Chemical Engineers · Virginia

Chemical Engineers Salary in Virginia

Chemical Engineers in Virginia earn a median annual wage of $136,380 —9.1% above the national median of $125,040. That ranks VA #2 of 41 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$136,380
Median hourly
$65.57
Entry level (P10)
$92,540
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$176,950
90th percentile
Employment
790
0.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+9.1%
U.S. $125,040

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$92,540
$100,680
$136,380
$156,080
$92,540$136,380$176,950
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $136,380.

Employment is 1.42× as concentrated as the national average, making Virginia a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for chemical engineers

All 41 states ranked by median annual wage. Virginia is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1New Mexico$158,190$76.051601.33
2Virginia$136,380$65.577901.42
3Alabama$135,030$64.926002.08
4Louisiana$134,800$64.817302.80
5Delaware$133,670$64.273705.59
6Texas$132,750$63.822,6101.37
7West Virginia$129,210$62.121601.65
8New York$129,060$62.055400.41
9Washington$128,290$61.686501.36
10Oklahoma$127,790$61.441100.46

Related occupations in Virginia

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Virginia.

OccupationVirginia medianU.S. median
Civil Engineers$97,120$100,840
Industrial Engineers$102,550$102,440
Mechanical Engineers$104,180$104,110
Electrical Engineers$119,030$120,630
Engineers, All Other$148,160$122,930
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$97,680$99,280

Frequently asked questions

How much do chemical engineers make in Virginia?

The median annual wage for chemical engineers in Virginia is $136,380, or $65.57 per hour. That is 9.1% above the national median of $125,040.

What is the entry-level chemical engineers salary in Virginia?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $92,540 per year ($44.49/hour). The 25th percentile is $100,680.

How many people work as chemical engineers in Virginia?

About 790 people work in this occupation in Virginia, or 0.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Virginia a good state for chemical engineers?

Virginia ranks #2 of 41 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.42x as concentrated as the national average, making Virginia a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays chemical engineers the most?

New Mexico has the highest median wage at $158,190 per year, followed by Virginia ($136,380) and Alabama ($135,030).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes