Average registered nurse compensation in Virginia across seven career stages — from new grad RN to Chief Nursing Officer. Updated 2026 benchmarks to help you negotiate, plan, and grow.
RN Salary by Role in Virginia
RN salaries in Virginia sit close to the national average, with staff nurses earning around $77,000 a year.
Pay climbs steadily with experience and responsibility. New grad RNs in Virginia typically start around $56,000, while nurses who move into specialty units like the ICU, ER, or OR can expect closer to $87,000. Stepping into leadership pays off too — nurse managers average around $97,000, directors of nursing around $112,000, and chief nursing officers can earn $133,000 or more. Nurses who pursue advanced practice (NP, CNS, CRNA, or CNM) report average earnings near $97,000.
As a Nurse Licensure Compact member, Virginia issues multistate RN and LPN licenses to residents, allowing nurses to practice across other compact states without applying for a separate license — a real advantage for travel nursing or remote telehealth work.
As with any state, factor in local cost of living and taxes alongside salary when evaluating job offers in Virginia.
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