H-1B Mechanical Engineer Salary in Virginia (2024)
Prevailing wages, top employers, and LCA data for H-1B mechanical engineers in Virginia.
Key Notes for Virginia
Newport News Shipbuilding
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding is the largest single-site private employer in Virginia and builds US Navy aircraft carriers and submarines. HII sponsors mechanical engineers for naval architecture, marine engineering, and shipyard manufacturing engineering roles.
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
The Hampton Roads area (Newport News, Norfolk, Virginia Beach) has the highest concentration of naval architects and marine engineers in the US. HII and BAE Systems sponsor ME H-1B for naval engineering specializations.
Defense Systems ME
Northern Virginia defense contractors (Northrop, SAIC, Leidos) sponsor MEs for weapons systems, electronic warfare platforms, and ground vehicle engineering. Many roles are ITAR-sensitive; some are accessible to H-1B.
MITRE Cap-Exempt
MITRE Corporation sponsors engineers for systems engineering and technical advisory roles supporting federal programs. MITRE is cap-exempt for qualifying research positions.
Top H-1B Employers
- Northrop Grumman (Newport News)
- Huntington Ingalls Industries
- General Dynamics (Bath Iron Works / Fairfax)
- Leidos Engineering
- Booz Allen Hamilton (engineering)
- BAE Systems (VA)
- MITRE Corporation
- ManTech International
- Orbital Sciences (Northrop)
- Dominion Energy
Top Cities in Virginia
- Newport News
- Norfolk
- Virginia Beach
- Hampton
- Arlington
- Fairfax
- Reston
- Charlottesville
- Richmond
- Herndon
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for mechanical engineers in Virginia?
DOL prevailing wages for Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141) in DC-Arlington MSA range from ~$78K (Level I) to ~$136K (Level IV). Hampton Roads MSA has slightly lower prevailing wages. Northern Virginia median is approximately $108,000.
Does Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) sponsor H-1B mechanical engineers?
Yes. HII is one of Virginia's largest industrial employers and sponsors H-1B for shipbuilding MEs, naval architects, and marine engineers. Many positions are ITAR-controlled (US persons preferred) but HII does have a broader H-1B program for technical roles.
What naval engineering H-1B opportunities exist in Virginia?
Newport News (HII) and Norfolk (BAE Systems ship repair, Navy contractors) are the primary naval ME H-1B employers. Naval architect (SOC 17-2121) and marine engineer roles are adjacent to ME. HII and BAE Systems both sponsor international engineers for their shipbuilding programs.
How does Virginia compare to Maryland for H-1B mechanical engineers?
Virginia leads in naval/marine ME (HII, BAE). Maryland leads in aerospace ME (Northrop Grumman BWI, Lockheed Martin Bethesda). Both are defense-heavy. Northern Virginia also has more systems engineering ME roles at defense contractors than Maryland. Virginia edges out on total ME H-1B volume.
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