Teacher Salary in Virginia: $69K Median

The average Teacher salary in Virginia is $69,048 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $51,739 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $108,353 (90th percentile). State income tax applies.

Teachers in Virginia earn approximately 6% more than the US national median ($65,140 nationally vs $69,048 in Virginia). Virginia's cost-of-living index of 104 is close to the national average.

Yes — Teacher salaries in Virginia grew approximately 300.0% year-over-year, from $17,262 in 2025 to $69,048 in 2026. This reflects the broader Education sector's wage growth, driven by Special education and ESL/ELL demand.

Top-paying Virginia metros for Teachers: Virginia Beach ($64K). Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay.

Teacher demand stable nationally with severe shortages in special education, ESL, math, and science. Many districts offer signing bonuses up to $10K. Virginia's top industries include Government/Defense, Tech (Data Centers), Shipbuilding, and the state's unemployment rate is 3.3% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.

Yes, Virginia has state income tax. This affects take-home pay — at $69,048, expect 4-7% effective state tax depending on filing status. See city pages for detailed take-home calculations.

Hottest 2026 skills: Special education, ESL/ELL, EdTech tools, STEM/STEAM, Trauma-informed teaching. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with Virginia employers.

With my [specialty] endorsement and master's, I should be placed at step X on the salary schedule. Can you also confirm the signing-bonus and loan-forgiveness eligibility in writing? Beyond base, negotiate: Signing bonus for shortage-area subjects ($2K-$10K), Tuition reimbursement and step credit for advanced degrees, Loan forgiveness (PSLF, Teacher Loan Forgiveness), Pension eligibility and vesting timeline. Walk-away anchor for Virginia: $65,760.