Norfolkruns on a handful of strong industries. If you’re job-hunting or weighing a move, here’s where the opportunities (and the big-name employers) are.
Top industries & employers
US Navy & defence
Naval Station Norfolk, US Fleet Forces Command, NATO Allied Command Transformation, Naval Air Station Oceana (Virginia Beach)
Naval Station Norfolk is the Navy's largest installation and the home of the Atlantic Fleet, and Norfolk also hosts NATO's Allied Command Transformation — the alliance's only strategic command based in North America. Almost all of it is closed to non-citizens.
Shipbuilding & ship repair
BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Newport News Shipbuilding (HII), Colonna's Shipyard, General Dynamics NASSCO
The largest concentration of ship repair capability in the United States. Trades and engineering roles here are well paid and chronically short-staffed, but most work on naval hulls needs at least base access and often a clearance.
Port & logistics
Port of Virginia, Norfolk Southern, Maersk, CMA CGM, Norfolk International Terminals
One of the deepest harbours on the US East Coast, dredging to accommodate the largest container ships, with Norfolk Southern's headquarters historically rooted here. Logistics and supply-chain work is the main uncleared alternative to defence.
Healthcare & medical education
Sentara Norfolk General, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University
Sentara Norfolk General is the region's Level I trauma centre, and the former Eastern Virginia Medical School merged into Old Dominion University, making Norfolk an academic medical centre rather than just a hospital city.
Higher education & research
Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University, Jefferson Lab (Newport News), Virginia Modeling Analysis & Simulation Center
ODU's coastal resilience and modelling research exists here for obvious reasons and is genuinely world-leading. Norfolk State is one of the larger historically Black universities in the country.
Coastal resilience & engineering
US Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District, HRSD, Dewberry, Moffatt & Nichol, AECOM
The Coastal Storm Risk Management project and HRSD's SWIFT aquifer-recharge programme have made Norfolk a working laboratory for sea-level adaptation, and a real employer of civil, coastal and water engineers.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.