Materials Engineers in Virginia. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Virginia materials engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $83,840 and $137,400, with a median of $116,720.
Materials Engineers in Virginia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 16 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $92,602. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 1 | $75,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 6 | $92,602 |
| Level III — experienced | 6 | $115,982 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Materials Engineers in Virginia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nilit America Inc. | Process Engineer | 4 | $87,714 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | Research Scientist | 4 | $72,623 |
| AccuTec, Inc. | Senior Coatings Research Engineer | 2 | $113,339 |
| Micron Technology, Inc. | Process Engineer | 2 | $136,598 |
| Benvic Chemres LLC (FKA Chemres LLC) | Senior Materials Engineer | 1 | $130,000 |
| Hanwha Azdel, Inc. | Technology Product Developer | 1 | $95,000 |
| The University of Virginia | Research Scientist | 1 | $75,000 |
| WestRock Services, LLC | Senior R&D Scientist | 1 | $118,625 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Process Engineer Manager at Nilit America Inc.$92,602RidgewayWage Level IIDecided Mar 16, 2026I-200-26069-690815
- Process Engineer at Micron Technology, Inc.$120,766ManassasWage Level IIDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26065-685273
- Research Scientist at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University$69,122BlacksburgDecided Sep 5, 2025I-200-25240-274226
- Senior Coatings Research Engineer at AccuTec, Inc.$113,339VeronaWage Level IIIDecided Aug 7, 2025I-200-25212-212473
- Senior Coatings Research Engineer at AccuTec, Inc.$113,339VeronaWage Level IIIDecided Jul 29, 2025I-200-25203-191677
- Postdoctoral Associate at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University$68,053BlacksburgDecided Jun 27, 2025I-200-25171-114699
- Senior Materials Engineer at Benvic Chemres LLC (FKA Chemres LLC)$130,000ChesapeakeWage Level IIIDecided May 29, 2025I-200-25141-005080
- Senior R&D Scientist at WestRock Services, LLC$118,625RichmondWage Level IIIDecided May 28, 2025I-200-25140-998577
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Materials Engineers pay by experience level in Virginia
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Materials Engineers specialties in Virginia
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 6 certified offers. The most common variant is Process Engineer at a median of $82,826.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process Engineer | Nilit America Inc. | 3 | $82,826 |
| Research Scientist | Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | 3 | $75,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Materials Engineers in Virginia, by industry
Median offered wage across 16 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $104,170.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Nilit America Inc. | 10 | $104,170 |
| Education | Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | 5 | $75,000 |
| Professional services | WestRock Services, LLC | 1 | $118,625 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Virginia over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.3 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Chemistry
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Production and Processing
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Science
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
- 02
Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
- 03
Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.
- 04
Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
- 05
Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.
- 06
Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.
- 07
Guide technical staff in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices.
- 08
Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+5.7%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Virginia
Metro-level salary data for materials engineers in major Virginia metropolitan areas.
- Virginia Beach$116,720
- Richmond$102,440
Compare Materials Engineers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Virginia with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Materials Engineers in Virginia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Materials Engineers in Virginia is $116,720.
- How does Virginia compare to the national median for Materials Engineers?
- The Virginia median is +1.9% versus the BLS national figure of $114,537.
- What is the salary range for Materials Engineers in Virginia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $77,490 and the 90th-percentile at $170,210, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Materials Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 5.7% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Materials Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.