Are you thinking about launching your software engineering career in Virginia, or wondering if your current paycheck reflects your true value?
With insights drawn from software engineering roles across the state, this report uncovers what software engineers are really earning in Virginia in 2025. From entry-level newcomers to seasoned professionals, we dive into the numbers to reveal how education, experience, location, and leadership roles shape compensation. Whether you’re negotiating your next role or simply keeping pace with market trends, this guide offers a sharp look at what the Virginia tech scene is paying—and why.
Average Software Engineer Salary in Virginia
The median Virginia software engineer salary is $126,800 USD per year or $60.96 USD per hour. This figure provides insight into how much software engineers make in Virginia and serves as a benchmark for the software engineering salary in Virginia.
Salary Range Overview
How Software Engineers Salaries vary with
Factors Influencing Software Engineer Pay
Required Educational Level and Software Engineer Qualifications
The data reveals fascinating insights about Virginia’s software engineering market. While 75.39% of positions require only a bachelor’s degree, pursuing advanced education can lead to significantly higher compensation.
PhD holders earn on average 31% more than those with bachelor’s degrees, highlighting the premium placed on advanced technical expertise in Virginia’s competitive market.
Interestingly, master’s degree holders command 14% higher salaries than bachelor’s degree holders, suggesting that specialized knowledge and research experience are valued by Virginia employers. This makes sense given the state’s concentration of defense contractors, consulting firms, and technology companies that often work on complex, cutting-edge projects.
But here’s what many don’t realise: the education premium in Virginia isn’t just about the degree itself—it’s about the signal it sends to employers about your ability to tackle complex problems and lead technical initiatives. In a market where Virginia is home to the third-largest cybersecurity sector in the country and offers tech firms access to the highest concentration of tech talent, advanced degrees help you stand out.
Required Years of Experience and Software Engineer Wage Progression
The data shows the most dramatic salary acceleration occurs in the first few years of a software engineer’s career. The jump from entry-level (0 years) to just one year of experience represents a 47% increase in compensation, from a starting salary of $83,200 to $122,283. This suggests that Virginia’s tech market highly values even minimal real-world experience.
What’s particularly noteworthy is that the largest concentration of job postings (29.79%) targets engineers with 3 years of experience, indicating this is a sweet spot where companies feel confident in hiring. At this level, engineers have proven they can deliver results while still being cost-effective compared to senior talent.
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 3.19% | 6 |
| 1 year | 6.38% | 12 |
| 2 years | 17.55% | 33 |
| 3 years | 29.79% | 56 |
| 5 years | 25.53% | 48 |
| 6 years | 5.32% | 10 |
The progression continues steadily, with engineers reaching six-figure milestone consistently after their first year. By the 10+ year mark, salaries approach $200,000+, reflecting the premium Virginia companies place on senior technical leadership.
Seniority Level and Total Pay
The progression from entry-level to management represents a 125% increase in compensation, highlighting the significant value Virginia’s tech industry places on leadership capabilities and technical expertise. This trajectory reveals something crucial about Virginia’s software engineering market: it’s not just about coding skills—it’s about developing the ability to guide teams, make architectural decisions, and drive business outcomes.
Here’s where career strategy becomes critical. The jump from Senior to Lead level (15% increase) is substantial, but the leap to Manager (26% increase) is where compensation really accelerates. This reflects Virginia’s mature tech ecosystem, where companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta have significant operations, creating demand for experienced technical leaders who can scale teams and deliver enterprise-level solutions.
Cities with Highest Software Engineer Salary in Virginia
| City | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Tysons Corner | $260,000 | $125.00 |
| Richmond | $179,716.70 | $86.40 |
| Fort Belvoir | $166,255 | $79.93 |
| Chantilly | $150,657.10 | $72.43 |
| McLean | $142,925 | $68.71 |
| Reston | $141,789.80 | $68.17 |
| Herndon | $137,304.70 | $66.01 |
| Sterling | $135,313.20 | $65.06 |
| Charlottesville | $135,000 | $64.90 |
| Arlington | $122,415.60 | $58.85 |
Tysons Corner dominates the compensation landscape, offering the maximum software engineer salary in our dataset at $260,000 annually. This makes sense when you consider that Tysons Corner sits at the heart of Northern Virginia’s technology corridor, home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and government contractors.
Richmond’s tech scene is thriving with a projected 16% workforce growth, with major employers like Capital One and CarMax actively hiring in cybersecurity, data science, and software development. The $179,717 average salary in Richmond becomes even more attractive when considering the lower cost of living compared to Northern Virginia.
What’s particularly interesting is the geographic clustering of high-paying cities around the D.C. metro area. Virginia Tech’s new $1 billion, 1 million-square-foot graduate Innovation Campus in Alexandria will unite industry, government, and academia in dynamic project-based learning and research, which is likely to further drive demand and compensation in the region.
Fort Belvoir’s strong showing at $166,255 reflects the defense and cybersecurity focus in the area, while Virginia is home to the third-largest cybersecurity sector in the country, explaining the premium compensation for technical talent in this specialized field.
Top Paying Companies in Virginia
Here are the highest paying companies that consistently offer above-average salaries for software engineers in Virginia, representing some of the highest paying software engineering jobs in the state:
Highest Paying Employers
| Company | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Capital One | $234,950 | $112.96 |
| B4Corp | $215,625 | $103.67 |
| Hoplite Solutions | $202,500 | $97.36 |
| Trase | $195,000 | $93.75 |
| Halvik | $188,500 | $90.63 |
| MCKESSON | $188,250 | $90.50 |
| Amazon Web Services (AWS) | $176,450 | $84.83 |
| Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios | $176,450 | $84.83 |
| BAE Systems | $175,979 | $84.61 |
| Shift5 | $175,000 | — |
Capital One leads the pack with over 55,000 employees, focusing heavily on machine learning and digital innovation, seriously transforming how banking works, especially in their fintech division. Their $234,950 average salary reflects their position as a technology-first financial services company that competes directly with major tech companies for talent.
These organizations span diverse industry sectors including financial technology, defense contractors, cloud services, and specialized technical consulting, indicating strong demand for software engineering expertise across multiple industries. The presence of companies like AWS and Amazon MGM Studios demonstrates how Virginia has become a critical hub for major tech companies expanding beyond their traditional West Coast bases.
For a general insight on software engineering salaries for the United States, you can checkout 2025 Software Engineer Salary in US.
How to Maximize Your Software Engineer Salary Potential
Target the 1-3 Year Experience Sweet Spot
The data shows the most dramatic salary acceleration happens early in your career. The jump from 0 to 1 year of experience represents a 47% salary increase, making your first role critical for long-term earning potential. If you feel underpaid in your current position, consider exploring opportunities that value your growing experience.
Key Skills to Develop
- Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) – particularly valuable given AWS’s significant Virginia presence
- Cybersecurity skills – Virginia is home to the third-largest cybersecurity sector in the country
- AI/Machine Learning – growing demand across finance, defence, and government sectors
- Full-stack development capabilities
- DevOps and infrastructure automation
Explore our article on the in-demand software engineering skills in 2025
Future Trends in Software Engineering Salaries
Virginia’s tech scene is seriously taking off as we head into 2025! According to recent industry analysis, software developer roles are projected to grow by 25% through 2031, with the tech industry contributing $1.2 billion annually to the state’s economy.
The software engineering field in Virginia continues to evolve, with increasing focus on:
- Government and Defense Technology: Virginia’s proximity to D.C. and concentration of defense contractors creates unique opportunities for engineers with security clearances
- Financial Technology: Companies like Capital One are leading fintech innovation, driving demand for engineers with financial services experience
- Cybersecurity: As the third-largest cybersecurity hub in the country, Virginia offers premium compensation for security-focused engineers
- Cloud Infrastructure: The presence of major AWS data centers and cloud-first companies creates significant demand for cloud engineering expertise
- Artificial Intelligence: Analysts project that global IT spending will grow by 9.3% in 2025, with worldwide spending on AI anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 29% from 2024 to 2028
This total pay range demonstrates the significant earning potential for software engineers in Virginia. The data presented in this article was compiled through an analysis of 302 publicly available software engineering salaries in Virginia, cross-referenced with data from platforms like levels.fyi. Salaries, required education levels, experience expectations, seniority titles, and locations were extracted and analyzed to identify trends and calculate average and median figures. The data analysis provides the most up-to-date information on how much software engineers make in Virginia.
Conclusion
The software engineering profession offers exceptional earning potential across Virginia, with the median software engineer salary reaching $126,800 USD annually. While education provides a foundation, experience and specialization significantly influence salary levels. Location choices and industry selection have equally important impacts on total compensation and cash compensation packages.
Virginia ranks as the second-best state for tech professionals, right behind California, with over 330,000 professionals working across different sectors. The state’s unique combination of government contracting, financial services, cybersecurity, and traditional tech companies creates diverse opportunities for software engineers at all career stages.
For software engineers looking to maximize their earning potential, a strategic approach combining technical skill development, industry specialization, and geographic awareness is essential. Understanding salary trends and market dynamics will help you negotiate competitive compensation packages and advance your career effectively in Virginia’s thriving tech ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
