Electrical Engineer salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Electrical Engineers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $103,210 a year ($49.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,410 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $152,580 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $120,630. Pay here is 13% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $119,030. There are 1.8 electrical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $110,810, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for electrical engineers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,820 | $38.38 |
| 25th percentile | $91,780 | $44.13 |
| Median | $103,210 | $49.62 |
| 75th percentile | $127,500 | $61.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $152,580 | $73.36 |
| Average (mean) | $110,810 | $53.27 |
Half of electrical engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,600.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,300.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,969.62 |
| Weekly | $1,984.81 |
| Hourly | $49.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Electrical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $130,240 | 1,500 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $129,030 | 1,020 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $126,420 | 4,450 |
| Asheville, NC | $123,480 | 300 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $122,600 | 110 |
| Burlington, NC | $119,650 | 30 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $117,480 | 440 |
| Richmond, VA | $116,760 | 1,160 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $114,280 | 40 |
| Roanoke, VA | $108,930 | 270 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $107,750 | 230 |
| Wilmington, NC | $105,130 | 350 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $104,230 | 60 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $103,940 | 90 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $103,360 | 1,770 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $101,260 | 50 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $100,900 | 130 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $98,670 | 160 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $95,920 | 160 |
| Greenville, NC | $95,060 | 70 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $91,180 | 210 |
Highest-paying states for electrical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,520 |
| California | $144,040 |
| District of Columbia | $143,000 |
| New Hampshire | $135,710 |
| Washington | $132,710 |
| Texas | $129,450 |
| Idaho | $129,340 |
| Massachusetts | $127,720 |
| Delaware | $126,970 |
| Alaska | $125,970 |
See Electrical Engineer pay in every state or the Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | $100,280 | $48.21 |
| Civil Engineer | $94,680 | $45.52 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $110,510 | $53.13 |
| Engineers, All Other | $138,590 | $66.63 |
| Industrial Engineer | $101,500 | $48.80 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $102,060 | $49.07 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $139,010 | $66.83 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $131,710 | $63.32 |
| Environmental Engineer | $102,110 | $49.09 |
| Materials Engineer | $116,720 | $56.12 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $97,870 | $47.06 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $102,720 | $49.39 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $96,870 | $46.57 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $57,760 | $27.77 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for electrical engineers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $103,210 a year, or $49.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $152,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid electrical engineers make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of electrical engineers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $152,580 a year. The top 25% earn $127,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for electrical engineers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,820 a year, and a quarter of electrical engineers earn $91,780 or less.
How many electrical engineers work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 1,410 electrical engineers are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.