nonmetropolitan area · 5100001

Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area

Figures describe the Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area, a BLS-defined region outside metropolitan areas — not a single city or town.

Median annual wage, all occupations$44,440
Total employment116,480

Across all occupations, the median wage in the Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area was $44,440 per year ($21.37 per hour) as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 116,480 jobs. 331 detailed occupations are published for this area.

Most concentrated occupations

Occupations far more common here than in the U.S. overall (location quotient ≥ 1.5, published estimates only) — a truthful picture of what makes this area’s job mix distinctive.

Location quotient: local share of employment ÷ national share
OccupationLocation quotientEmploymentMedian annual
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing12.43570$39,370
Correctional Officers and Jailers6.591,880$48,720
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs4.66540$39,540
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term2.831,110$28,900
Bus Drivers, School2.37720$52,270
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators2.21790$56,890
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria2.13700$30,310
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers2.061,030$51,290

All published occupations

Every detailed occupation BLS publishes for this area in May 2025 331 in total. Sort by pay, employment, or concentration.

Published occupations in the Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area
Occupation
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$27,780$13.363,9501.23
Cashiers$28,900$13.893,9501.70
Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,930$13.433,2801.14
Stockers and Order Fillers$34,760$16.712,7001.27
Retail Salespersons$31,470$15.132,6500.91
General and Operations Managers$94,170$45.282,2200.84
Registered Nurses$82,140$39.492,0800.82
Office Clerks, General$38,930$18.722,0701.12
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$49,630$23.861,9901.29
Correctional Officers and Jailers$48,720$23.431,8806.59
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$37,230$17.901,8800.85
Customer Service Representatives$37,380$17.971,7500.90
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$31,440$15.111,6601.00
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$49,430$23.771,6501.56
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$51,530Not published1,6101.55
Nursing Assistants$44,750$21.521,5501.43
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$43,870$21.091,3501.60
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$45,920$22.081,3401.17
Waiters and Waitresses$35,620$17.131,2400.73
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$30,750Not published1,2301.16
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$28,900$13.901,1102.83
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,430$17.511,0901.19
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$58,860$28.301,0801.00
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$40,510$19.481,0800.84
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,440Not published1,0701.35
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$51,290$24.661,0302.06
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$46,590$22.401,0100.99
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,950$30.269501.95
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$64,740$31.139501.89
Cooks, Restaurant$35,520$17.088000.75
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$56,890$27.357902.21
Bus Drivers, School$52,270$25.137202.37
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$39,810$19.147101.17
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$50,440Not published7001.51
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$30,310$14.577002.13
Security Guards$36,070$17.346900.71
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$69,900$33.616901.14
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$29,670$14.276801.05
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$43,630$20.986600.91
Construction Laborers$37,810$18.186500.79
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$46,510$22.366501.23
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$60,360$29.026400.69
Receptionists and Information Clerks$35,210$16.936400.93
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$56,020$26.936101.94
Accountants and Auditors$77,320$37.176000.55
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$45,400$21.836001.35
Social and Human Service Assistants$39,470$18.985901.79
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$40,090$19.275801.01
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$39,370$18.9357012.43
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$49,680$23.895601.97
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$73,330$35.265501.19
Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,320$29.485501.68
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$52,850$25.415400.67
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$39,540$19.015404.66
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$57,090$27.455101.40
Carpenters$45,040$21.655101.01
Pharmacy Technicians$37,450$18.015001.42
Cooks, Fast Food$29,220$14.055001.04
Food Preparation Workers$30,870$14.844800.72
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$57,120$27.464801.04
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$35,050$16.854700.67
Human Resources Specialists$63,800$30.674600.67
Emergency Medical Technicians$37,650$18.104503.30
Highway Maintenance Workers$47,940$23.054403.77
Driver/Sales Workers$37,010$17.794401.43
Packers and Packagers, Hand$30,310$14.574401.04
Medical Assistants$38,350$18.444200.69
Child, Family, and School Social Workers$51,300$24.664001.36
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$51,950$24.984000.43
Parts Salespersons$29,800$14.333801.87
Postal Service Mail Carriers$56,450$27.143801.53
Light Truck Drivers$28,840$13.873800.52
Machinists$48,150$23.153701.74
Sewing Machine Operators$30,880$14.853704.71
Software Developers$124,340$59.783600.29
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$60,310$29.003609.10
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$48,790$23.463603.72
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$57,330$27.563501.31
Tellers$33,920$16.313501.41
Electricians$73,220$35.203500.62
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$99,590Not published3401.38
Buyers and Purchasing Agents$63,150$30.363400.91
Project Management Specialists$87,870$42.253300.41
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$59,650$28.6833012.70
Lawyers$102,950$49.493200.56
Pharmacists$126,160$60.663201.32
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$41,340$19.883202.41
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$51,830$24.923201.49
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$54,270$26.093101.06
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$61,550$29.593000.44
Nurse Practitioners$125,730$60.453001.25
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$34,730$16.703009.70
Firefighters$38,220$18.372901.13
Medical and Health Services Managers$100,950$48.532800.63
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,010$30.782802.13
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$32,540$15.642801.53
Management Analysts$86,580$41.632700.40
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$48,980Not published2701.37
Insurance Sales Agents$57,080$27.442700.75
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$28,530$13.712702.48
Computer User Support Specialists$51,540$24.782600.48
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$30,380$14.602600.65
Public Safety Telecommunicators$36,440$17.522603.43
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$48,030$23.092601.39
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$36,220$17.412604.50
Compliance Officers$64,590$31.052500.80
Production Workers, All Other$39,450$18.972501.34
Financial Managers$131,740$63.342400.38
Industrial Engineers$96,650$46.472400.86
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$59,760Not published2402.84
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,560$22.382405.25
Training and Development Specialists$51,630$24.822300.66
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$82,250$39.552302.19
Physical Therapists$102,530$49.292301.15
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$48,580$23.362300.74
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$31,840$15.312201.00
Dishwashers$28,090$13.502200.60
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$51,060$24.552103.21
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$74,120$35.642101.83
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,860$22.052101.60
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$39,850$19.1621012.48
Bartenders$46,390$22.302000.35
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$44,090$21.202004.47
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$30,210$14.522000.69
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$52,360Not published1901.56
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$51,550$24.781901.87
Paramedics$48,170$23.161902.55
Childcare Workers$29,730$14.291900.49
Counter and Rental Clerks$37,670$18.111900.65
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$48,860$23.491900.53
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$29,220$14.051900.99
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining$76,900$36.9719042.15
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$44,790$21.531905.78
Helpers--Production Workers$40,190$19.321901.57
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$39,160$18.831800.51
Billing and Posting Clerks$43,530$20.931800.59
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceNot publishedNot published1801.18
Continuous Mining Machine Operators$69,930$33.6218017.04
Industrial Production Managers$114,180$54.891700.91
Speech-Language Pathologists$97,430$46.841701.23
Physical Therapist Assistants$70,160$33.731702.06
Dental Assistants$44,380$21.341700.58
Cooks, Short Order$31,910$15.341701.67
Managers, All Other$120,780$58.071600.34
Healthcare Social Workers$58,540$28.151601.11
Tutors$36,540$17.571601.20
Postal Service Clerks$61,050$29.351602.92
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$62,470$30.041601.59
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$39,730$19.101601.35
Respiratory Therapists$61,320$29.481501.39
Network and Computer Systems Administrators$82,540$39.681400.60
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$60,100$28.901401.36
Paralegals and Legal Assistants$46,670$22.441400.49
Occupational Therapists$99,580$47.881401.16
Physicians, All Other$176,650$84.931400.56
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$37,550$18.051401.00
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$28,240$13.581400.42
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$34,900$16.781400.58
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$63,160$30.371400.41
Sheet Metal Workers$44,620$21.451401.54
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers$39,300$18.8914014.53
Construction Managers$102,580$49.321300.44
Food Service Managers$60,590$29.131300.74
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$63,470$30.511300.53
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,730$36.891300.75
Detectives and Criminal Investigators$73,920$35.541301.57
Animal Caretakers$29,390$14.131300.66
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$75,790$36.441300.80
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$29,990$14.421301.10
Data Entry Keyers$33,070$15.901301.35
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$49,060$23.591300.38
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$29,000$13.941300.87
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$43,730$21.031301.85
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$47,980$23.071301.06
Machine Feeders and Offbearers$34,540$16.611304.03
Loan Officers$71,850$34.541200.60
Physician Assistants$127,390$61.241201.01
Medical Records Specialists$43,270$20.811200.80
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$26,920$12.941201.02
Funeral Attendants$35,580$17.111205.26
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$44,450$21.371200.72
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,180$37.101102.01
Dental Hygienists$99,750$47.961100.63
Protective Service Workers, All Other$41,600$20.001101.75
Library Assistants, Clerical$28,640$13.771101.64
Loan Interviewers and Clerks$38,610$18.561100.86
Roof Bolters, Mining$78,260$37.6211065.08
Bakers$30,600$14.711100.63
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$41,270$19.8411011.22
Computer Systems Analysts$92,430$44.441000.25
Special Education Teachers, Middle School$49,460Not published1001.46
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$40,460$19.451001.12
Phlebotomists$38,100$18.321000.91
Order Clerks$39,340$18.921001.80
Information and Record Clerks, All Other$41,660$20.031000.98
Automotive Body and Related Repairers$49,020$23.571000.88
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$72,030$34.631001.33
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$39,520$19.001001.41
Butchers and Meat Cutters$36,520$17.561000.93
Chief Executives$222,760$107.10900.57
Sales Managers$164,200$78.94900.20
Facilities Managers$81,580$39.22900.75
Computer and Information Systems Managers$161,110$77.46900.18
Cost Estimators$63,560$30.56900.56
Civil Engineers$96,100$46.20900.32
Mechanical Engineers$87,720$42.18900.39
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates$91,000$43.75904.94
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$61,270$29.46901.07
Coaches and Scouts$45,940Not published900.47
Public Relations Specialists$62,970$30.28900.44
First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$44,000$21.15900.70
Construction and Building Inspectors$64,140$30.84900.85
Maintenance Workers, Machinery$72,310$34.77901.94
Logisticians$78,130$37.56800.45
Tax Preparers$36,620$17.61801.37
Self-Enrichment Teachers$35,360$17.00800.32
Family Medicine Physicians$282,220$135.68801.02
Opticians, Dispensing$54,980$26.43801.41
Occupational Therapy Assistants$65,000$31.25802.11
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$35,780$17.20800.80
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$48,700$23.41800.80
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers$49,000$23.56804.19
Bill and Account Collectors$36,710$17.65800.67
Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$41,460$19.93800.59
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$37,370$17.97800.72
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians$27,850$13.39808.51
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$85,340$41.03700.39
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$80,790$38.84700.30
Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$48,070$23.11701.71
Information Security Analysts$126,500$60.82700.51
Computer Network Support Specialists$60,540$29.11700.65
Electrical Engineers$102,700$49.37700.48
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers$97,360$46.817014.36
Surveying and Mapping Technicians$46,800$22.50701.63
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$78,260Not published700.40
Graphic Designers$49,570$23.83700.44
Dentists, General$160,710$77.26700.73
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$46,430$22.32700.70
Chefs and Head Cooks$63,380$30.47700.44
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$43,740$21.03700.86
Amusement and Recreation Attendants$28,310$13.61700.25
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$99,110$47.65700.33
Real Estate Sales Agents$44,710$21.50700.51
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$54,820$26.36700.58
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$48,280$23.21702.17
Pipelayers$45,050$21.66702.98
Tire Repairers and Changers$39,520$19.00700.88
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$47,880$23.02700.55
Upholsterers$31,950$15.36704.86
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$44,350$21.32703.49
Administrative Services Managers$97,050$46.66600.31
Human Resources Managers$115,690$55.62600.38
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$73,100$35.14600.83
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$56,180$27.01600.77
Instructional Coordinators$65,490$31.49600.36
Veterinarians$116,990$56.25600.91
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$79,000$37.98600.85
Dietetic Technicians$31,980$15.37602.59
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$61,400$29.52600.78
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$44,040$21.18600.74
Residential Advisors$39,120$18.81600.92
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$31,200$15.00602.44
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas$55,470$26.67604.14
Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$61,510$29.57606.13
Furniture Finishers$37,560$18.06605.83
Marketing Managers$158,320$76.12500.17
Architectural and Engineering Managers$139,590$67.11500.28
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents$95,860$46.09504.64
Financial and Investment Analysts$93,190$44.80500.20
Forest and Conservation Technicians$52,420$25.20502.06
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers$49,630$23.86504.08
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$49,620Not published500.66
Farm and Home Management Educators$74,850$35.99507.52
Floral Designers$35,350$17.00501.65
School Bus Monitors$40,170$19.31500.89
Tour and Travel Guides$28,580$13.74501.12
File ClerksNot publishedNot published500.84
Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$45,000$21.64501.14
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$54,610$26.26502.47
Logging Equipment Operators$41,470$19.94503.12
Painters, Construction and Maintenance$38,020$18.28500.28
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,450$29.55500.43
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$63,090$30.33500.99
Conveyor Operators and Tenders$69,370$33.35502.63
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$61,580$29.61400.17
Funeral Home Managers$77,490$37.26404.20
Fundraisers$60,910$29.28400.50
Personal Financial Advisors$116,780$56.14400.20
Financial Specialists, All Other$64,480$31.00400.45
Computer Network Architects$98,470$47.34400.26
Computer Occupations, All Other$100,850$48.49400.12
Surveyors$60,020$28.86401.02
Architectural and Civil Drafters$56,540$27.18400.50
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$74,450$35.79400.53
Chemical Technicians$50,140$24.11400.90
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$89,770$43.16401.54
Commercial and Industrial Designers$74,950$36.03401.47
Dietitians and Nutritionists$76,420$36.74400.68
General Internal Medicine PhysiciansNot publishedNot published400.74
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$65,990$31.73400.79
Bailiffs$41,600$20.00403.10
Private Detectives and Investigators$41,200$19.81401.38
Pest Control Workers$39,150$18.82400.53
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$27,260$13.11400.39
New Accounts Clerks$38,100$18.32401.48
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$46,320$22.27400.55
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$52,760$25.37400.27
Helpers--Electricians$38,110$18.32400.93
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$47,660$22.92401.55
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers$59,280$28.50403.36
Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other$35,430$17.04403.76
Dental Laboratory Technicians$39,740$19.10401.44
Emergency Management Directors$77,210$37.12303.04
Property Appraisers and Assessors$48,280$23.21300.82
Credit AnalystsNot publishedNot published300.63
Database Administrators$69,920$33.62300.58
Marriage and Family Therapists$50,230$24.15300.66
Health Education Specialists$46,810$22.50300.67
Judicial Law Clerks$59,770$28.74303.50
Teachers and Instructors, All Other$73,460Not published300.37
Library Technicians$29,290$14.08300.60
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$80,150$38.53300.95
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$46,390$22.30300.42
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,820$22.99300.70
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$45,580$21.91301.30
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$36,280$17.44Not publishedNot published
Food Batchmakers$55,730$26.79Not publishedNot published
Printing Press Operators$36,270$17.44Not publishedNot published
Recreation Workers$33,010$15.87Not publishedNot published
Rehabilitation Counselors$35,220$16.93Not publishedNot published
Social and Community Service Managers$77,030$37.04Not publishedNot published

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.