Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other Salary
In Virginia, engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others earn $98,410 at the median, or about $47.31 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $103,819 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 26.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $98K get you in Virginia?
About engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others
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What this looks like in Virginia
Virginia sits well above the national pay line for engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other, local pay runs about 26% higher than the U.S. median of $78K. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other salary by metro in Virginia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $78K | -21% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $98K, rent takes 27.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,840/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other a high-paying job in Virginia?
Local pay is 26% above the national median — $98K here vs. $78K nationally.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others?
Virginia pays $98K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s +26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $104K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others make in Virginia?
The median is $98,410 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,000, and experienced engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others can clear $131,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,040/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 27.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other salary is worth about $103,819 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.