Jobs, pay and daily life in Charlottesville, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Charlottesville is a city in Virginia with 45,437 residents. The median household earns $74,824 a year and the median rent is $1,540 a month, which is 24.7% of the median household income. It is part of the Charlottesville, VA metropolitan area, where BLS counts 114,780 jobs.
How Charlottesville compares. Among the 100 largest places in Virginia, Charlottesville is #23 by population, #4 for long commutes (#1 = fewest), #86 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #77 for household income (#1 = highest). Its county, Charlottesville City, is #13 of 133 counties for average pay ($71,984).
Charlottesville has 45,437 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.5% of the population of Virginia. It covers 10 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 4,435 people per square mile. The median age is 33.1, 15% younger than the state median (33.1 against 39.0).
The median gross rent is $1,540 a month (rent plus utilities), about the same as the state median ($1,540 against $1,579). Over a year that is 24.7% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $486,700, which is 6.5 times the median household income ($74,824); a ratio above 5 usually means buying is out of reach without savings or a second income. 44.2% of households own their home, 34% below the state average (44.2% against 67.3%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.
The Charlottesville, VA metropolitan area has 114,780 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $55,180 a year, 8% above the national median ($55,180 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are educational instruction and library (12,190 jobs, median $73,840); office and administrative support (11,030 jobs, median $47,380); food preparation and serving related (10,840 jobs, median $36,010). The area is most specialised in educational instruction and library (1.8 times) and healthcare practitioners and technical (1.2 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are healthcare practitioners and technical ($99,530) and business and financial operations ($80,180). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Charlottesville City was 3.0%. 64.5% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Charlottesville City; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 53.1% drive alone, 5.6% use public transit, 11.3% walk, 21.4% work from home. 5.3% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 70% below the state average (5.3% against 17.6%).
62.5% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 48% above the state share (62.5% against 42.2%). 10.6% of residents were born outside the United States, 20% below the state share (10.6% against 13.1%). The poverty rate is 19.6%, 99% above the state rate (19.6% against 9.9%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 77°F (24.9°C), and the coolest is Jan at 32°F (0.0°C). About 1,095 mm (43 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; May is the wettest month (113 mm) and Jan the driest (65 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Waynesboro (23 miles, rent 34% lower); Staunton (32 miles, rent 34% lower); Harrisonburg (35 miles, rent 23% lower); Culpeper (40 miles, rent 8% lower). Rent differences are against Charlottesville; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Virginia (1,132) →State guide: VirginiaCountry guideCharlottesville CityVirginia rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 1,132 federal postings open in Virginia (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in Virginia →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 3,040 | 1.22 | $99,320 | $67,830 | $142,560 | +2% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 2,800 | 0.98 | $30,150 | $27,610 | $37,880 | -3% |
| Retail Salespersons | 2,540 | 0.88 | $34,210 | $28,090 | $46,560 | -3% |
| General and Operations Managers | 2,530 | 0.98 | $107,200 | $54,990 | $224,860 | +1% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 2,140 | 1.28 | $44,030 | $28,700 | $77,230 | +25% |
| Cashiers | 2,110 | 0.92 | $30,930 | $28,010 | $37,590 | -6% |
| Office Clerks, General | 2,080 | 1.14 | $45,620 | $33,950 | $66,320 | +1% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 1,970 | 0.62 | $29,700 | $27,310 | $38,330 | -17% |
| Nursing Assistants | 1,610 | 1.51 | $44,140 | $34,490 | $51,960 | +4% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,530 | 0.73 | $35,710 | $29,900 | $46,350 | -4% |
| Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 1,470 | 2.31 | $34,940 | $29,690 | $39,080 | -2% |
| Software Developers | 1,390 | 1.12 | $128,520 | $81,200 | $196,240 | -5% |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 1,370 | 1.32 | $36,960 | $29,930 | $45,460 | -1% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 1,200 | 0.74 | $36,090 | $29,010 | $46,860 | -2% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 1,160 | 0.92 | $53,100 | $37,670 | $63,450 | +12% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 1,130 | 0.59 | $40,240 | $31,440 | $62,490 | -10% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 1,100 | 1.03 | $81,530 | $59,030 | $130,000 | -3% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 1,060 | 0.94 | $48,170 | $34,910 | $65,490 | -3% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,040 | 1.01 | $60,770 | $47,490 | $77,670 | -5% |
| Project Management Specialists | 1,010 | 1.29 | $97,680 | $62,880 | $162,900 | -5% |
These figures are for the whole Charlottesville, VA metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $55,180 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.2% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 41.5% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 15.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 9.6% |
| Retail trade | 7.2% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 4.9% |
| Other services | 4.6% |
| Manufacturing | 3.6% |
| Construction | 3.3% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 3.3% |
| Public administration | 3.0% |
| Information | 2.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 0.6% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.4% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Charlottesville lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville City | 45,437 | n/a | n/a | 36,641 | 2,587 | $71,984 | -0.2% | 3.0% | 24,867 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 5,599 | 21.1% | $29,223 | 1.68 |
| Health care and social assistance | 3,728 | 14.0% | $113,635 | 0.71 |
| Retail trade | 2,768 | 10.4% | $34,714 | 0.76 |
| Professional and technical services | 2,624 | 9.9% | $109,519 | 1.03 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 1,997 | 7.5% | $63,084 | 1.81 |
| Administrative and waste services | 1,950 | 7.3% | $52,990 | 0.90 |
| Construction | 1,355 | 5.1% | $75,437 | 0.70 |
| Finance and insurance | 1,345 | 5.1% | $152,063 | 0.90 |
| Educational services | 928 | 3.5% | $61,683 | 1.22 |
| Manufacturing | 913 | 3.4% | $59,480 | 0.30 |
| Wholesale trade | 775 | 2.9% | $87,381 | 0.54 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 744 | 2.8% | $33,570 | 1.21 |
| Information | 706 | 2.7% | $134,599 | 1.03 |
| Real estate and rental | 581 | 2.2% | $71,198 | 1.02 |
| Management of companies | 546 | 2.1% | $129,209 | 0.88 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 53.1% |
| Public transit | 5.6% |
| Walk | 11.3% |
| Work from home | 21.4% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 5.3% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $74,824 |
| Income per person | $51,540 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,540 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 24.7% |
| Median home value | $486,700 |
| Homeowners | 44.2% |
| Poverty rate | 19.6% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 99.1 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $55,180 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Graduated, top rate 5.75%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 33.1 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 93.5% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 62.5% |
| Born abroad | 10.6% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 64.5% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.0 | 32 | 65 |
| Feb | 1.5 | 35 | 66 |
| Mar | 6.2 | 43 | 81 |
| Apr | 12.4 | 54 | 93 |
| May | 17.6 | 64 | 113 |
| Jun | 22.5 | 72 | 106 |
| Jul | 24.9 | 77 | 99 |
| Aug | 24.2 | 76 | 99 |
| Sep | 20.2 | 68 | 109 |
| Oct | 13.4 | 56 | 95 |
| Nov | 7.0 | 45 | 83 |
| Dec | 2.2 | 36 | 86 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waynesboro | VA | 23 mi | 22,841 | $59,994 | $1,020 |
| Staunton | VA | 32 mi | 25,948 | $65,581 | $1,024 |
| Harrisonburg | VA | 35 mi | 51,392 | $62,254 | $1,184 |
| Culpeper | VA | 40 mi | 20,794 | $94,721 | $1,416 |
| Short Pump | VA | 54 mi | 29,026 | $138,845 | $1,847 |
| Fredericksburg | VA | 57 mi | 28,873 | $86,071 | $1,619 |
| Tuckahoe | VA | 58 mi | 49,183 | $102,264 | $1,536 |
| Lynchburg | VA | 59 mi | 79,497 | $57,947 | $1,073 |
| Midlothian | VA | 60 mi | 19,120 | $110,084 | $1,760 |
| Laurel | VA | 60 mi | 18,721 | $73,609 | $1,616 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
45,437 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,540 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 24.7% of the median household income.
$74,824 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.0% (BLS county, Charlottesville City (latest month 2026M09)).
Virginia. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.