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Virginia engineer salary

Estimate

Updated January 2025

What engineers earn across Virginia — explore the numbers city by city.

Typical pay

$125,860

Virginia

Top earners

$193,473

Higher end

vs national

+8% vs national

U.S. $116,537

Cities

6

in this state

Engineers in Virginia earn an estimated $125,860 per year, +8% vs national, with top earners near $193,473. Explore pay city by city below, or estimate your own total compensation. The number sharpens as engineers here contribute.

Engineering pay by role in Virginia

Estimated pay for each discipline in Virginia. Filter the list or open a role for the full picture.

22results

Engineering salaries by city in Virginia

Open a city for its full role breakdown — or add a city we don't cover yet.

Top-paying

Arlington

$134,018

+15% vs national

View Arlington salaries

Richmond

$118,868

+2% vs national

View Richmond salaries

More cities in Virginia

We don't publish a separate estimate for these yet. Use the Virginia estimate above as your starting point — and add your pay to put your city on the map.

Estimate any city
AlexandriaNorfolkRestonVirginia Beach

Don't see your city? Submit your salary or request a city — new cities appear as engineers contribute.

What affects engineering pay in Virginia

  • ▹Local market. Virginia pay runs +8% vs national for the typical engineer, driven by local demand and living costs.
  • ▹Discipline mix. Software, petroleum, and engineering-management roles pull averages up; civil and environmental roles sit lower. Use the role table above for specifics.
  • ▹Metro concentration. Pay clusters in Arlington, Richmond, which run above the statewide estimate.
  • ▹Remote & experience.Remote roles often anchor to a company's HQ market rather than Virginia; seniority can swing pay ±35% around the median.

Engineer salaries in Virginia — FAQ

How much do engineers make in Virginia?
Engineers in Virginia earn an estimated median of $125,860 per year — 8% above the national average — with top earners near $193,473. These are labeled estimates: geographic pay is modeled from BLS OEWS national baselines adjusted by a local cost-of-labor index, not a direct BLS metro/state wage.
What is the highest-paying engineering job in Virginia?
Among tracked disciplines, engineering managers have the highest estimated pay in Virginia, around $178,600 (median). Management, software, and petroleum roles typically sit at the top; civil and environmental roles lower.
Is Virginia a good state for engineers?
Pay-wise, the typical Virginia engineering salary is 8% above the national average. Combined with local demand, that makes it a competitive market. Compare roles and cities on this page before deciding.
Which cities in Virginia pay engineers the most?
Estimated engineering pay is highest in Arlington ($134,018), and Richmond ($118,868). Metro figures adjust the state baseline by local wage levels.
Source details

Blended engineering estimate for Virginia: BLS OEWS national engineering median adjusted by a 1.08× cost-of-labor index.

Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →

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