0.1% higher than the US national median ($104,104)
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Is this a competitive Mechanical Engineers salary in Virginia in 2026?
Based on BLS OEWS wage percentiles, JOLTS May 2026 demand signals, and ECI Q1 2026 wage growth.
$Competitive · ~P50
P10$78K
P25$85K
P50$104K
P75$131K
P90$161K
Drag the dot or type an amount above.
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Demand: HOT. Demand is hot -- professional & business services job openings are running at 6.2% (JOLTS, May 2026), a tight market. Candidates have leverage, so a competitive offer sits at or above the median; below-median offers often will not close.
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Merit budget: Wages in professional services are rising about 2.6% a year (BLS ECI, Q1 2026). Budget a 2.2-2.7% merit increase to hold this role at market.
Bottom line
For a competitive 2026 offer, target $104,187 to $131,248 (market median to the 75th percentile). Lean toward the top of the range for senior or hard-to-fill roles.
Figures are market benchmarks from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; apply professional judgment before making pay decisions.
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The median salary for Mechanical Engineers in Virginia is $104,187 per year ($50.09/hr). This is 0.1% higher than the national median of $104,104.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.
Wage Percentiles: Virginia
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours) · National adjusted
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
vs National
P10Entry level
$37.42
$77,834
+5.2%
P25
$41.06
$85,405
+1.5%
P50MEDIAN
$50.09
$104,187
+0.1%
P75
$63.10
$131,248
-1.0%
P90Top earners
$77.29
$160,763
-2.2%
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P10–P90 breakdown, career outlook, industry wages, and JOLTS market signal for Mechanical Engineers
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Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+9.1%
Much faster than average
Annual openings
18K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
293K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
15% from new growth85% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 2 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
NAICS 541300
61K
$103,440
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only)
NAICS 3330A1
29K
$97,620
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median mechanical engineers salary in Virginia?
The median (P50) annual salary for Mechanical Engineers in Virginia is approximately $104,187, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. This is 0.1% higher than the national median of $104,104. For the full P10–P90 breakdown and market context, open CompSignal.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
CompSignal is a free labor market intelligence tool built for HR, compensation, and talent acquisition teams. We make BLS data, the same primary source Mercer and Radford cross-reference in their paid surveys, searchable and actionable without an enterprise subscription.
Built and maintained by Falcon Incentives, a compensation strategy and incentive design consultancy.