Mechanical Engineers in Virginia. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
The median wage for Mechanical Engineers in Virginia was $99,350 in 2024, about 5% below the national median of $104,651. That is a modest gap. Virginia employs roughly 7,960 mechanical engineers, and the concentration of defense contractors, shipbuilders, and federal facilities across the state shapes where demand sits and what it pays.
The spread between the lowest and highest earners is wide. Engineers at the 10th percentile earned $61,300 while those at the 90th earned $155,030. Top earners made about 2.5 times what the lowest-paid did. That kind of range usually reflects seniority and specialization: a mid-career engineer with security clearance working on propulsion systems earns very differently from someone a few years out of school doing general machine design.
Virginia's cost of living runs just above the national baseline, with a cost-of-living index of 102.3. The nominal 5% gap relative to the US median narrows slightly once you account for that. The real difference is smaller than the headline numbers suggest, though it does not reverse.
BLS projects employment for mechanical engineers to grow 9% between 2024 and 2034, faster than average. Whether Virginia tracks that national pace depends on federal contract flows and the health of the defense and energy sectors that anchor the state's engineering workforce. The projection covers the occupation nationally; state-level results may differ.
Salary distribution
Where Virginia mechanical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $85,410 and $131,250, with a median of $104,180.
Mechanical Engineers in Virginia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 121 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $104,624. 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 | 33 | $90,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 40 | $104,624 |
| Level III — experienced | 25 | $126,901 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 20 | $156,203 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mechanical Engineers in Virginia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micron Technology, Inc. | Equipment Engineer | 16 | $117,750 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | International Automotive Research Scientist | 8 | $97,630 |
| M.C. Dean, Inc. | Commissioning Engineer | 5 | $140,400 |
| Alten Technology USA, Inc. | Mechanical Engineer - Product Design | 3 | $80,000 |
| AMAZON DATA SERVICES, INC. | DATA CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEER III | 3 | $151,400 |
| Integrated Global Services Inc. | Project Engineer | 3 | $69,701 |
| L&T Technology Services Limited | Mechanical Design Engineer | 3 | $113,000 |
| Technosoft Services, Inc. | MECHANICAL DESIGN ENGINEER | 3 | $90,000 |
| Amazon Data Services, Inc. | DC Infra Eng I | 2 | $136,250 |
| BrightSharks Engineering Services LLC | Vehicle Software Integration Engineer | 2 | $77,813 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Lead Mechanical Engineer at Hyper Solutions, Inc.$160,000HenricoWage Level IVDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26065-686066
- Field Service Engineer at Nova Measuring Instruments Inc.$87,194ManassasWage Level IDecided Mar 6, 2026I-200-26058-668462
- Fab Equipment Engineer at Micron Technology, Inc.$125,000ManassasWage Level IIDecided Mar 4, 2026I-200-26056-665232
- Mechanical Engineer II at Plasser American Corp.$112,000ChesapeakeWage Level IIIDecided Feb 26, 2026I-200-26051-653113
- Mechanical Design Engineer at L&T Technology Services Limited$89,898HenricoWage Level IIDecided Feb 25, 2026I-200-26049-647504
- Senior Engineer at EPL America, LLC$66,706DanvilleWage Level IDecided Feb 24, 2026I-200-26048-645785
- EQUIPMENT ENGINEER at Micron Technology, Inc.$125,253ManassasWage Level IIDecided Feb 23, 2026I-200-26047-642874
- Senior Process Automation Models Engineer at TMEIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION$131,518ROANOKEWage Level IVDecided Feb 17, 2026I-200-26040-628725
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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Mechanical 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.
Mechanical Engineers specialties in Virginia
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 44 certified offers. The most common variant is Mechanical Engineer at a median of $104,624.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | Eaton Corporation | 20 | $104,624 |
| Equipment Engineer | Micron Technology, Inc. | 7 | $110,500 |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | L&T Technology Services Limited | 7 | $93,000 |
| Engineer | LinaSpace, LLC | 5 | $146,744 |
| Project Engineer | Integrated Global Services Inc. | 5 | $90,582 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Mechanical Engineers in Virginia, by industry
Median offered wage across 116 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $100,500.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Micron Technology, Inc. | 45 | $100,500 |
| Professional services | M.C. Dean, Inc. | 40 | $101,028 |
| Technology and software | Amazon Data Services, Inc. | 14 | $136,250 |
| Education | Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | 8 | $97,630 |
| Energy and utilities | Delorean Power Employment Services Co., Inc. (Sub. of Delorean Power LLC) | 5 | $126,901 |
| Retail and wholesale | AMAZON DATA SERVICES, INC. | 4 | $150,700 |
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)
- 4.9 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Mechanical
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
- 02
Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
- 03
Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
- 04
Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs.
- 05
Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
- 06
Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.
- 07
Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.
- 08
Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+9.0%
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 mechanical engineers in major Virginia metropolitan areas.
- Richmond$104,130
- Virginia Beach$100,280
Compare Mechanical Engineers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Virginia with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Mechanical Engineers in Virginia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Virginia is $104,180.
- How does Virginia compare to the national median for Mechanical Engineers?
- The Virginia median is -3.2% versus the BLS national figure of $107,639.
- What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers in Virginia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $77,840 and the 90th-percentile at $160,770, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Mechanical Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 9.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Mechanical 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.