 603.5 USD millionWythe County603.5Orange County: 543.3 USD millionOrange County543.3Gloucester County: 513.6 USD millionGloucester County513.6Powhatan County: 480.3 USD millionPowhatan County480.3Prince Edward County: 466.1 USD millionPrince Edward County466.1Giles County: 453.6 USD millionGiles County453.6Buchanan County: 414.4 USD millionBuchanan County414.4
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

RankCounties2023
USD million
Change on 2022
1Arlington County25,182.3+9.1%
2Loudoun County17,556.3+8.2%
3Henrico County15,045.4+3.5%
4Richmond city14,536.8+8.4%
5Virginia Beach city12,962+6.5%
6Norfolk city12,799.9+6.7%
7Chesterfield County9,916.8+7.2%
8Alexandria city8,146.6-2.8%
9Newport News city7,970.5+5.6%
10Chesapeake city6,891.7+7.3%
11Roanoke city4,455.5+6.7%
12Hampton city3,944.4+6.4%
13Hanover County3,734.8+6.7%
14Portsmouth city3,731.3+4.3%
15Stafford County3,622.9+3.7%
16Goochland County2,604.4+5.4%
17Suffolk city2,508.2+6.8%
18Fauquier County1,681.2+5.1%
19King George County1,374.1+7.5%
20Bedford County1,053.4+10.2%
21Isle of Wight County1,001.4+55.6%
22Culpeper County1,000.8+5%
23Pulaski County836.5+3.5%
24Franklin County806.1+4.2%
25Warren County781.6+5.8%
26Shenandoah County743.9+6.3%
27Botetourt County738.2+13.5%
28Accomack County727.7-7.3%
29Tazewell County708+6.7%
30Louisa County660.5+2.8%
31Halifax County648.2+7.3%
32Mecklenburg County639.1+9.4%
33Smyth County620.9+6.7%
34Wythe County603.5+6.9%
35Orange County543.3+8.4%
36Gloucester County513.6+7.8%
37Powhatan County480.3+9.6%
38Prince Edward County466.1+7%
39Giles County453.6+55.7%
40Buchanan County414.4+14.4%
41Amherst County412.3+6.9%
42Russell County353.8+3.4%
43Caroline County347.4+14%
44Fluvanna County336.1+12.2%
45Nottoway County326.4+5.7%
46New Kent County317.1+10.1%
47Page County280.6+9.2%
48Lancaster County279.4+7.2%
49King William County257.6+8.4%
50Scott County241+7.7%
51Clarke County240+7.1%
52Surry County218.6+4.8%
53Nelson County211.1+11.3%
54Lee County209.7+7.9%
55Dickenson County205+8.1%
56Northampton County202.4+7%
57Greene County202.1+9.6%
58Sussex County199.1+11.2%
59Patrick County190.1+5.8%
60Brunswick County184.6+7.8%
61Essex County181.1+6.5%
62Buckingham County173.4+7.7%
63Appomattox County172.1+7.3%
64Madison County170.9+7.7%
65Middlesex County170.2+5.1%
66Floyd County167.1+6.4%
67Westmoreland County163.4+11.5%
68Charlotte County150.4-1.6%
69Richmond County145.7-0.2%
70Grayson County145.4+11.8%
71Amelia County141.9+7.3%
72Northumberland County130.9+5.4%
73Bath County129.6+4.8%
74Lunenburg County128.6+9.3%
75Bland County121.6+12.5%
76Charles City County111.5+4.1%
77Rappahannock County88.3+2.3%
78Mathews County76.6+8.4%
79Cumberland County69.3+2%
80King and Queen County63+6.7%
81Craig County42.8+9.4%
82Highland County21.7+0.8%

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, 2023) [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, 2023. 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=2023. 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, 2023. 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=2023.

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, 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/virginia-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_virginia_by_2023,
  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, 2023}},
  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=2023. 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, 2023
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=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/virginia-counties?period=2023.
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  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest wages and salaries paid?

Arlington County, with $25.18 billion in 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Which county has the lowest wages and salaries paid?

Highland County, with $21.71 million in 2023.

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