Start in Hampton Roads

Each of the region’s cities has their own unique cultural scenes, from theaters and museums to festivals and live music venues. Whether you aspire to deliver top-tier service as a hospitality professional or bring the area’s rich history to life as a tour guide, a fulfilling career opportunity awaits you here.

Hospitality in Hampton Roads

• The region welcomes nearly 14 million visitors to Virginia Beach alone each year.
• Norfolk cruise terminal is growing, with close to 300,000 passengers throughout the year.
• Named a Top 10 U.S. summer destination by TripAdvisor, Hampton Roads thrives on world-class hotels, restaurants and attractions.
• In 2024, Virginia’s tourism industry hit a record $33.3 billion in visitor spending, fueling strong demand for hospitality professionals.

Home to 18 military installations representing every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, Hampton Roads is the epicenter of our nation’s security interests. Whether you’re transitioning from military service or looking to advance in the industry, Hampton Roads offers unparalleled career potential.

Defense in Hampton Roads

• When it comes to defense, Hampton Roads is America’s Military Metro.The region ranks as the 5th largest metro for direct Department of Defense spending, with an estimated $28.6 billion invested here in 2024.
• Defense fuels approximately 40% of the region’s GDP, supporting a thriving ecosystem of innovation, infrastructure and opportunity.
• All ten of the top U.S. defense contractors have a presence here, alongside a vast network of suppliers, shipbuilders and tech firms.
• The defense workforce includes roughly 150,000 people, with over 60,000 federal civilians contributing to mission-critical initiatives.

Hampton Roads is a hub for healthcare and life sciences, offering rewarding careers in patient care, research and medical innovation. Whether you’re saving lives at the bedside or innovating the next med tech discovery, this is a place where medical professionals can truly make an impact.

Healthcare in Hampton Roads

• The region is home to top providers like Bon Secours, Sentara Health, and Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters.
• Sentara Health supports over 64,400 jobs across nearly ten regional hospitals and care facilities — making it the fourth largest employer in Virginia.
• Beyond hospitals, industry leaders like LifeNet Health, Operation Smile, ReAlta Life Sciences, Instant Systems and ivWatch are shaping the future of medicine.
• With more than 21,000 life sciences jobs in Virginia Beach alone, opportunities abound for healthcare professionals, researchers and biotech innovators.

With 25% of U.S. shipbuilding capacity, Hampton Roads is the nation’s premier maritime manufacturing hub. Whether you’re an experienced engineer or tradesperson, transitioning from military service or just starting your career, there’s a place for you in our bustling maritime industry.

Shipbuilding in Hampton Roads

• Huntington Ingalls Industries, headquartered in Newport News, is the sole provider of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and one of only two suppliers of Navy submarines.
• Norfolk Naval Shipyard offers veteran-friendly initiatives and apprenticeships ranging from four to eight years across 19 disciplines.
• Within the ship repair industry, there are nearly 11,000 career opportunities supported by companies like General Dynamics NASSCO, Fairlead Integrated and Colonna’s Shipyard.

With 33 universities, colleges and trade schools shaping the next generation of leaders, Hampton Roads abounds with education and research.

Higher Education in Hampton Roads

• Private education and healthcare employment in the region grew by nearly 3,000 jobs between 2023 and 2024.
• Nationally-renowned research center Old Dominion University excels in coastal resilience, cybersecurity, bioelectrics and maritime engineering, with over half its faculty engaged in funded research for federal agencies and industry.
• ODU is also a key academic research partner for the Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory and NASA-Langley Research Center.
• The College of William and Mary is currently the #6 public school for undergraduate teaching in the Nation.
• Hampton University — a prestigious HBCU — houses 16 research centers, including the Hampton University Proton Cancer Institute.
• Cutting-edge discovery thrives at Jefferson Lab, a world-class particle accelerator facility employing nearly 1,000 people and soon-to-be home of the U.S. Department of Energy’s High Performance Data Facility Hub in Newport News — a $300-500 million project transforming national research infrastructure.

The maritime & logistics industry supports a vast network of careers, from port operations and supply chain management to maritime technology and trade logistics. Whether you’re an industry veteran or looking to launch a new career, Hampton Roads offers unparalleled opportunities in a sector that’s always in motion.

Maritime & Logistics in Hampton Roads

• 2nd largest commercial port on the U.S. East Coast by tonnage and 3rd largest by container volume, the Port of Virginia is a global gateway for maritime trade and logistics.
• The port’s container terminals (managed by the Virginia Port Authority) are split between Norfolk and Portsmouth, VA, and process a combined total of nearly 3.50 million TEUs annually.
• Imports cargo from nearly 50 countries with distribution to 75% of the country within two days.
• The widest and deepest harbor channels on the East Coast.
• This volume is supported by a multitude of logistics facilities capable of handling a diverse mix of cargoes, including containers, dry and liquid bulk products, breakbulk, rolling stock and other specialized cargoes.

Infrastructure in Hampton Roads isn’t just about bridges and tunnels — it’s about a network of opportunity.

Hampton Roads Infrastructure

• Norfolk International (ORF) serves nearly five million passengers and handles 60 million pounds of cargo annually. Newport News/Williamsburg (PHF) also serves the region.
• As a Global Internet Hub, the region boasts four trans-Atlantic subsea cables, a regional fiber network ring and a growing data center cluster.
• Hampton Roads is also at the forefront of renewable energy with over $1 billion invested in offshore wind. Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project continues to create new jobs in this emerging sector.
• NASA Langley, NASA Wallops, and the Virginia Spaceport Authority are jewels within our innovation ecosystem to test, develop and prove technologies to move us deeper into space.
• HRBT Expansion is currently managing over 5 billion and is the largest highway construction project in Virginia’s history.

Grow your tech and cybersecurity career in a region rich with opportunity, home to federal institutions, industry heavyweights and innovative startups alike.

Technology in Hampton Roads

• Over 2,500 tech establishments employ approximately 28,000 professionals in Hampton Roads.
• Federal support fuels opportunity, as 18 military installations and a strong presence of government contractors create a high demand for cybersecurity talent.
• All of the top 10 defense contractors — including Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Raytheon and Booz Allen Hamilton — maintain a presence in the region.
• Cutting-edge research in aerospace and innovation is driven by NASA Langley in Hampton and the NASA Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island.
• Virginia Beach and Newport News stand out for their contributions in professional services, cybersecurity and tech-driven research at institutions like Tech Center Research Park and Jefferson Lab.
• Hampton Road’s innovation ecosystem also supports a dynamic startup scene, with innovation ecosystem partners 757Collab, InnovateHR, Black BRAND, and the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center.
• In 2025, the Mid-Atlantic Tech Bridge, a Department of Navy initiative, partnered with 757 Collab to launch the Defense Technology Accelerator — an intensive 12-week program designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs refine and scale their innovations.

Hampton Roads is a vibrant center for arts and culture, where creativity drives economic growth, inspires community pride, and strengthens the local economy. Across the region, investments in cultural assets are fueling new opportunities — from major capital projects to record-breaking audience engagement. The arts are not just flourishing here — they are powering the future of South Hampton Roads.

Arts & Culture in Hampton Roads

• $270 Million Economic Impact: Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and their audiences generate $270 million in total industry expenditures annually, supporting 4,954 full-time, part-time, and seasonal jobs.
• Record Tax Revenues: Arts activities deliver over $9.5 million to local government, $9.2 million to the state, and $33 million to the federal government each year.
• Perry Glass Studio Expansion: Norfolk’s Perry Glass Studio, part of the Chrysler Museum of Art, has completed a $30 million expansion, tripling its size and significantly enhancing its international profile.
• Virginia MOCA Relocation: The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is partnering with Virginia Wesleyan University to build a new $25 million state-of-the-art facility on the Virginia Beach campus.
• ViBe Creative District 10th Anniversary: More than 65 small businesses have moved into the ViBe District, driving a $33.9 million annual increase in sales and a $56 million rise in property values over the past decade.
• The reopening of The Dome: After 30 years, this indoor-outdoor music hall and community gathering space has been resurrected to once again serve as Virginia Beach’s entertainment epicenter.
• Virginia Arts Festival 28th Season: This landmark season brings Pulitzer Prize winners, Kennedy Center honorees, and Grammy Award-winning artists to the region, reinforcing Hampton Roads’ place on the national cultural stage.

In Hampton Roads, we embrace the ideators, the innovators, the builders and creators of all shapes and sizes. Whether you are just starting out or looking to elevate your venture, here you will find a strong and resourceful network of incubators, accelerators, collaborators and investors interested in shaping this community – together. 

Innovation & Entrepreneurship in Hampton Roads

• The Small Business Development Center is a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Tap into professional training opportunities, receive one-on-one business advising, network with peers, and gain access to capital.
• Around the region, you will find spaces dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation, like the 757Collab and Assembly Campus in Norfolk, and Innovate Hampton Roads in Hampton, host to the Startup World Cup Virginia Regional. 
• Black Brand, the Black Chamber of Commerce for Hampton Roads, has been supporting local black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs for over a decade.
• Tech entrepreneurs receive targeted support from Hampton’s REaKTOR, a dedicated technology innovation center, and the Defense Tech Accelerator at Innovate Hampton Roads.

Hampton Roads is where rich history meets coastal charm — and where choosing a place to call home means having options.

• The region is made up of more than 17 unique communities, from the colonial streets of Williamsburg and James City County to the lively downtown energy of Norfolk and the laid-back, oceanfront vibe of Virginia Beach.
• With 18 military installations and a strong federal presence, Hampton Roads is incredibly military-friendly and packed with opportunities in engineering, maritime and cybersecurity — thanks to innovation powerhouses like Jefferson Lab and NASA Langley.
• Several cities, including Norfolk, Hampton and Newport News, offer a lower cost of living than the national average.

Take advantage of top-tier educational opportunities for you and your family in a region boasting nationally ranked universities and school districts.

Education in Hampton Roads

• An impressive list of K-12 school districts in Hampton Roads provides education for more than 250,000 students in Hampton Roads.
• The Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk offers no-tuition, pre-professional arts training across six disciplines.
• Hampton Roads is home to 33 local colleges, community colleges, universities and trade schools.
• The Apprentice School is where future shipbuilders train offering four, five and eight year apprenticeships in nineteen shipbuilding disciplines and eight advanced programs of study.

Virginia Beach is where musician, record producer, fashion designer and cultural icon Pharrell Williams got his start — and it shows in the region’s creative energy. A playground for families craving fun, culture and adventure.

Things to Do in Hampton Roads

• Visit one of our many historical sites & museums.
• Wander through the NEON District’s vibrant murals in Norfolk or browse local vendors at Virginia Beach’s ViBe District.
• Enjoy world-class venues like the Chrysler Museum, with 50+ galleries and free programming, and The Dome, a multipurpose entertainment destination in Virginia Beach.
• Spend the day at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, a European-themed amusement park ranked among the world’s most beautiful.
• Peruse Neptune Festival’s 30-block celebration of coastal life.
• Take in a world-class performance from the Virginia Arts Festival, the largest performing arts organization in southeastern Virginia.
• Attend the Patriotic Music Festival — which draws a music crowd all along the East Coast.
• Hike or kayak Chesapeake’s Great Dismal Swamp Canal.
• Cheer on the triple-A baseball affiliate Norfolk Tides or the professional hockey team the Admirals, or enjoy seven local college athletic programs.
• Catch the North American Sand Soccer Championships at the Hampton Roads Soccer Complex in Virginia Beach, where more than 900 teams gather every summer.