📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release

Materials Engineer Salary in Virginia (2026)

Virginia · 10.0% above national average · Medium Demand

Average
$111,243
per year
Median
$106,502
per year
Hourly
$53.48
per hour
🏛️ Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
📅 Dataset: OES May 2025
🔄 Published: May 2026
📍 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
📊
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$73,628
25th Percentile — Junior$94,110
50th Percentile — Median$106,502
75th Percentile — Senior$140,195
90th Percentile — Top Earners$157,245
💡 Top-earning Materials Engineers in Virginia make up to $157,245 per year. The job market in Virginia is rated very strong, with key industries including Government, Technology, Defense.
📈
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$96.9k
2021
$99.6k
2022
$102.4k
2023
$105.3k
2024
$108.2k
2025
$111.2k
2026
📈 Materials Engineer salaries in Virginia have followed the national trend with 2.8% annual growth. The strong presence in Virginia's job market supports continued salary increases.
🗺️
Materials Engineer Salary by City in Virginia
Geographic salary comparison
CityAvg Salaryvs NationalDemand
Virginia Beach $116,805 +5.0% Medium
Richmond $113,468 +2.0% Medium
🔍
Materials Engineer Job Market in Virginia
Key factors affecting compensation

Virginia is home to a very strong job market for Materials Engineers. The state's key industries — Government, Technology, Defense — generate significant demand for skilled professionals. At $111,243 per year, Virginia's Materials Engineer salaries are 10.0% higher than the national average.

The cost of living in Virginia (index: 1.1) justifies the higher pay scale. Entry-level professionals in Virginia can expect to earn $73,628–$94,110, while experienced Materials Engineers can command $140,195–$157,245.

Looking ahead, the Materials Engineer profession in Virginia is projected to grow at 2.8% annually. Major employers are actively hiring, and the state's investment in Government continues to drive new opportunities for qualified candidates.

🏛️ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
⚖️
Compare with Similar Jobs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
  • The average Materials Engineer salary in Virginia is $111,243 per year in 2026, which is 10.0% above the national average of $101,130.
  • Major metro areas typically pay Materials Engineers the highest wages in Virginia due to higher costs of living and competitive job markets.
  • Virginia has a very strong job market with major industries in Government, Technology, Defense. This makes it one of the better states for Materials Engineer employment.
  • At $111,243/year, Virginia Materials Engineer salaries are 10.0% higher than the national average of $101,130/year.