The 25 Highest Paying Jobs in Fairfax, VA (Sep 23)

Nurse Practitioner

Salary range: $112,700-$152,100 per year

Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with additional responsibilities including prescribing medication, examining patients, diagnosing illnesses, and providing treatment, much as physicians do. Nurse practitioners are educated and trained to provide health care services, such as the diagnosis and treatment of acute illness and chronic conditions.

Sonographer

Salary range: $93,700-$143,400 per year

A sonographer (also referred to as a diagnostic medical sonographer) administers ultrasounds. The sonographer sets up the sonography equipment, performs the diagnostic ultrasound, then shares the findings with the physician. In most cases, the sonographer will also communicate the findings to the patient. Sonographers most frequently administer ultrasounds to provide updates on fetal development, but may also administer the ultrasound for other purposes. Regular duties in this role include analyzing the ultrasound images, reviewing patient health history, and preparing the examination room.

Pharmacist

Salary range: $111,600-$139,800 per year

A Pharmacist fills orders for prescription medications and instructs patients on how to take them. They may work in community or hospital pharmacies, universities, prisons, or for pharmaceutical companies. Pharmacists are responsible for monitoring patient prescriptions to ensure there are no drug interactions or other impacts on existing conditions. They inform patients of potential side effects and may offer immunizations, and should also be aware of the potential for prescription drug abuse. Pharmacists also need to understand insurance coding and how to process claims for patients. Outside of a pharmacy, they may work in other healthcare locations providing patients with medicinal and wellness information.

Data Scientist

Salary range: $106,500-$139,300 per year

Data scientists collect, confirm, and interpret data to determine useful information for their employer. They help organizations identify patterns and trends in their data to provide information about lucrative opportunities, necessary improvements, and potential innovations. The information data scientists get from the records they gather helps businesses make major decisions in critical areas, such as product development, sales and marketing techniques, and client retention. Data scientists are highly educated; the majority of them have at least a master's degrees, and many have doctorates. Data scientists are valuable members of organizations in many different industries, including pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and banking.

Scrum Master

Salary range: $101,900-$138,300 per year

A scrum master is an information technology (IT) professional who helps manage information exchange among their team in an Agile environment. A scrum master is not the leader of a team. They are the facilitator of exchanges and interactions with the team. They help build consensus regarding next steps on the team, keep everyone on task following the agreed upon rules, and do everything they can to maximize the team’s performance.

Attorney

Salary range: $73,700-$135,700 per year

Attorneys perform a variety of legal tasks on behalf of their clients. In this career, you advise your clients on the intricacies of the law and how it may affect them personally or how it may affect their business. You also perform complex legal research in preparation for a case or arbitration. You conduct interviews, review case law, and prepare oral arguments. Attorneys work in a variety of specific fields, including criminal law, constitutional law, corporate law, and environmental law, to name just a few. You can work for a law firm or as a legal advocate for an organization.

Clinical Psychologist

Salary range: $100,900-$125,500 per year

A clinical psychologist works in the mental health field, usually in a clinic, directly diagnosing, treating, and helping patients, in both group settings and individually, with mental disorders. Clinical psychologists specialize in abnormal psychology. Typically, a clinical psychologist does not and cannot prescribe medication. Psychiatrists, by law, are able to prescribe psychiatric medication, however, new laws have been passed in a number of states that allow some clinical psychologists to prescribe medication. A clinical psychologist’s primary objective is to understand the patient and help them recover from their struggles and problems. They use the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) to guide and reinforce their diagnoses, and subsequent treatment plans. Clinical psychologists have to tailor treatment to the individual patient since each person has unique needs and will respond differently to therapies and coping tools.

Physical Therapist

Salary range: $84,000-$111,100 per year

Physical therapists, or PTs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, help injured clients with mobility and pain management. Individuals in need of rehabilitation or those who suffer from chronic conditions rely on PTs to improve their range of motion, strengthen injured muscles, and correct alignment issues. Physical therapists should have a thorough knowledge of a patient's medical history and should be in frequent communication with the patient’s primary care physician. It is also their job to track patient progress, modify treatment plans, and educate the patient’s family on stretches and other aftercare.

Medical Technologist

Salary range: $47,600-$109,600 per year

A medical technologist analyzes biological samples like blood or tissue to assist physicians in diagnosing and treating patients. They run medical tests using laboratory equipment to gather patient data. Medical technologists may perform specialized testing in areas such as immunology and microbiology. Their duties include studying cell or blood samples, collecting results, and consulting with physicians on their findings.

Rn

Salary range: $69,700-$109,100 per year

An RN, short for Registered Nurse, works closely with doctors to provide patient care for illnesses and injuries. RNs are often the first medical professional the patient sees when entering a health care facility. As an RN, you can ask the patient questions and document their health history, but you are not allowed to diagnose patients; after the doctor or other supervising health care professional has determined what problem needs to be treated, you help administer treatment. Your job duties may include administering medications, checking patient vital signs, and charting medical records. RNs also advise patients and families about at-home care for medical conditions as well as disease prevention.

Public Health

Salary range: $58,900-$88,600 per year

Public health encompasses the study of factors that influence people’s health and promote preventative care. Its research focuses on how to keep residents safe and healthy. The public health sector is comprised of many different roles, and includes doctors, nurses, researchers, lab technicians, social workers, administrators. Public relations and marketing professionals also work in public health to educate the public on new health care research and healthy lifestyle choices. The primary goal of all public health employees is to find the best ways to promote information that protects the wellbeing of the community-at-large.

Russian Teacher

Salary range: $43,000-$87,100 per year

A Russian teacher provides instruction to students who are interested in learning the Russian language and culture. Their job duties include preparing and implementing lesson plans, facilitating interactive speaking and listening activities for students, evaluating student progress through tests and quizzes, and providing feedback. One of the primary goals of a Russian teacher is to transform non-native speakers of Russian into competent speakers of the language. Most Russian teachers work at the high school or university levels.

Office Rn

Salary range: $55,300-$78,900 per year

Office RNs work in a medical office or clinic setting, treating patients and assisting physicians. As an office registered nurse, you perform patient assessments, record vitals, and update patient records. You work with a doctor to provide education on procedures, answering questions and arranging for follow-ups visits. As an RN in a medical office, you tend to have the most face-to-face time with a patient. Your responsibilities include data entry, providing basic care, and helping patients understand and follow the doctor’s orders.

Lpn

Salary range: $51,200-$71,200 per year

A Licensed Practical Nurse, or LPN, is a Nurse who performs patient care and administrative tasks. They work under the supervision of Registered Nurses and doctors. Some of the responsibilities of an LPN include, administiring medications, changing bandages, monitoring and documenting the patients health, supervising nursing aids, and providing emotional support to patients and their families. LPNs generally work in traditional health care settings like hospitals, nursing homes, and group homes. They can also work in private homes if needed.

Warehousing

Salary range: $45,600-$68,600 per year

Warehousing jobs encompass a number of jobs related to operating and working in a warehouse. Positions include receiving clerks, shipping managers, logistics specialists, processing supervisors and managers, and transportation workers. All of these positions ensure that the shipping and receiving of goods happens safely and efficiently. Many warehouse workers perform several different roles at once, such as performing inventory checks and moving boxes from one part of the warehouse to another. You may also be responsible for loading products and transporting them to customers.

Paralegal

Salary range: $46,600-$67,600 per year

A Paralegal works alongside Lawyers and has a knowledge of legal matters, but is not qualified to practice law. Paralegals provide a wide range of legal assistance and support to Attorneys in law firms, performing duties before, during, and after trials. On a given day, a Paralegal may spend time drafting legal documents, organizing files, and taking notes and transcripts for the attorneys they work for. They are often called upon to participate in trial research by interviewing witnesses, arranging evidence, and preparing exhibits. Paralegals must stay current on relevant laws, regulations, and legal articles in order to better assist their Attorneys.

Graphic Designer

Salary range: $41,000-$66,600 per year

A graphic designer creates visual designs using digital illustrations, images, and typography. Their visual concepts communicate a message that informs, inspires, or captivates customers. Graphic designers help organizations form their brand and express a particular identity or idea for promotional and advertising material. They are skilled in the manipulation of colors, shapes, fonts, images, photography, print design, logos, and animation, and may use computer software or draw by hand. Additionally, they collaborate with multimedia animators, artists, and other creative types to bring visual concepts to life. Examples of their work include layout and design for brochures, corporate reports, magazines, advertisements, and billboards. Graphic designers may work for a design agency, on the staff of a company, or they may choose to be self-employed and seek out their own clients.

Tutor

Salary range: $31,200-$60,900 per year

Tutors help students work through tough assignments or support the lessons from their classroom teachings. A student may not grasp something in a hectic classroom but excel when learning from a tutor in a one-on-one environment. Online tutors can reach students across the world, and private after-school tutors can help a child through a tricky math problem. Tutors can be students themselves in peer programs, teachers or teacher assistants, or educated degree-holders who wish to help students succeed.

Accounting

Salary range: $38,900-$51,200 per year

Accounting jobs constitute any role in which you prepare taxes, financial statements, and other official documentation related to financial reporting. As an accountant, you are responsible for ensuring that all records contain accurate information and that you make all tax and other payments in a timely fashion. While many accountants specialize in personal finance, you may be asked to audit a company’s financial records to ensure that the business is running smoothly and efficiently. If you find issues, you report your findings and make recommendations for how to improve company or organizational efficiency. You can also work in financial forensics and search for financial malfeasances, such as tax fraud or embezzlement.

Golf

Salary range: $30,700-$50,700 per year

Golf jobs encompass a wide range of positions related to the sport of golf. There are retail and equipment jobs, such a club or driver fitters and pro shop managers. You can also train others in basic golf skills as a private instructor, coach, or club pro. Golf course maintenance work is also a significant field within the golf industry, so you can find work as a groundskeeper, course designer, or landscape designer. Golf course administrators, such as tournament directors and course executives, have duties related to reviewing club membership applications, fundraising, and organizing PGA and local tournaments.

Receptionist

Salary range: $30,700-$41,500 per year

Receptionists work in an administrative role in an office or other setting. They greet clients, patients, vendors, or anyone else who enters the company’s office or facility. The Receptionist is typically the first person you see representing the company, so part of their job is to make a good impression on everyone they meet. They also answer phones and other administrative tasks. Specific job duties depend upon the industry in which they are employed.

Medical Scribe

Salary range: $28,700-$40,500 per year

A Medical Scribe provides clerical support to doctors, a similar role to a personal assistant, but with a focus on transcription. A Medical Scribe performs many tasks to make a doctor’s job easier. For example, a Medical Scribe will collect patient health information before scheduled visits so the doctor can prepare for upcoming appointments. During medical visits and procedures, a Medical Scribe documents the details of the encounter as well as new health data in the patient’s Electronic Health Record (EHR).

Medical Receptionist

Salary range: $32,800-$39,900 per year

Medical Receptionists are the front desk workers at doctor’s offices, clinics, hospitals, and other health care facilities. They are responsible for checking in patients, ensuring health insurance and all information is updated, scheduling appointments, answering questions, and handling co-pays and billing. In addition to managing patient check-ins, they are also responsible for filing and organizing patient documentation.

Medical Courier

Salary range: $33,800-$39,400 per year

As a medical courier, your responsibilities are to transport lab specimens and other products and equipment between laboratories, medical facilities, and suppliers. You pick up organs or other items that have special transportation needs, examine medical records, deliver products within a time limit, and perform a variety of other tasks to ensure pharmaceutical companies have what they need. You may also use vehicles like pickup trucks or vans to transport pharmaceuticals, X-rays, office mail, and related materials. Other duties include driving in varying weather conditions, using a scanner to track items, and conducting vehicle inspections. Some medical couriers use specialized vehicles or travel long distances with specimens, devices, or organs.

Caregiver

Salary range: $28,700-$36,400 per year

Caregivers are professionals who help clients that cannot care for themselves, oftentimes with non-medical needs. Typical Caregiving responsibilities include tasks such as running errands, helping with personal hygiene, and working on mobility and exercise, but specific duties depend on the client and type of assistance needed. For example, an in-home Caregiver might focus on non-medical care, such as companionship, meal preparation, and light cleaning and organizing. Caregivers may work in client homes or in assisted living facilities. Ultimately, the focus of a Caregiver is to improve the quality of life of the client.

25 of the Highest Paying Jobs in Fairfax, VA for 2023

The top jobs in the Fairfax area can pay up to $152,100 per year

High Paying Fairfax Jobs