Last Updated: May 2026
Virginia RN Salary 2026: What Nurses Earn From Northern VA to Hampton Roads
Quick Answer
Virginia RNs earn $77,720/year ($37.36/hr) on average per BLS OEWS May 2024. The state average understates Northern Virginia, where DC-market wages push Inova nurses to $96,000–$108,000+. Richmond and Hampton Roads nurses average $72,000–$86,000. Virginia is a compact license state, giving nurses access to 40+ states without relicensure.
Virginia Nurse Pay: Two Different Markets
Virginia nursing salary data tells two distinct stories depending on where you look. The Northern Virginia market — Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, and the broader DC metro corridor — operates at DC-level wages. Inova Health System, the largest health system in Northern VA, sets pay that competes directly with MedStar and Georgetown in DC.
The rest of Virginia — Richmond, Hampton Roads, Charlottesville, Roanoke — operates at a significantly different pay level. The statewide BLS mean of $77,720 reflects a blend of these two markets. A nurse choosing between an Inova Fairfax offer and a Bon Secours Richmond offer for the same specialty could see a $15,000–$20,000 annual pay difference.
Virginia's income tax tops out at 5.75% — meaningfully lower than DC (8.5–10.75%) and Maryland (5.75% + county tax). For nurses working in the DC metro, living in Virginia is a common financial optimization that can add $3,000–$8,000 in take-home pay annually on the same gross salary.
Virginia RN Salary by City and Region
Virginia RN Salary by City and Region (2026 Estimates)
| City / Region | Estimated Annual Salary | Estimated Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Virginia (DC Metro — Inova, HCA) | Around $90,000–$103,000/yr | ~$43–$50/hr |
| Richmond (VCU Health, Bon Secours) | Around $76,000–$86,000/yr | ~$37–$41/hr |
| Virginia Beach / Hampton Roads | Around $72,000–$80,000/yr | ~$35–$38/hr |
| Charlottesville (UVA Health) | Around $75,000–$84,000/yr | ~$36–$40/hr |
| Roanoke / Salem (Carilion) | Around $68,000–$76,000/yr | ~$33–$37/hr |
| Lynchburg | Around $66,000–$74,000/yr | ~$32–$36/hr |
| State Average | $77,720/yr (BLS OEWS May 2024) | ~$37.36/hr |
Virginia Hospital RN Salaries by Facility
Virginia Hospital RN Salary Estimates (2026)
| Hospital / System | Estimated Annual Salary | Estimated Hourly Base |
|---|---|---|
| Inova Fairfax Hospital | Around $96,000–$108,000/yr | ~$46–$52/hr base |
| Inova Alexandria Hospital | Around $92,000–$103,000/yr | ~$44–$50/hr base |
| VCU Medical Center (Richmond) | Around $78,000–$90,000/yr | ~$38–$43/hr base |
| UVA Medical Center (Charlottesville) | Around $76,000–$88,000/yr | ~$37–$42/hr base |
| Bon Secours St. Mary's (Richmond) | Around $74,000–$84,000/yr | ~$36–$40/hr base |
| Sentara Norfolk General | Around $72,000–$82,000/yr | ~$35–$39/hr base |
| Carilion Roanoke Memorial | Around $70,000–$79,000/yr | ~$34–$38/hr base |
Virginia vs. Neighboring States: How the Pay Stacks Up
Virginia RN Salary vs. Mid-Atlantic States (BLS OEWS May 2024)
| State | Mean Annual RN Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $89,010/yr (BLS May 2024) | $42.79/hr |
| Maryland | $84,820/yr (BLS May 2024) | $40.78/hr |
| Virginia | $77,720/yr (BLS May 2024) | $37.36/hr |
| North Carolina | $72,970/yr (BLS May 2024) | $35.08/hr |
| West Virginia | $68,950/yr (BLS May 2024) | $33.15/hr |
| Tennessee | $69,560/yr (BLS May 2024) | $33.44/hr |
Virginia sits above North Carolina, West Virginia, and Tennessee — but below Maryland and well below DC-level wages. For nurses in the western or southern parts of the state, Tennessee and NC border markets are close enough that cross-border comparisons are worth running.
What Virginia Nurses Should Know Before Accepting an Offer
- Northern VA vs. the rest of the state. If you are evaluating offers in different VA cities, compare total compensation not just base — Inova in Fairfax pays $15,000–$20,000 more than most Richmond offers for the same specialty and experience level.
- Tax advantage of living in VA vs. working in DC. If offered a DC hospital job, living in Virginia saves 3–5% in state income tax annually. On a $100,000 salary, that is $3,000–$5,000 more in take-home pay with no salary change.
- Compact license value. Virginia is a compact state. Your VA license works in 40+ states — a real advantage for adding travel shifts or relocating without relicensure costs and delays.
- Sign-on bonuses vary widely by region. Northern VA hospitals rarely need large sign-ons — they compete on pay rate. Rural SW Virginia and Appalachian region hospitals regularly offer $10,000–$20,000 sign-ons to recruit nurses from urban markets.
Related Guides
Washington DC RN Salary 2026
DC metro — top 5 nursing market nationally
North Carolina RN Salary 2026
Southern neighbor — compact state comparison
Raleigh RN Salary 2026
Research Triangle — WakeMed, Duke & UNC Rex pay
Negotiation Guide
Scripts and tactics for Virginia hospital offers
📊 Data Methodology
Salary figures on this page are 2026 estimates derived from the most recent available U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data, based on the May 2024 survey and published in March 2025. Estimated ranges may also incorporate publicly available 2025 job postings, hospital pay schedules, regional market conditions, and reported compensation trends.
Official 2026 OEWS wage data has not yet been released. All salary figures on this page should be treated as informational estimates rather than official government statistics or guaranteed compensation rates.
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. SOC 29-1141 (Registered Nurses), Virginia statewide. bls.gov/oes
Virginia Department of Health Professions nursing workforce data; job posting analysis from Inova, VCU Health, Bon Secours, and HCA Virginia career portals, April–May 2026. City-level estimates are derived from BLS MSA data and job posting ranges.
Virginia income tax rates: tax.virginia.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
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