HR Assistant salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC
Hiring an HR assistant costs less in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake than in Virginia or the country as a whole. The median is $47,990 a year1: 7.6% below the Virginia statewide median of $51,950 and 5.2% below the US median of $50,610. Nationally it ranks #203 of 384 areas. It is the largest market for the job in Virginia: about 500 people.
BLS occupation 43-4161, area Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake against Virginia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC | $36,820 | $47,990 | $59,800 | |
| Virginia | $38,690 | $51,950 | $69,640 | |
| United States | $37,340 | $50,610 | $68,280 |
The middle half of HR assistants in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake earns $43,040–$55,410. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $59,800, only 1.6 times the bottom tenth, against 1.8 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $12,370 wide, against $15,330 across Virginia and $15,770 nationally: employers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an HR assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,820 | $3,068 | $17.70 | $47,510 |
| 25th percentile | $43,040 | $3,587 | $20.69 | $55,535 |
| Median | $47,990 | $3,999 | $23.07 | $61,923 |
| 75th percentile | $55,410 | $4,618 | $26.64 | $71,497 |
| 90th percentile | $59,800 | $4,983 | $28.75 | $77,161 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $4,950 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $7,420, or about $9,574 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $50,610 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, and the Virginia statewide median of $51,950 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake
At the $47,990 median, a local hire costs about $61,923 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,933 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for HR assistants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake
Of the 17 roles we track in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between bookkeepers ($48,690) and administrative assistants ($46,320). Project Coordinator is the highest at $104,920.
| Role | Median | vs HR assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +10.8% | 660 | |
| Bookkeeper | +1.5% | 5,880 | |
| HR Assistant | this role | 500 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -3.5% | 5,730 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -8.1% | 4,970 |
Measured against the US median, HR assistants rank #8 of the 17 roles we track in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake (-5.2%), between accountants (-5.1%) and virtual receptionists (-6.7%). The typical role here is at -6.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. HR assistants hold 0.7% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, 0.5% across Virginia and 0.6% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Virginia
Across the 10 areas of Virginia with data for this job, the median runs from $45,870 in Roanoke to $57,160 in Winchester, a gap of $11,290 a year. No other area in Virginia has as many HR assistants, and 4 of the other 9 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Virginia Beach-Chesapeake | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA | +8.3% | 50 | |
| Harrisonburg, VA | +3.5% | 50 | |
| Charlottesville, VA | +2.7% | 80 | |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC | this area | 500 | |
| Lynchburg, VA | -0.5% | 40 | |
| Southside Virginia (Nonmetro) | -0.6% | 40 | |
| Southwest Virginia (Nonmetro) | -3.5% | 40 |
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake is #39 of 382 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Virginia, San Antonio-New Braunfels and St. Cloud pay just above Virginia Beach-Chesapeake and Grand Rapids-Wyoming and St. Louis just below. All four are within $220 a year of the median in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake. Of the three markets with about as many HR assistants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Virginia Beach-Chesapeake | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | +1.9% | 510 | jobs | |
| St. Cloud, MN | +0.5% | 150 | pay | |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | +0.1% | 600 | pay | |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC | this area | 500 | ||
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | -0.0% | 220 | pay | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | -0.1% | 490 | pay | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | -4.4% | 480 | jobs | |
| Knoxville, TN | -6.2% | 500 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an HR assistant in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC?
About $61,923 a year at the median, or $5,160 a month: $47,990 in pay plus about $13,933 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for HR assistants in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake?
The median was $47,990 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $36,820, the 90th $59,800, and the middle half earned $43,040 to $55,410.
Is Virginia Beach-Chesapeake cheaper than the rest of Virginia for HR assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $47,990 against $51,950 statewide. The next area up in Virginia is Charlottesville at $49,300, the next down Lynchburg at $47,740.
How many HR assistants work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake?
BLS counts about 500 in the May 2025 survey. No other area in Virginia has as many.
Does an HR assistant cost more than an administrative assistant in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake?
Yes: $1,670 a year more at the median. The medians are $47,990 and $46,320.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4161: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.