Civil Engineer Salary in Virginia: $102K Median

The average Civil Engineer salary in Virginia is $101,643 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $68,900 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $153,287 (90th percentile). State income tax applies.

Civil Engineers in Virginia earn approximately 6% more than the US national median ($95,890 nationally vs $101,643 in Virginia). Virginia's cost-of-living index of 104 is close to the national average.

Yes — Civil Engineer salaries in Virginia grew approximately 470.0% year-over-year, from $17,832 in 2025 to $101,643 in 2026. This reflects the broader Engineering sector's wage growth, driven by BIM (Revit) and Sustainability/LEED demand.

Top-paying Virginia metros for Civil Engineers: Virginia Beach ($94K). Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay.

Civil engineering growing 6% with $1.2T US infrastructure investment driving demand through 2034. Virginia's top industries include Government/Defense, Tech (Data Centers), Shipbuilding, and the state's unemployment rate is 3.3% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.

Yes, Virginia has state income tax. This affects take-home pay — at $101,643, expect 4-7% effective state tax depending on filing status. See city pages for detailed take-home calculations.

Hottest 2026 skills: BIM (Revit), Sustainability/LEED, Climate-resilient design, Smart cities, Drone surveying. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with Virginia employers.

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. Beyond base, negotiate: 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. Walk-away anchor for Virginia: $90,753.