The 25 Highest Paying Jobs in Norfolk, VA (Mar 23)

BOX Truck Owner Operator

A box truck owner-operator is a truck driver who transports cargo and makes deliveries using a truck that they own or lease. A box truck is usually 4 to 7 meters long and has a cargo bay; while these trucks are not semi-trailer trucks, they can be used to hitch additional cargo. Box truck owner-operators contract their equipment and labor to companies in for short or long range shipments.

Nurse Practitioner

Salary range: $87,120-$116,925 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.

Air Traffic Controller

Salary range: $32,097-$114,632 per year

An air traffic controller regulates airborne operations to help keep airspace and airports safe. As an air traffic controller, your job duties are to monitor and direct aircraft from an air traffic control tower; inform pilots about weather conditions, visibility, and flight paths; and regulate aircraft landings and take-offs. You maintain safe skies for pilots, flight crews, and passengers. Your job as an aircraft controller requires excellent concentration skills, attention to detail, and precision as your directions determine the safe passage of many flights.

Engineering

Salary range: $42,184-$110,964 per year

Engineering jobs encompass a range of positions in a variety of technical fields, including mechanical, chemical, electrical, aeronautic, and civil engineering. Some engineering jobs are in research and design, while others focus on the construction and manufacturing industry. In this career, you need a mix of design, project management, and research skills. You can work in numerous industries, including construction, manufacturing, agriculture, medical, aviation, and natural resource extraction. Some jobs are based primarily in an office or lab setting, while others require you to travel to field sites to make surveys and assessments.

Dod Contractor

Salary range: $44,477-$107,754 per year

DoD contractor jobs include a wide variety of positions that supplement the daily activities of the Department of Defense, which is a part of the government of the United States. As part of a private organization, you may provide help to military or intelligence services, help manage civilian contacts, or do almost anything else for which the DoD needs outside people. Roles in this field often focus on security and engineering. For example, a DoD contractor might help install and maintain elevators on military bases or deliver food and other packages. Many DoD contractor positions require you to work on or near military bases and other sensitive facilities, making the majority of them geographically limited roles.

Outpatient Clinic RN

Salary range: $77,950-$99,500 per year

An outpatient clinic RN performs a variety of healthcare duties at an outpatient clinic in a hospital or an ambulatory care center. In an outpatient clinic, a patient does not need to make an appointment to see a nurse or physician. Your specific responsibilities depend on the type of clinic at which you work. For example, if you work at a hospital outpatient facility, you perform medical screenings and diagnostics and collect patient histories, which help you determine the level of care each patient needs. You also provide referral services when you determine if a patient needs to go to a specialist’s office.

Higher Education

Salary range: $44,018-$97,666 per year

Higher education jobs are positions at postsecondary institutions, such as community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and research universities. There are many different kinds of jobs you can get in higher education, such as being an instructor or professor. Professors in academia perform both teaching and research duties, and they may also do some administrative work, such as chairing a department. You can also find purely administrative and support positions in higher education. Some of these include program directors, researchers, clerical workers, tutors, maintenance and facilities workers, and academic counselors.

Biomedical Engineer

Salary range: $56,857-$95,374 per year

A Biomedical Engineer is an expert in the fields of medicine and biological sciences. They use their extensive knowledge base to develop different kinds of equipment and devices with the end goal of improving the effectiveness of patient care. Biomedical Engineers are critical thinkers and analysts. Their time is spent brainstorming solutions to medical problems and designing new devices, such as diagnostic machinery and even equipment for artificial body part generation. It is the job of a Biomedical Engineer to maintain the equipment they develop and to train other clinicians on proper usage and upkeep. In addition to the hands-on aspect of this career, Biomedical Engineers also dedicate time to researching medical dilemmas, studying up on biological discoveries, and assisting in the development of new scientific advances.

House Sitter

Salary range: $28,887-$89,413 per year

A house sitter stays in or visits a home while the owners are away for an extended period. Some house sitting jobs can be for any amount of time, from one night to several months. Some house sitters may only visit the home in their care during the day to collect mail and ensure the house is in good order for the homeowner’s return. Others stay overnight at the property, watering plants, caring for pets, performing maintenance, and keeping the home in good order. A house sitting gig is a great way to make some extra income and can save you money if you need short-term housing. Professional house sitters may work through a company or as individual freelancers by privately responding to listings.

Dental Hygienist

Salary range: $64,194-$85,286 per year

Dental hygienists are licensed dental professionals who work alongside dentists to provide oral healthcare and educate patients about oral hygiene. They perform maintenance cleanings, administer fluoride and polish, and teach patients how to care for their teeth properly.

Flight Attendant

Salary range: $35,306-$84,369 per year

Flight Attendants do more than serve meals and drinks to passengers. Before the aircraft takes off, flight attendants attend a pre-flight briefing to receive all vital information about the flight. They must check the food supply and emergency equipment to make sure amounts are sufficient and everything is in place. They then greet passengers as they enter the aircraft, ensure luggage is stowed properly, and make sure passengers are in the correct seats. During the flight, they instruct passengers on safety and serve refreshments. In the event of an emergency, flight attendants play a significant role in evacuating the plane and maintaining passenger safety.

Public Health

Salary range: $43,101-$77,950 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.

Office RN

Salary range: $58,691-$73,823 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.

Fashion Model

Salary range: $28,887-$69,696 per year

A fashion model wears clothing, jewelry, and accessories for retail display or marketing. In this job, your responsibilities include attending photo shoots and fashion shows, showcasing various looks and style created by the designer, and promoting different businesses and their products according to their brand. As a runway model, you may be required to meet specific physical standards, but the modeling industry—especially print and internet marketing—includes many body types and ethnicities.

Nursing

Salary range: $37,140-$68,320 per year

Nursing jobs encompass a number of positions in the health care industry. There are several levels, including registered nurses (RNs), nurse practitioners, and nurse assistants. Each position has different duties and functions. RNs are responsible for much of a patient’s primary care, including educating them on health and wellbeing, managing disease, recommending alternate treatments, and providing emotional support. Nurse practitioners have additional duties and specializations, such as midwifery and assisting in anesthesiology, which require high levels of education and training.

Local Truck Driver

Salary range: $38,057-$56,857 per year

Local Truck Driver jobs are not very different from their heavy-duty counterparts. Instead of driving long hauls overnight to deliver cargo or goods, Local Truck Driver work within a set regional area. The benefits of this kind of position is a more traditional schedule in which the driver can be home at set times every night instead of on the road for several days at a time. In this role, you usually operate box trucks or vehicles of a similar size instead of large tractor-trailers. Local Truck Driver responsibilities include loading and unloading cargo, making deliveries, and tracking and documenting their mileage and inventory.

Personal Trainer

Salary range: $33,931-$54,565 per year

Personal Trainers are fitness professionals who are certified and educated in the fields of health and fitness. They help their clients reach their fitness goals by motivating them, teaching them proper techniques, and holding them accountable to their fitness and health goals. They also may keep data on their clients’ progress. Personal Trainers often work in fitness centers and gyms, community centers, and even corporate settings.

CAR Salesman

Salary range: $22,009-$50,438 per year

Car Salesmen assist customers in selecting and purchasing a vehicle that best suits their needs. A Car Salesmen is a key team member at any car dealership, facilitating all aspects of a car sale, from greeting the customer to closing the deal. They explain car features and warranty programs, administer test drives, and complete paperwork for car sales. Some Car Salesmen are also required to schedule car deliveries and maintenance checks, attend meetings, adhere to sales and business goals, and create marketing items.

Photographer

Salary range: $25,219-$45,852 per year

Professional photographers capture moments using cameras and other equipment. They often take pictures of people, but they also photograph outdoor locations, artwork, animals, and a wide range of other subjects. Photographers may take pictures for their own use, or they may be hired by individuals, groups, or companies. Before the photo shoot, professional photographers offer advice about locations, settings, and poses based on their expertise. Standard tools used by a photographer include a camera, tripod, different types of camera lenses, photo editing software, and backdrops. Professional photographers may work independently on a contract basis, or they may work for a company or agency as a staff photographer.

Park Ranger

Salary range: $28,428-$45,394 per year

Park rangers often work for federal or state governments and are responsible for caring for and protecting woodlands, forests and conservatories. Most of their days are spent outdoors patrolling campgrounds, trails, and various park areas. Park rangers sometimes give tours and answer questions from guests and visitors in the park. They also play a key role in search and rescue missions when needed.

DATA Entry

Salary range: $25,677-$44,477 per year

Data entry jobs involve typing information into electronic formats, whether that’s word processing, spreadsheets, or specific software. It’s a great career option for detail-oriented people—or even those who prefer to work remotely from home. Data entry jobs typically use a computer to enter data or information, often from a hard-copy paper format, into a software application. Some positions may include scanning documents and using optical character recognition or OCR. Some examples of data entry job duties include transcribing, updating customer information, and entering accounting records.

YARD Jockey

Salary range: $31,638-$39,433 per year

As a yard jockey, your job is to operate a terminal tractor, also known as a yard jockey or yard dog, and help move semi-trailers within a cargo yard or warehouse environment. As a driver, you may help inspect containers, manage equipment, and otherwise ensure the safe and smooth maneuvering of all trailers. On rare occasions, you may use other warehouse equipment to help transport goods, but most yard jockeys focus entirely on moving semi-trailers.

Phlebotomist

Salary range: $27,970-$38,057 per year

Phlebotomists are medical professionals who draw blood and collect other samples for testing or donation. The samples are then sent to a medical lab for analysis; physicians use the results to diagnose conditions such as chronic disease, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Due to the high risk of spreading infection when handling blood and other tissue, Phlebotomists must ensure they wear gloves and that all their equipment is sterile. As a Phlebotomist, you need to cross-check all your labels to make sure they are accurate and match the patient. You may work with patients of many different ages—from newborns to elderly patients—so you should be friendly and learn how to interact well with all types of people.

Customer Service

Salary range: $22,926-$36,223 per year

Customer service jobs are positions at companies and organizations where you address any customer complaint or problem, provide technical help when customers are having issues with their product or service, and seek a resolution to any issues either through your own ability to solve the problem or by passing on complaints and issues to your superiors. Some customer service jobs are in call centers, while other professionals work at customer service desks in department stores or grocery stores. Your duties in these positions can vary based on the industry and the location. For example, a software support specialist at a call center has a very different job than a help desk associate at a department store.

DOG Walker

Salary range: $22,926-$34,389 per year

Dog Walkers are hired by pet owners to take one or more dogs for walks. Pet owners often hire Dog Walkers during times when they are too busy to give their dogs the proper amount of exercise, if they are working extended hours, or going out of town. As a pet care professional, you need to know how to handle potential health problems or sudden aggression issues in your canine clients. You also must understand how to communicate well with pet owners and discuss any concerns you may observe during your walks. Your dog walking jobs allow you to interact with various dog breeds and dogs of all ages and personalities.

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

The top jobs in the Norfolk area can pay up to $167,821 per year

High Paying Norfolk Jobs