StateRates

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford salaries

The median worker in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA metro area earned $47,700 a year in 2024, about $22.94 an hour. That ranks #153 of the 391 metro areas published here, 3.6% below the national median.

Virginia

Median pay $47,700 $22.94 per hour
Vs national -3.6% U.S. $49,500
Workers 74,400 wage and salary
Metro rank #153 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford pays 10% less than Virginia as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 3.72× 2,610 $49,060
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors 3.45× 730 $51,630
Construction Laborers 1.86× 950 $39,520
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 1.59× 530 $74,350
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers 1.57× 610 $62,600
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1.38× 570 $28,900
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 1.3× 960 $48,230
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1.22× 1,290 $30,040
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 1.21× 1,020 $39,970
Fast Food and Counter Workers 1.17× 2,130 $26,690
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers 1.13× 610 $45,950
Nursing Assistants 1.12× 750 $37,150

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Financial Managers $134,410 $64.62 200
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary $130,680 n/a 220
Software Developers $103,110 $49.57 580
Medical and Health Services Managers $102,230 $49.15 200
Business Teachers, Postsecondary $101,510 n/a 260
General and Operations Managers $95,290 $45.81 1,260
Project Management Specialists $87,250 $41.95 430
Industrial Engineers $85,510 $41.11 410
Management Analysts $82,280 $39.56 240
Registered Nurses $81,430 $39.15 1,190
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $77,100 $37.07 400
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $74,350 $35.74 530
Accountants and Auditors $67,490 $32.45 490
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $67,160 $32.29 280
Training and Development Specialists $65,950 $31.71 220
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $65,270 $31.38 300
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $63,680 n/a 460
Human Resources Specialists $63,580 $30.57 360
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $63,270 $30.42 350
Buyers and Purchasing Agents $63,140 $30.36 260
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $62,800 $30.19 210
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $62,600 $30.10 610
Machinists $61,970 $29.79 240
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $61,930 $29.78 330
Coaches and Scouts $61,280 n/a 250
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $58,770 n/a 240
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $58,510 $28.13 320
Electricians $58,390 $28.07 300
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $57,140 $27.47 440
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $57,030 $27.42 720
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $56,770 n/a 660
Computer User Support Specialists $54,580 $26.24 320
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $54,350 $26.13 470
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $53,960 $25.94 220
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors $51,630 $24.82 730
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $50,750 $24.40 210
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $50,140 $24.11 300
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,540 $23.82 1,010
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $49,470 $23.78 300
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $49,060 $23.59 2,610
Biological Technicians $48,910 $23.52 260
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $48,700 $23.42 420
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $48,450 $23.29 760
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders $48,380 $23.26 250
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $48,230 $23.19 960
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $47,450 $22.81 370
Carpenters $46,450 $22.33 330
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $46,280 $22.25 440
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $45,950 $22.09 610
Bus Drivers, School $45,820 $22.03 280
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $45,070 $21.67 1,210
Office Clerks, General $40,960 $19.69 1,290
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $39,970 $19.22 1,020
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $39,560 $19.02 490
Construction Laborers $39,520 $19.00 950
Pharmacy Technicians $39,430 $18.96 280
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks $39,310 $18.90 380
Medical Assistants $38,400 $18.46 210
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,090 $18.31 550
Bartenders $37,730 $18.14 310

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 2,610 $49,060 $23.59
Fast Food and Counter Workers 2,130 $26,690 $12.83
Retail Salespersons 1,710 $30,220 $14.53
Cashiers 1,650 $27,990 $13.46
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,460 $33,310 $16.01
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1,290 $30,040 $14.44
Office Clerks, General 1,290 $40,960 $19.69
General and Operations Managers 1,260 $95,290 $45.81
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1,210 $45,070 $21.67
Registered Nurses 1,190 $81,430 $39.15
Waiters and Waitresses 1,120 $35,150 $16.90
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 1,020 $39,970 $19.22
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1,010 $49,540 $23.82
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 970 $27,650 $13.29
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 960 $48,230 $23.19
Construction Laborers 950 $39,520 $19.00
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks 760 $48,450 $23.29
Nursing Assistants 750 $37,150 $17.86
Cooks, Restaurant 740 $35,100 $16.88
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors 730 $51,630 $24.82

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Virginia metro areas

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?

The median across all occupations is $47,700, or $22.94 an hour, covering 74,400 wage and salary workers. The mean is $58,980, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford pay more than the rest of Virginia?

No. The metro median of $47,700 is 10% below the Virginia median of $53,020. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?

Financial Managers ($134,410), Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary ($130,680), Software Developers ($103,110). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford unusually full of?

Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators, at 3.72× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.