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2026 Salary Data — Virginia Beach, VA
Updated April 28, 2026

Electrical Engineer Salary in Virginia Beach: $108K Median

Electrical Engineers in Virginia Beach, VA earn between $74K and $172K per year.

That's -2% below the US national median of $110,540 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Electrical Engineer salary in Virginia Beach, VA is $108,329 per year — -2% below the US national median of $110,540. Salaries range from $73,500 (entry, 25th percentile) to $171,500 (90th percentile). Electrical Engineers in Virginia Beach earned approximately $19,005 in 2025, representing 470.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$108,329
+470.0% YoY · $9,027/mo
Entry
$73,500
0–2 years
Experienced
$142,100
5+ years
Top 10%
$171,500
Senior/lead
Electrical Engineer Salary — Virginia Beach vs Nearby
Virginia Beach
$108K
Charlotte
$113K
-4% vs Virginia Beach
Fort Worth
$113K
-4% vs Virginia Beach
Mesa
$108K
+0% vs Virginia Beach

Free ATS scan · Virginia Beach employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Electrical Engineers in Virginia Beach

Electrical engineers design and develop electrical equipment, systems, and circuits. Work spans power, electronics, telecommunications, and embedded systems.

Core Responsibilities

  • Circuit design
  • PCB layout
  • Embedded systems
  • Power systems analysis
  • Testing and validation

Education & Certifications

Typical path: Bachelor's degree (ABET); MS preferred for advanced roles

In-demand certifications

PE LicenseSix SigmaIEEE membership

Virginia Beach Job Market

Military and tourism hub with strong defense industry.

Population
459K
Cost of Living
100
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
3.8%
Median Home
$360K

Top Industries in Virginia Beach

Military/NavalTourismDefenseHealthcare

Top Employers Hiring Electrical Engineers

Major employers active in Virginia Beach or hiring remotely from this metro.

Apple
Tesla
Intel
NVIDIA
Qualcomm
GE
Lockheed Martin
SpaceX

All major employers use ATS software.

Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, and iCIMS auto-screen 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. Scan your resume free to see your match rate.

2026 Hot Skills & Resume Keywords

Skills that command salary premiums and pass ATS keyword filters.

Hottest 2026 Skills

These appear in the highest-paying Electrical Engineer listings.

Power electronics for EVSemiconductorsIoTAI hardwareRenewable energy systems

ATS Resume Keywords

Include these naturally throughout your resume.

PCB designAltiumKiCadembedded systemsC/C++MATLABFPGApower systemsIoT
Career Outlook
+9% Growth Projected (2024-2034)

Strong 9% growth driven by EV, renewable energy, semiconductors, and AI hardware demand.

Electrical Engineer Salary Breakdown — Virginia Beach

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$73,500$108,329$171,500
Monthly$6,125$9,027$14,292
Weekly$1,413$2,083$3,298
Hourly$35$52$82

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($110,540) adjusted for Virginia Beach's cost-of-living multiplier (0.98×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Electrical Engineer Take-Home Pay in Virginia Beach

After federal, state and FICA taxes — single filer, standard deduction.

Net Annual Take-Home
$79,091.002
Per month$6,591
Biweekly paycheck$3,042
Effective tax rate27.0%

Tax Breakdown on $108,329

Gross salary$108,329
Federal income tax−$15,534.38
Virginia state tax−$5,416.45
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$8,287.169
Take-home (net)$79,091.002

Estimates assume single filer, standard deduction ($14,600 for 2026), no 401(k)/HSA/dependents. Actual take-home varies with deductions, dependents, and benefits elections. Not tax advice.

Electrical Engineer Salary by Experience — Virginia Beach

Career-stage progression for Electrical Engineers in Virginia Beach.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$67,620
2–3 yr$73,500
4–6 yr$107,800
7–10 yr$142,100
11–15 yr$167,678
15+ yr$156,800

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Virginia Beach's 0.98× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+470.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$19,005
2026 median:$108,329
Change:+$89,324

Engineering sector growth driven by demand for Power electronics for EV and Semiconductors.

Is This A Good Salary?

Excellent

Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$108,329
Solidly middle-class on the median - manageable, but disciplined budgeting is needed to save aggressively or buy a home.

How to Negotiate Your Electrical Engineer Salary in Virginia Beach

Walk-away anchor: $96,722 (offers below this are below market for Virginia Beach).

Leverage Points

  • PE license carries a clear pay premium (often 10-15%) - cite it explicitly
  • Project-specific experience: EV powertrain, semiconductor fab, infrastructure megaprojects
  • Per-diem, travel pay, and relocation are negotiable separately from base
  • Software-adjacent skills (Python, MATLAB, simulation, MLOps) raise the ceiling

Beyond Base Salary, Negotiate

PE license exam fees, study materials, review coursesRelocation package and temporary housingProject-completion or milestone bonusesPer-diem for site travel and field workTuition reimbursement for MS/PhD

What To Say

"With my PE license and direct experience on [comparable project], market for this role is $X. I'd like base at that level plus a relocation package and project-completion bonus."

Anchor on $142K–$172K for experienced roles, citing Virginia Beach market data and your specific Power electronics for EV/Semiconductors expertise.

Electrical Engineer Salary FAQ — Virginia Beach

What is the average Electrical Engineer salary in Virginia Beach, VA?
The average Electrical Engineer salary in Virginia Beach is $108,329 per year as of April 2026 — $9,027/month, $2,083/week, or about $52/hour. Salaries range from $73,500 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $171,500 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Virginia Beach's cost-of-living multiplier (0.98×).
Is $108,329 a good Electrical Engineer salary in Virginia Beach?
Excellent. Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic. Virginia Beach's cost-of-living index is 100 (vs 100 nationally), giving $108,329 a real purchasing power of approximately $108,329 in national terms. Solidly middle-class on the median - manageable, but disciplined budgeting is needed to save aggressively or buy a home.
Can you live on $108,329 in Virginia Beach?
Dual-income households support a comfortable family lifestyle. Single-earner families on the median may need to compromise on neighborhood, square footage, or college savings. Aim for 28-30% of pre-tax income on rent. The classic 30% rule still works here, though housing costs are creeping up faster than wages. For Virginia Beach specifically (median home price $360,000), a $108,329 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $108,329 enough for a single person in Virginia Beach?
A single adult in Virginia Beach typically needs ~$45,000 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $108,329 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $108,329 enough for a couple in Virginia Beach?
A couple (one earner) in Virginia Beach typically needs ~$72,000 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $108,329 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $108,329 each ($216,658 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $108,329 enough for a family of 4 in Virginia Beach?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Virginia Beach typically needs ~$110,000 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $108,329 salary as the sole household income is below the comfortable threshold — most families need a second income or to live in cheaper suburbs/exurbs of Virginia Beach. Childcare costs in Virginia Beach typically run $15K-$28K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Electrical Engineer in Virginia Beach?
On a $108,329 Electrical Engineer salary in Virginia Beach, VA, you take home approximately $79,091.002 per year ($6,591/month, $3,042 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $15,534.38, state $5,416.45, FICA $8,287.169. Effective tax rate: 27.0%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Electrical Engineers in Virginia Beach earn compared to the US average?
Electrical Engineers in Virginia Beach earn approximately 2% less than the US national median for this role ($110,540 nationally vs $108,329 in Virginia Beach). However, Virginia Beach's cost-of-living index of 100 means real purchasing power is approximately $108,329 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Electrical Engineer earn in Virginia Beach?
Entry-level Electrical Engineers in Virginia Beach typically start at around $73,500 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Electrical Engineers earn $142,100 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $171,500+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Electrical Engineer salaries in Virginia Beach increase in 2026?
Yes — Electrical Engineer salaries in Virginia Beach grew approximately 470.0% year-over-year, from $19,005 in 2025 to $108,329 in 2026 (+$89,324). This reflects the broader Engineering sector's compensation trend, driven by Power electronics for EV and Semiconductors demand.
What's the job outlook for Electrical Engineers in Virginia Beach?
Strong 9% growth driven by EV, renewable energy, semiconductors, and AI hardware demand. Virginia Beach's top industries include Military/Naval, Tourism, Defense, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 3.8% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.
What skills are most in demand for Electrical Engineers in 2026?
The hottest 2026 skills for Electrical Engineers are: Power electronics for EV, Semiconductors, IoT, AI hardware, Renewable energy systems. ATS systems specifically scan for these keywords. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate with employers in Virginia Beach.
Who are the top employers hiring Electrical Engineers in Virginia Beach?
Top employers hiring Electrical Engineers in or near Virginia Beach include: Apple, Tesla, Intel, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, GE. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even get a human reader.
How do I negotiate a higher Electrical Engineer salary in Virginia Beach?
With my PE license and direct experience on [comparable project], market for this role is $X. I'd like base at that level plus a relocation package and project-completion bonus. Key leverage points for Engineering negotiations: PE license carries a clear pay premium (often 10-15%) - cite it explicitly; Project-specific experience: EV powertrain, semiconductor fab, infrastructure megaprojects; Per-diem, travel pay, and relocation are negotiable separately from base. Beyond base salary, negotiate for: PE license exam fees, study materials, review courses, Relocation package and temporary housing, Project-completion or milestone bonuses, Per-diem for site travel and field work.
How can I increase my Electrical Engineer salary in Virginia Beach?
Three highest-leverage moves: (1) Add 2026's hot skills (Power electronics for EV, Semiconductors, IoT) — they command 15-30% premiums. (2) Get a recognized certification (e.g., PE License or Six Sigma). (3) Tailor your resume to each role's keywords — CVCraft's ATS scanner shows you exactly what's missing.
What education do I need to become a Electrical Engineer in Virginia Beach?
Bachelor's degree (ABET); MS preferred for advanced roles is the typical path. However, Virginia Beach's competitive market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly for Engineering roles.

Methodology & Sources

Electrical Engineer salary figures for Virginia Beach are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($110,540) by Virginia Beach's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.98× — a composite of regional wage data and price parities. Year-over-year change (470.0%) reflects the Engineering sector's 2025-2026 wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

Related Roles in Virginia Beach

Mechanical Engineer →Civil Engineer →

Electrical Engineer Salary in Other Cities

Phoenix, AZ$111KSan Antonio, TX$103KFort Worth, TX$113KColumbus, OH$107KCharlotte, NC$113KIndianapolis, IN$103KDetroit, MI$103KNashville, TN$111K

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