Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Computer Network Architects salary really buy you in Virginia?
Virginia is 2.1% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Virginia's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.1, meaning prices are 2.1% higher the national average. A Computer Network Architects earning $141,340 in Virginia has the equivalent purchasing power of $138,432 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $85,050 | $83,300 | $-1,749 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $109,760 | $107,502 | $-2,257 |
| Median (P50) | $141,340 | $138,432 | $-2,907 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $174,510 | $170,920 | $-3,589 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $210,180 | $205,857 | $-4,322 |
Virginia's cost of living is close to the national average, so $141,340 keeps most of its value at $138,432 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
With an RPP of 102.1, Virginia is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Computer Network Architects is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living, $141,340 nominal nets out to $138,433 in real purchasing power — a small 2.1% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Computer Network Architects.
Virginia sits at #14 of 51 states for Computer Network Architects COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Computer Network Architects salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Virginia ranks #14 out of 51 states for Computer Network Architects after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Computer Network Architects take-home pay in Virginia after taxes →
A Computer Network Architects in Virginia earns a median salary of $141,340 per year. After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (RPP=102.1), the real purchasing power is $138,432 — a -2.1% difference.
Virginia's cost of living is 2.1% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Virginia is 102.1 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Computer Network Architects in Virginia: $141,340 x (100 / 102.1) = $138,432. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Computer Network Architects's nominal salary of $141,340 in Virginia has 2.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $138,432. However, Virginia may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.