Suffolk Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Suffolk, VA: $23.76/hr median hourly wage, $49,430 median annual salary, cost of living index 96, and $12.41/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Virginia taxes.
Suffolk Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Suffolk, VA is $23.76/hr,and the median annual wage is $49,430. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.73/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $33.74/hr, and the local minimum wage is $12.41/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metropolitan statistical area (763,060 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Suffolk shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$49,430
$23.76/hr
Cost of Living
96
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$12.41
per hour
Unemployment
3%
rate
Suffolk, VA Overview
Population
94,324
Median Salary
$49,430
Average Salary
$64,130
Avg Commute
28 min
Median Home Price
$280,000
Median Rent
$1,200/mo
Job Growth
+2%
Sales Tax
6%
Suffolk is located in Virginia with a population of 94,324. The median annual wage across all occupations is $49,430 ($23.76/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro), which is $1,550 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 28 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2%.
Suffolk Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Suffolk, VA built around the $49,430 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $30,647 | $14.73/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $49,430 | $23.76/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $70,191 | $33.74/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $87,985 | $42.29/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Suffolk Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Suffolk, VA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$39,815
$3,317.95/month · $1,531.36/biweekly · Effective Rate: 19.5%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,531.36 take-home per paycheck after estimated Virginia and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$49,430
Federal Tax
-$3,752
State Tax
-$2,082
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,781
Net Pay
$39,815
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,119.17 | $49,430.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$312.63 | -$3,751.60 |
| Virginia State Tax (4.21% eff.) | -$173.47 | -$2,081.60 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$255.39 | -$3,064.66 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$59.73 | -$716.74 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,317.95 | $39,815.41 |
Salary Comparison: Suffolk vs Other Cities
See how Suffolk's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk, VA | $49,430 | 96 | $51,490 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $49,430 | 105 | $47,076 |
| Chesapeake, VA | $49,430 | 100 | $49,430 |
| Norfolk, VA | $49,430 | 96 | $51,490 |
| Newport News, VA | $49,430 | 94 | $52,585 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Suffolk
Suffolk's cost of living index is 96 (national average = 100). Living in Suffolk is 4% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$280,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Annual Rent Cost
$14,400
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $39,815 annual take-home pay in Suffolk has the purchasing power of approximately $41,474 in an average-cost US area. Your $49,430 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Suffolk
Suffolk's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $49,430.
Salary Tips for Suffolk Workers
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a top 5.75% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. Suffolk's top industries include Military, Agriculture, Healthcare. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $49,430 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Other Cities in Virginia
Tuckahoe
Virginia Beach
West Falls Church
West Springfield
Winchester
Woodbridge
Alexandria
Annandale
Arlington
Ashburn
Blacksburg
Burke
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Suffolk salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Suffolk indexed at 96.
- Median salary: $49,430 annual, $23.76 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA (763,060 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $64,130 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Suffolk was $62,000.
- Tax burden reflects Virginia 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 5.75%) (no local income tax), sales tax (6%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Suffolk: 3%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Military, Agriculture, Healthcare, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Virginia.
- Housing context: median home price $280,000, median rent $1,200/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Suffolk, VA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Suffolk unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Suffolk QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Virginia, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Suffolk's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Virginia labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Suffolk, VA?
The median hourly wage in Suffolk, VA is $23.76 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $49,430. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.73/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $33.74/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Suffolk, VA?
The median salary in Suffolk, VA is $49,430 per year, or $23.76 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area). The BLS mean salary is $64,130. This is $1,550 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Suffolk, VA?
Suffolk's cost of living index is 96 (national average = 100), meaning it is 4% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $280,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,200.
What are the best industries in Suffolk?
The top industries in Suffolk, VA include Military, Agriculture, Healthcare. The city has a job growth rate of 2% and an unemployment rate of 3%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $49,430.
How does Suffolk's salary compare to other cities?
Suffolk's median salary of $49,430 is 3.0% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 96), the real purchasing power is approximately $51,490.
What is the minimum wage in Suffolk, VA?
The minimum wage in Suffolk, VA is $12.41 per hour. This equals approximately $25,813 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $5.16 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.