Mechanical Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Virginia is $104,180/year ($50.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $161K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $109,906 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 25% 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 $104K get you in Virginia?
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What this looks like in Virginia
Mechanical engineers pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $104K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 0% difference. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.9% 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $161K or more, a $83K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers salary by metro in Virginia
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $106K | +2% | 170 |
| Richmond | $104K | -0% | 640 |
| Roanoke | $102K | -2% | 280 |
| Winchester | $100K | -4% | 40 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $100K | -4% | 2,210 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $98K | -6% | 170 |
| Lynchburg | $95K | -9% | 200 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $84K | -19% | 190 |
Compare to other states
Track mechanical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 25.9% 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 mechanical engineers in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,670/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is mechanical engineer a high-paying job in Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $104K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Virginia pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $110K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Virginia?
The median is $104,180 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,840, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $160,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,350/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 25.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a mechanical engineers 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 mechanical engineers salary is worth about $109,906 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do mechanical engineers 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.