"How long does gunsmith in Virginia training take?"

"Most paths into the gunsmith field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"What apprenticeships are available for gunsmiths in Virginia?"

"In Virginia, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Gunsmith in Virginia

Q: "How much do gunsmiths earn in Virginia?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), gunsmiths in Virginia earned a median annual wage of approximately $81,850 (using the related \"Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other\" BLS category, since gunsmith wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in Virginia is roughly 0.55 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for gunsmiths in Virginia?"

"Virginia currently employs approximately 140 workers in the related \"Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other\" BLS category, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Virginia precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other earn a median annual wage of $81,850 ($39.35/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 140 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 18.6% above the national median of $68,990 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $81,850 ($39.35/hr)
25th percentile: $71,350 per year
75th percentile: $92,230 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $95,960 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $37,190 per year
Workers employed in Virginia: 140
Versus national median: 18.6% above the U.S. median of $68,990
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.55 - this occupation is less concentrated in Virginia than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Virginia employs approximately 140 workers in the related “Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other” category (SOC 49-9069), with a median annual wage of $81,850 ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 2.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 1,000 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a gunsmith in Virginia, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track gunsmith salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other (SOC 49-9069). Actual gunsmith earnings may vary.

Quick Answers About How to Become a Gunsmith in Virginia

How to become a gunsmith in Virginia? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for gunsmiths in Virginia.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do gunsmiths earn in Virginia? The BLS does not track gunsmith wages separately. Based on the related “Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other” category, the median annual wage in Virginia is $81,850, with entry-level wages around $37,190 and experienced workers earning $95,960 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Virginia): $81,850 per year (based on related “Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other” category) ¹

Gunsmith Wages by Metro Area in Virginia

Note: The BLS does not track gunsmith wages separately. The data below is based on the closest matching category: Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other (SOC 49-9069).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other wages in Virginia vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	60	$79,440	$79,120	$61,330	$94,120
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	50	$82,200	$80,800	$61,760	$109,320
Richmond	N/A	$74,300	$67,010	$27,360	$102,860

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Top Metros for Gunsmiths in Virginia

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest gunsmith employment within Virginia according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	60	$79,440

Explore gunsmith programs in Virginia Beach.

Explore More Trades in Virginia

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for gunsmiths in Virginia? Virginia employs approximately 140 workers in the related “Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other” category ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 2.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Virginia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Virginia.

How much do gunsmiths earn in Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for gunsmiths in Virginia is $81,850 (based on the related “Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other” category), which is $14,770 above the national median of $67,080 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)