Employment by Industry and Occupation
The subsequent data is for the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Since Norfolk operates within a regional labor market, and new businesses or companies would attract labor from numerous cities in the MSA, not just Norfolk, the employment by industry and employment by occupation data is supplied at the MSA level. The top five industries in MSA by number of employees are Government, Health Care and Social Assistance, Retail Trade, Accommodation and Food Services, and Manufacturing. The number one Industry, Government, (which includes; civilian Department of Defense; federal laboratories; seven public colleges and universities; and the NATO North American Headquarters)accounts for over 28% of all employees in the MSA.
Top Information Technology Occupations in the MSA[1]:
| Occupation | MSA – 2018 Median Annual Wage[1] |
| Software Developers, Applications | $87,400 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $81,410 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $52,150 |
| Software Developers, Systems Software | $100,880 |
| Sales Representatives | $57,030 |
Top Insurance Occupations in the MSA[1]
| Occupation | MSA – 2018 Median Annual Wage[1] |
| Customer Service Representatives | $30,050 |
| Insurance Sales Agents | $40,980 |
| Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks | $37,920 |
| Management Analysts | $88,070 |
| Registered Nurses | $65,670 |
Top Maritime, Transportation, and Logistics Occupations in the MSA[1]:
| Occupation | MSA – 2018 Median Annual Wage[1] |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Materials Movers | $26,270 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $40,540 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $55,790 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $44,950 |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $70,990 |
[1]Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Employment Statistics, “May 2018 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates”, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_47260.htm