VirginiaCOL index: 148

Salaries in Arlington, VA

Arlington, Virginia offers career opportunities with 5.75% state income tax. Browse salary data for every major occupation below — all figures are Arlington-specific, updated quarterly from BLS and H-1B disclosures.

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Population

236,842

COL index

148 / 100

Avg 1BR rent

$2,500/mo

State income tax

5.75%

Technology salaries in Arlington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Software Engineer	$95K	$130K	$165K	$210K	+4.2%
Data Scientist	$100K	$138K	$175K	$220K	+5.1%
Product Manager	$110K	$148K	$190K	$240K	+3.8%
DevOps Engineer	$105K	$140K	$178K	$215K	+6.2%
Cybersecurity Analyst	$85K	$115K	$148K	$185K	+7.3%
UX Designer	$72K	$99K	$130K	$165K	+3.1%
Machine Learning Engineer	$125K	$168K	$215K	$275K	+8.4%
Cloud Architect	$130K	$170K	$215K	$265K	+6.8%
Frontend Developer	$82K	$112K	$145K	$185K	+4.5%
Backend Developer	$90K	$125K	$160K	$200K	+4.3%
Full Stack Developer	$88K	$120K	$155K	$195K	+4.6%
Mobile Developer	$90K	$125K	$162K	$205K	+5.2%
Data Engineer	$98K	$132K	$168K	$210K	+6.5%
Data Analyst	$60K	$82K	$108K	$140K	+4%
Database Administrator	$78K	$105K	$135K	$170K	+2.8%
Systems Administrator	$62K	$86K	$112K	$142K	+2.2%
Network Engineer	$75K	$100K	$130K	$165K	+3%
IT Manager	$100K	$135K	$172K	$215K	+3.5%
Scrum Master	$88K	$115K	$145K	$180K	+3.2%
Solutions Architect	$120K	$158K	$200K	$250K	+5.8%
AI Engineer	$130K	$175K	$225K	$290K	+12%
Blockchain Developer	$110K	$150K	$195K	$250K	+7.5%
QA Engineer	$70K	$95K	$125K	$158K	+3%
Site Reliability Engineer	$115K	$152K	$192K	$238K	+7%
Embedded Systems Engineer	$85K	$112K	$142K	$178K	+3.8%
Technical Writer	$58K	$79K	$102K	$130K	+2.5%
IT Support Specialist	$42K	$58K	$76K	$98K	+2%
Information Security Manager	$115K	$152K	$195K	$245K	+7.8%
Penetration Tester	$88K	$118K	$152K	$195K	+8.2%
Computer Vision Engineer	$120K	$162K	$208K	$265K	+9.5%
NLP Engineer	$125K	$168K	$215K	$272K	+10.2%
Game Developer	$72K	$98K	$132K	$172K	+4.8%
Salesforce Developer	$90K	$120K	$155K	$195K	+5.5%
ERP Consultant	$85K	$115K	$150K	$190K	+3.8%

Healthcare salaries in Arlington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Registered Nurse	$78K	$98K	$125K	$156K	+3.5%
Physician Assistant	$130K	$156K	$186K	$222K	+4.8%
Physical Therapist	$90K	$114K	$138K	$168K	+3.2%
Healthcare Administrator	$86K	$125K	$168K	$222K	+4.1%
Nurse Practitioner	$120K	$145K	$174K	$210K	+5.2%
Pharmacist	$142K	$158K	$178K	$198K	+1.2%
Medical Doctor	$234K	$298K	$384K	$504K	+2.8%
Dentist	$178K	$216K	$270K	$348K	+2.5%
Occupational Therapist	$86K	$108K	$132K	$158K	+3.8%
Radiologist	$348K	$456K	$564K	$672K	+2.2%
Surgeon	$336K	$456K	$600K	$780K	+2.5%
Anesthesiologist	$360K	$468K	$576K	$696K	+2.1%
Medical Lab Technician	$50K	$67K	$86K	$108K	+3.2%
Respiratory Therapist	$70K	$86K	$108K	$134K	+3.8%
Speech-Language Pathologist	$82K	$102K	$126K	$154K	+4.2%
Clinical Psychologist	$86K	$114K	$150K	$194K	+3.5%
Psychiatrist	$234K	$298K	$372K	$480K	+3.8%
Medical Coder	$50K	$66K	$84K	$106K	+2.8%
ICU Nurse	$94K	$118K	$146K	$180K	+4%
Surgical Technologist	$54K	$70K	$86K	$108K	+3.5%
Paramedic	$46K	$60K	$78K	$98K	+3.2%
Registered Dietitian	$62K	$82K	$103K	$130K	+3.5%
Optometrist	$134K	$166K	$202K	$252K	+2.8%
Genetic Counselor	$86K	$108K	$132K	$162K	+5.8%

Finance salaries in Arlington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Financial Analyst	$88K	$124K	$169K	$234K	+3.6%
Accountant	$72K	$101K	$137K	$182K	+2.2%
Investment Banker	$156K	$234K	$364K	$585K	+3.9%
Actuary	$124K	$163K	$211K	$267K	+5.5%
Financial Advisor	$75K	$124K	$192K	$299K	+3.8%
Portfolio Manager	$150K	$211K	$293K	$416K	+4.2%
Risk Analyst	$88K	$120K	$159K	$205K	+4.5%
Tax Manager	$124K	$166K	$215K	$273K	+3%
Financial Controller	$137K	$182K	$237K	$306K	+3.2%
Chief Financial Officer	$228K	$325K	$468K	$676K	+3.5%
Credit Analyst	$68K	$91K	$120K	$156K	+2.8%
Mortgage Loan Officer	$62K	$94K	$140K	$211K	+2.5%
Compliance Officer	$94K	$127K	$169K	$224K	+4.8%
Hedge Fund Analyst	$150K	$215K	$312K	$494K	+3.5%
Private Equity Analyst	$143K	$205K	$293K	$455K	+4%
Quantitative Analyst	$163K	$224K	$299K	$416K	+6.2%
Bookkeeper	$49K	$62K	$78K	$99K	+1%
Budget Analyst	$81K	$107K	$135K	$169K	+2.5%
Insurance Underwriter	$75K	$101K	$133K	$172K	+2%
Venture Capital Analyst	$124K	$176K	$241K	$338K	+5.5%

Engineering salaries in Arlington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Mechanical Engineer	$90K	$120K	$155K	$194K	+2.8%
Petroleum Engineer	$138K	$181K	$235K	$300K	+1.5%
Civil Engineer	$85K	$113K	$148K	$188K	+3.4%
Electrical Engineer	$98K	$131K	$170K	$213K	+3.1%
Chemical Engineer	$100K	$135K	$175K	$223K	+2.5%
Aerospace Engineer	$113K	$153K	$198K	$248K	+3.8%
Industrial Engineer	$90K	$120K	$155K	$198K	+3.5%
Environmental Engineer	$85K	$115K	$150K	$190K	+4.2%
Biomedical Engineer	$90K	$123K	$160K	$203K	+5.2%
Structural Engineer	$88K	$115K	$150K	$190K	+3.2%
Nuclear Engineer	$119K	$156K	$198K	$248K	+2.2%
Materials Engineer	$90K	$123K	$160K	$203K	+3%
Geotechnical Engineer	$85K	$113K	$148K	$188K	+3.5%
Controls Engineer	$98K	$130K	$168K	$210K	+4%
Manufacturing Engineer	$88K	$119K	$153K	$194K	+3.2%
Process Engineer	$90K	$123K	$160K	$203K	+3.5%
Quality Engineer	$81K	$110K	$144K	$185K	+3%

Business salaries in Arlington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Marketing Manager	$101K	$143K	$198K	$260K	+3.3%
Human Resources Manager	$98K	$135K	$182K	$234K	+2.9%
Project Manager	$94K	$127K	$172K	$221K	+3.7%
Operations Manager	$88K	$127K	$176K	$234K	+2.5%
Business Analyst	$81K	$111K	$146K	$189K	+3.8%
Management Consultant	$104K	$150K	$211K	$293K	+4.2%
Supply Chain Manager	$101K	$140K	$185K	$237K	+4.5%
Sales Manager	$94K	$137K	$198K	$280K	+3.5%
Account Executive	$72K	$101K	$146K	$211K	+3.8%
Chief Executive Officer	$202K	$306K	$494K	$806K	+3.2%
Chief Operating Officer	$189K	$273K	$416K	$624K	+3%
Chief Marketing Officer	$189K	$273K	$400K	$598K	+3.5%
General Manager	$98K	$140K	$198K	$273K	+2.8%
Logistics Coordinator	$55K	$73K	$94K	$120K	+3.5%
Purchasing Manager	$101K	$140K	$182K	$231K	+2.5%
Digital Marketing Manager	$88K	$124K	$166K	$218K	+5.5%
SEO Specialist	$62K	$85K	$114K	$153K	+5.8%
Content Strategist	$72K	$98K	$130K	$169K	+5.2%
Brand Manager	$94K	$127K	$172K	$224K	+3.5%
Recruiter	$62K	$85K	$114K	$156K	+3.2%
Executive Assistant	$68K	$88K	$114K	$146K	+1.8%
Public Relations Manager	$88K	$124K	$169K	$224K	+3%
Event Planner	$55K	$73K	$98K	$130K	+3.8%

Education salaries in Arlington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
K-12 Teacher	$52K	$71K	$94K	$121K	+1.8%
University Professor	$75K	$103K	$150K	$218K	+2.1%
School Principal	$94K	$117K	$144K	$175K	+2.2%
Instructional Designer	$67K	$87K	$113K	$144K	+4.5%
School Counselor	$55K	$71K	$92K	$115K	+3%
Special Education Teacher	$55K	$75K	$97K	$124K	+3.5%
Curriculum Developer	$63K	$83K	$106K	$136K	+3.8%
Education Administrator	$83K	$109K	$140K	$178K	+2.5%
Librarian	$55K	$71K	$92K	$115K	+1.5%
Academic Advisor	$46K	$60K	$78K	$99K	+3%

Legal salaries in Arlington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Attorney	$105K	$173K	$281K	$473K	+3.5%
Paralegal	$57K	$76K	$100K	$128K	+3.8%
Corporate Lawyer	$155K	$236K	$378K	$608K	+3.8%
Patent Attorney	$182K	$250K	$335K	$459K	+4.2%
Compliance Lawyer	$135K	$196K	$267K	$358K	+5%
Judge	$128K	$182K	$246K	$324K	+1.5%
Legal Operations Manager	$128K	$176K	$230K	$297K	+6.5%

Construction salaries in Arlington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Construction Manager	$98K	$131K	$173K	$225K	+4.5%
Electrician	$65K	$85K	$110K	$144K	+6.2%
Plumber	$65K	$85K	$113K	$148K	+5.5%
HVAC Technician	$60K	$78K	$100K	$128K	+5.8%
Welder	$48K	$63K	$80K	$103K	+3.5%
Carpenter	$53K	$70K	$93K	$119K	+4%
Land Surveyor	$73K	$98K	$128K	$163K	+3.8%
Construction Estimator	$78K	$105K	$138K	$178K	+4.2%

Real Estate salaries in Arlington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Real Estate Agent	$38K	$62K	$105K	$180K	+3.5%
Real Estate Broker	$55K	$95K	$162K	$275K	+3.5%
Property Manager	$48K	$65K	$88K	$118K	+3.2%
Real Estate Appraiser	$52K	$72K	$98K	$132K	+2.8%
Commercial Real Estate Analyst	$62K	$88K	$120K	$162K	+4%

Government salaries in Arlington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Urban Planner	$81K	$108K	$138K	$176K	+3.8%
Social Worker	$54K	$74K	$97K	$124K	+3.5%
Firefighter	$57K	$78K	$105K	$138K	+2.8%
Police Officer	$65K	$88K	$119K	$155K	+2.5%
Military Officer	$74K	$111K	$155K	$209K	+2%
Public Health Official	$92K	$124K	$162K	$209K	+4.5%
Policy Analyst	$78K	$105K	$138K	$178K	+3.5%
Government Budget Officer	$84K	$111K	$142K	$182K	+2.5%

Science salaries in Arlington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Biologist	$69K	$98K	$131K	$175K	+3.5%
Chemist	$73K	$100K	$135K	$178K	+3.2%
Physicist	$98K	$140K	$190K	$250K	+4%
Geologist	$78K	$110K	$148K	$194K	+3.8%
Epidemiologist	$85K	$113K	$148K	$190K	+4.5%
Biochemist	$78K	$110K	$153K	$203K	+4.2%
Environmental Scientist	$69K	$95K	$125K	$165K	+4.8%
Research Scientist	$90K	$123K	$165K	$219K	+4.5%
Pharmaceutical Data Scientist	$131K	$178K	$228K	$285K	+7.5%
Clinical Research Coordinator	$60K	$78K	$100K	$128K	+5.5%
Laboratory Manager	$81K	$110K	$144K	$185K	+3.8%

Creative salaries in Arlington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Graphic Designer	$50K	$68K	$92K	$120K	+3%
Art Director	$85K	$118K	$159K	$210K	+2.8%
Video Producer	$57K	$80K	$112K	$159K	+4.2%
Copywriter	$53K	$73K	$100K	$136K	+3.5%
Photographer	$38K	$54K	$80K	$118K	+3%
Animator	$61K	$85K	$116K	$159K	+4.5%
Journalist	$45K	$61K	$85K	$120K	+1.5%
Social Media Manager	$53K	$71K	$97K	$130K	+6.5%
Interior Designer	$50K	$68K	$94K	$127K	+3.2%
Fashion Designer	$57K	$80K	$116K	$171K	+2.5%
Music Producer	$45K	$73K	$124K	$218K	+3.5%
UX Researcher	$97K	$132K	$171K	$218K	+5.5%

Hospitality salaries in Arlington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Hotel Manager	$61K	$85K	$116K	$159K	+3.2%
Executive Chef	$61K	$80K	$109K	$151K	+3.8%
Restaurant Manager	$50K	$66K	$87K	$116K	+3.5%
Travel Agent	$41K	$54K	$73K	$100K	+3%
Sommelier	$50K	$68K	$97K	$136K	+3.2%

Retail salaries in Arlington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Retail Store Manager	$48K	$67K	$90K	$121K	+2%
Sales Representative	$48K	$71K	$106K	$159K	+3.5%
Retail Buyer	$60K	$83K	$113K	$150K	+2.5%
E-Commerce Manager	$71K	$98K	$132K	$175K	+7.5%
Business Development Manager	$83K	$117K	$161K	$221K	+4.5%

Transportation salaries in Arlington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Airline Pilot	$126K	$192K	$282K	$396K	+5.2%
Logistics Manager	$86K	$118K	$156K	$202K	+4.5%
Truck Driver (CDL)	$50K	$62K	$82K	$106K	+4.8%
Transportation Planner	$74K	$98K	$130K	$168K	+4.2%
Fleet Manager	$70K	$94K	$122K	$158K	+4%

Energy salaries in Arlington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Energy Engineer	$90K	$121K	$159K	$201K	+6.5%
Solar Installer	$48K	$60K	$78K	$101K	+22%
Wind Turbine Technician	$55K	$69K	$87K	$113K	+45%
Oil & Gas Operations Manager	$126K	$170K	$221K	$285K	+2%
Energy Analyst	$71K	$98K	$129K	$167K	+6%

Nonprofit salaries in Arlington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Nonprofit Executive Director	$71K	$98K	$136K	$190K	+3.2%
Grant Writer	$55K	$71K	$92K	$117K	+3.5%
Fundraising Manager	$60K	$81K	$109K	$150K	+3.8%
Case Manager	$44K	$57K	$74K	$94K	+3.5%
Community Outreach Coordinator	$44K	$57K	$75K	$97K	+3.8%

Working in Arlington, Virginia: Salary Guide (2026)

Arlington is home to the Arlington–VA metropolitan area with a population of 236,842. The city has a cost of living index of 148 (US average = 100), meaning living costs are above the national average.

Virginia has a 5.75% state income tax rate. When comparing offers with cities in no-income-tax states like Texas, Washington, or Florida, factor in this difference.

Top-paying industries in Arlington

Arlington's economy spans multiple high-wage sectors. The city's diverse employer base creates strong demand across technology, healthcare, finance, and professional services.

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