How to Become a Chemical Engineer in Virginia: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median chemical engineer salary in Virginia is $136,380 per year - 9% above the national median of $125,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in chemical engineering.
Chemical Engineer Salary in Virginia
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia entry level (10th percentile) | $92,540 |
| Virginia 25th-75th percentile | $100,680 - $156,080 |
| Virginia median | $136,380 |
| Virginia top earners (90th percentile) | $176,950 |
| U.S. median | $125,040 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 790.
The Virginia Job Market: Chemical Engineer
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Virginia | 790 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 0.19 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 1.42 |
| Mean annual wage in Virginia | $133,340 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 1.42, Virginia employs chemical engineers at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.
Requirements in Virginia
The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in chemical engineering - while licensing runs through Virginia’s own boards: PE license for consulting and some senior roles. Verify current requirements with the Virginia licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become a Chemical Engineer.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $79,420 |
| 25th | $97,820 |
| 50th (median) | $125,040 |
| 75th | $157,190 |
| 90th | $182,880 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 21,600 |
| 2034 projected | 22,100 |
| Percent change | +2.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a chemical engineer make in Virginia?
The median annual wage for chemical engineers in Virginia is $136,380 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 9% above the national median of $125,040.
How do I become a chemical engineer in Virginia?
The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in chemical engineering - with licensing administered at the state level: PE license for consulting and some senior roles. See the steps below.
How many chemical engineers work in Virginia?
BLS counts about 790 chemical engineers employed in Virginia (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Chemical Engineer in Nearby States
- Chemical Engineer in Texas
- Chemical Engineer in Utah
- Chemical Engineer in Washington
- Chemical Engineer in West Virginia
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Chemical Engineers (SOC 17-2041), Virginia and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |