As of April 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Chief Engineer in Virginia is $298,271, equivalent to $143 per hour, $5,736 weekly, or $24,856 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Chief Engineer in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Chief Engineer in Virginia vary widely, spanning from $245,780 to $333,580. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($270,795) and 75th percentile ($316,753), while top earners (90th percentile) make $333,580 per year. This $45,958 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Leadership or Housekeeping, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, Virginia Chief Engineer often earn 0.7% higher than national averages due to demand from Fortune 73 companies. However, Virginia currently ranks 18 nationwide for Chief Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Chief Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $245,780 VA April 01, 2026
25th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $270,795 VA April 01, 2026
50th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $298,271 VA April 01, 2026
75th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $316,753 VA April 01, 2026
90th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $333,580 VA April 01, 2026
25% $270,795 10% $245,780 90% $333,580 75% $316,753 $298,271 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Program Chief Engineer

FIBERTEK, INC. - Oak Hill, VA

Data Center Chief Engineer

Addison Group - Ashburn, VA

Chief Engineer

Koniag Information Security Services, LLC - Arlington, VA

Chief Engineer

Forterra Inc. - Arlington, VA

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What is a Chief Engineer ?

A chief engineer, commonly referred to as "ChEng" or "Chief", is the seniormost engine officer of an engine department on a ship, typically a merchant ship, and holds overall leadership and responsibility of that department. As a person who holds one of the most senior roles on the ship, he or she must have excellent communication and leadership skills. He or she will be expected to regularly work alongside other crew members and external consultants, and most importantly, provide guidance his or her team. To be a chief engineer, an engineer must attain a chief engineer's license appropriate ...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/17/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Annandale, VA Avg. Salary $348,075 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Virginia State University, VA Avg. Salary $305,006 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Abingdon, VA Avg. Salary $274,323 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Accomac, VA Avg. Salary $295,669 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Achilles, VA Avg. Salary $294,914 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Afton, VA Avg. Salary $282,371 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Alberta, VA Avg. Salary $303,120 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Aldie, VA Avg. Salary $346,503 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Alexandria, VA Avg. Salary $348,075 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Altavista, VA Avg. Salary $284,163 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Job Openings for Chief Engineer in Virginia

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