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Highway Maintenance Workers Salary in Virginia: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Highway Maintenance Workers salary really buy you in Virginia?

Virginia is 2.1% pricier than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$50,800
Median annual (2025)
-2.1%
Real Purchasing Power
$49,755
COL-adjusted (RPP=102.1)

Virginia Cost of Living Index

Virginia's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.1, meaning prices are 2.1% higher the national average. A Highway Maintenance Workers earning $50,800 in Virginia has the equivalent purchasing power of $49,755 in an average-cost US state.

VA: 102.1
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

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) $41,540 $40,685 $-854
25th Percentile (P25) $46,870 $45,905 $-964
Median (P50) $50,800 $49,755 $-1,044
75th Percentile (P75) $56,570 $55,406 $-1,163
90th Percentile (P90) $62,850 $61,557 $-1,292
Key Insight

Virginia's cost of living is close to the national average, so $50,800 keeps most of its value at $49,755 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Virginia Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 102.1

With an RPP of 102.1, Virginia is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Highway Maintenance Workers is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-2.1%

After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living, $50,800 nominal nets out to $49,755 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 Highway Maintenance Workers.

Below-Median Adjusted Pay

#34 / 49

Virginia's rank of #34 of 49 states means real purchasing power for Highway Maintenance Workers trails the national half-way line.

Best States for Highway Maintenance Workers (After Cost of Living)

Where does Highway Maintenance Workers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$68,354
RPP 88.7
2. Montana
$67,508
RPP 90.3
3. Iowa
$66,165
RPP 88.4
$64,636
RPP 97.7
$62,838
RPP 92.3
6. Oregon
$61,285
RPP 106.6
$60,968
RPP 106.4
$60,908
RPP 101.3
$59,471
RPP 109.8
10. Utah
$59,227
RPP 94.5

Virginia ranks #34 out of 49 states for Highway Maintenance Workers after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Highway Maintenance Workers take-home pay in Virginia after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Highway Maintenance Workers in Virginia after cost of living?

A Highway Maintenance Workers in Virginia earns a median salary of $50,800 per year. After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (RPP=102.1), the real purchasing power is $49,755 — a -2.1% difference.

Is Virginia expensive to live in?

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).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

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.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Highway Maintenance Workers in Virginia: $50,800 x (100 / 102.1) = $49,755. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Does the high cost of living in Virginia offset the salary?

Partially — a Highway Maintenance Workers's nominal salary of $50,800 in Virginia has 2.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $49,755. However, Virginia may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.

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