Salaries in Newport News, VA

People often assume the Hampton Roads area is all about the military and shipyards, but you can make serious bank in marketing here. In Newport News, a top marketing manager pulls in over $156,000—near the top of the heap nationally, and that’s before you factor in the city’s lower cost of living. It’s a surprising pocket of corporate opportunity in a region better known for defense contracts.

With a cost of living index of 97.4, your dollar stretches a bit further than the national average. That median household income of $64,962 feels solid when a one-bedroom apartment runs you about $1,287 a month. You’re not getting a steal, but you’re not getting squeezed either. It’s a stable, middle-class proposition where your paycheck has decent breathing room.

The economy here runs on two big engines: shipbuilding and the military. Newport News Shipbuilding is the giant, of course, and it supports a whole ecosystem of engineering and project management roles. But don’t sleep on the growing healthcare and tech sectors. The city’s 2.8% unemployment rate is tight, and companies are competing for talent, especially in software development, where six-figure salaries are now the norm.

My honest take? Wages are keeping pace with costs for skilled professionals, but the gap is closing. If you’re in a top-paying field like pharmacy or software, you’ll live very comfortably. If you’re in an average role, you’ll need a budget. The 30.5% of residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher are the ones really cashing in. Below, we’ll break down exactly what you can expect to earn in specific roles, both raw and adjusted for what it actually costs to live here.