Key Companies in Northern Virginia

The area is home to the federal government; more than 100 U.S. and global corporate headquarters, including the 8th highest number of Fortune 500 company headquarters in the U.S. in 2022; technical and service firms; trade and professional organizations; and strong industry clusters in government contracting, defense electronics, IT, data centers, biotechnology and bioinformatics.

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Location

Northern Virginia is located in the northeastern corner of Virginia, just west of the Potomac River and Washington, D.C. Its transportation network includes major international airports, a suburban commuter rail system, several lines of the Washington, D.C., Metro subway system, transit bus services, and an extensive network of interstate highways and expressways.

Northern Virginia
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Alexandria City

  • I-395, I-495, I-66, and I-95 run through Northern Virginia, and eight additional interstates offer direct access to major U.S. markets: I-295, I-695, I-270, I-370, I-70, I-595, I-81, and I-64.
  • CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway Company provide freight rail service.
  • Passenger rail service is provided by Virginia Railway Express and the Metro system.
  • The Virginia Inland Port, an intermodal container transfer facility, is 30 miles west, and The Port of Virginia in Hampton Roads is 171 miles southeast.
  • A true international gateway, Northern Virginia is served by three major airports: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI).

Regional Focus on Diversity & Inclusion

Northern Virginia is one of the country’s most international regions, and has the highest number of ethnic groups and nationalities represented in Virginia. Virginia was also the first state in the Southeast to extend workplace protections to LGBTQ+ professionals. 

Alexandria Waterfront

World-Class Talent at a Competitive Cost

Tech companies can hire high-quality tech talent in Virginia at salaries that compare favorably with other major tech hubs. Salaries in Northern Virginia, one of the world’s leading tech hubs, average less than most major tech hubs, and salaries for tech talent in other parts of the state are competitive with smaller markets in other states, enabling tech firms to choose the best market, talent mix, and budget for their particular needs.

Capital One Headquarters, McLean

Regional Focus on Life & Health

Known as “D.C.’s Wine Country,” Loudoun County is home to more than 40 wineries, including Stone Tower Winery in Leesburg. The region offers a wide range of excellent employment opportunities, attractive housing options, the best school systems in the nation, and an abundance of wide-ranging cultural and recreational opportunities.

Stone Tower Winery, Loudoun County

We believe that diversity and inclusion leads to a more innovative environment. Our site in Virginia is represented with 55 different nationalities. This diversity of talent promotes a culture of innovation and is a key contributor to our success, and we love that.

Sanjay Mehrotra President and CEO, Micron Technology

Amazon Web Services Pursues New East Coast Corporate Campus

In 2021, utilizing part of their $35 billion investment, AWS hired nearly 40,000 military-connected personnel, surpassing its goal of 25,000. Amazon Web Services' growth in Virginia is a testament to the success tech companies can find in the Commonwealth. Virginia continues to dominate the data center industry thanks to its infrastructure, workforce, and competitive business costs, and Amazon Web Services is helping to lead the change. 

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Alarm.com, Fairfax County

Best U.S. City for Working Women

Washington, D.C. is the top U.S. city for working women according to Smart Asset (2022), and Virginia continues to foster diversity and inclusion through numerous government, industry, and non-profit initiatives. Virginia has one of the most diverse talent pools of corporate professionals in the country, ranking among the top 10 states for the percentage of corporate professionals who are Black or Asian American, and among the top 15 states for the percentage of professionals who are Hispanic.

K-12 school system

Virginia has long been recognized as a national leader in providing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Computer Science education for students at the K-12 level, being the first state in the nation to adopt Computer Science standards across the K-12 curriculum and integrating these disciplines into Standards of Learning (SOLs) in 2016.

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, Fairfax County

Universities

Virginia is recognized as having one of the best higher education systems in the nation (ranked No. 2 Top State in the U.S. for Higher Education), offering outstanding value and quality through an array of public and private universities developing tech talent across the state (SmartAsset).

George Mason University, Fairfax

Higher Ed - Community College

In 2023, the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) offered over 1,900 associate degrees and 400+ certificates in areas relevant to the tech industry. VCCS is uniquely positioned to deliver custom training to tech industry partners and work closely with private industry to develop courses and certifications that align with industry needs.

Northern Virginia Community College, Fairfax
Capital One Headquarters, McLean

Capital One Headquarters, McLean

Innovation Lives Here

The D.C. metro area, which includes Northern Virginia, is one of the most educated and diverse regions in the United States, and its nationally recognized school systems and abundant higher education opportunities ensure a sustainable talent pipeline.

Read More About What Northern Virginia Offers

The Prime Location for Amazon HQ2

After a 14-month competitive site selection process during which Amazon received 238 proposals from communities across North America, the tech giant announced plans in 2018 to invest approximately $2.5 billion to establish a major new headquarters (HQ2) in Virginia, creating more than 25,000 high-paying jobs. Virginia successfully secured the historic project through unprecedented state, regional, and local partnerships. The foundation of the cooperative pitch for Amazon HQ2 was centered on Virginia’s thriving tech sector and talent—including a commitment to a pipeline for the future.

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HQ2 Amazon

Rendering of Amazon HQ2 at National Landing, Alexandria

A Place to Call Home

Northern Virginia and the broader Washington, D.C., metro area provide recreational opportunities for a wide range of interests and lifestyles. From sports teams in all major leagues to historic landmarks, national and state parks, rivers, ample retail options, and cultural offerings, the region boasts a quality of life that attracts residents and visitors.

Historic sites include Arlington National Cemetery and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

The National Park Service operates Great Falls Park, the site of America’s first canal system, and 15,000-acre Prince William Forest Park provides 37 miles of year-round hiking trails, 21 miles of bike-accessible roads, and welcomes campers and picnickers.

An award-winning restaurant and craft cocktail scene in bustling urban settings, as well as renowned wineries, breweries, and sprawling horse farms in its rural areas, round out Northern Virginia’s varied recreational and cultural opportunities.

A outdoor photo of the Perch at Capital One Center

The Perch at Capital One Center, Fairfax County

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Old Town Alexandria

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Great Falls, Fairfax County