As of January 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Chief Engineer in Virginia is $298,109, equivalent to $143 per hour, $5,733 weekly, or $24,842 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 $243,954 to $333,399. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($269,762) and 75th percentile ($316,581), while top earners (90th percentile) make $333,399 per year. This $46,819 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 $243,954 VA January 01, 2026
25th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $269,762 VA January 01, 2026
50th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $298,109 VA January 01, 2026
75th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $316,581 VA January 01, 2026
90th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $333,399 VA January 01, 2026
25% $269,762 10% $243,954 90% $333,399 75% $316,581 $298,109 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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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 $345,415 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Virginia State University, VA Avg. Salary $302,675 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Abingdon, VA Avg. Salary $272,226 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Accomac, VA Avg. Salary $293,409 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Achilles, VA Avg. Salary $292,661 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Afton, VA Avg. Salary $280,213 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Alberta, VA Avg. Salary $300,803 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Aldie, VA Avg. Salary $343,855 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Alexandria, VA Avg. Salary $345,415 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Altavista, VA Avg. Salary $281,991 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Job Openings for Chief Engineer in Virginia

Jobs with a similar salary range to Chief Engineer : Chief Engineer Officer