Virginia·Architecture and Engineering Occupations·SOC 17-2199

Best Engineer, All Other programs in Virginia, ranked by enrollment

All engineers not listed.

35 schools in Virginia run programs that feed this job, graduating 1,404 people a year. The job pays a median of $148,160 in Virginia across about 5,060 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledEngineerLaser EngineerSolar DesignerDesign EngineerEnergy EngineerOptical EngineerProcess EngineerProject Engineer
Graduates / yr
1,404
in Virginia
Median pay · Virginia
$148,160
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
5,060
people employed
Schools
35
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
53%
across those schools
Median net price
$21,933
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Virginia that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

Engineering
CIP 14.01
Engineering
776graduates / yr
25 schools · 1 specialization · 55.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $67,734
Engineering
CIP 14.27
Systems Engineering
251graduates / yr
4 schools · 1 specialization · 17.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $79,942
Engineering
CIP 14.99
Engineering
229graduates / yr
5 schools · 1 specialization · 16.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $73,678
Engineering
CIP 14.33
Construction Engineering
47graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 3.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $75,998
Engineering
CIP 14.13
Engineering Science
34graduates / yr
4 schools · 1 specialization · 2.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $73,378
Engineering
CIP 14.38
Surveying Engineering
20graduates / yr
4 schools · 1 specialization · 1.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $72,931
Engineering
CIP 14.11
Engineering Mechanics
16graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 1.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $77,174
Engineering
CIP 14.12
Engineering Physics
9graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 0.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $57,457
Engineering
CIP 14.36
Manufacturing Engineering
6graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $72,154
Engineering
CIP 14.07
Chemical Engineering
5graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $73,072
Engineering
CIP 14.24
Ocean Engineering
5graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $69,707
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
CIP 15.16
Nanotechnology
4graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Engineering
CIP 14.10
Electrical
2graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $77,636

13 programs in Virginia that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Virginia (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Virginia page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1
CIP 14.0101In Virginia
776
55.3%
25$67,734$24,375
2
CIP 14.2701In Virginia
251
17.9%
4$79,942$20,500
3
CIP 14.9999In Virginia
229
16.3%
5$73,678$22,938
4
CIP 14.3301In Virginia
47
3.3%
1$75,998$25,314
5
CIP 14.1301In Virginia
34
2.4%
4$73,378$17,083
6
CIP 14.3801In Virginia
20
1.4%
4$72,931
7
CIP 14.1101In Virginia
16
1.1%
1$77,174$26,966
8
CIP 14.1201In Virginia
9
0.6%
3$57,457$24,706
9
CIP 14.3601In Virginia
6
0.4%
1$72,154$21,457
10
CIP 14.2401In Virginia
5
0.4%
1$69,707$26,500
11
CIP 14.0702In Virginia
5
0.4%
1$73,072$23,399
12
Nanotechnologymain feeder
CIP 15.1601In Virginia
4
0.3%
1
13
CIP 14.1004In Virginia
2
0.1%
1$77,636$25,000

Top 25 schools in Virginia

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 6 of the 35 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA Public · 3 feeder programs
233Engineering, General46%90%
2Northern Virginia Community College
Annandale, VA Public · 2 feeder programs
230Engineering, General$16,79033%
3University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, VA Public · 3 feeder programs
230Systems Engineering$91,17896%17%
4Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA Public · 5 feeder programs
95Construction Engineering$82,62786%55%
5James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA Public · 1 feeder programs
78Engineering, General$71,17680%72%
6Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA Public · 4 feeder programs
69Engineering, Other63%93%
7Tidewater Community College
Norfolk, VA Public · 2 feeder programs
67Engineering, General$68,55532%
8George Mason University
Fairfax, VA Public · 2 feeder programs
46Systems Engineering$84,94268%87%
9Germanna Community College
Locust Grove, VA Public · 1 feeder programs
35Engineering, General46%
10ECPI University
Virginia Beach, VA Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
32Systems Engineering42%$21,90975%
11Virginia Western Community College
Roanoke, VA Public · 1 feeder programs
32Engineering, General40%
12Brightpoint Community College
Chester, VA Public · 1 feeder programs
30Engineering, General38%
13J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Richmond, VA Public · 1 feeder programs
30Engineering, General32%
14Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
26Engineering Science94%$11,98314%
15Virginia Peninsula Community College
Hampton, VA Public · 1 feeder programs
24Engineering, General34%
16Laurel Ridge Community College
Middletown, VA Public · 1 feeder programs
20Engineering, General45%
17Randolph - Macon College
Ashland, VA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
18Engineering, General70%$26,49887%
18Piedmont Virginia Community College
Charlottesville, VA Public · 1 feeder programs
16Engineering, General39%
19Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
13Engineering, General67%$21,933100%
20Southwest Virginia Community College
Cedar Bluff, VA Public · 1 feeder programs
12Engineering, General46%
21Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, VA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
11Engineering Science52%$22,70476%
22Mountain Empire Community College
Big Stone Gap, VA Public · 2 feeder programs
10Surveying Engineering48%
23Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
9Engineering, General65%$28,91199%
24Roanoke College
Salem, VA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
7Engineering Science67%$24,60483%
25Central Virginia Community College
Lynchburg, VA Public · 1 feeder programs
6Engineering, General45%

All 35 schools in Virginia

Every school in Virginia with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.

All schools in Virginia that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
Old Dominion UniversityNorfolkPublic2333
Northern Virginia Community CollegeAnnandalePublic2302
University of Virginia - Main CampusCharlottesvillePublic2303
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburgPublic955
James Madison UniversityHarrisonburgPublic781
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondPublic694
Tidewater Community CollegeNorfolkPublic672
George Mason UniversityFairfaxPublic462
Germanna Community CollegeLocust GrovePublic351
ECPI UniversityVirginia BeachPrivate for-profit321
Virginia Western Community CollegeRoanokePublic321
Brightpoint Community CollegeChesterPublic301
J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeRichmondPublic301
Washington and Lee UniversityLexingtonPrivate not-for-profit262
Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeHamptonPublic241

What engineers, all other earn in Virginia

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in Virginia
$148,160
Mean annual
$145,830
Jobs in state
5,060
What the range looks like
10th pct$84,590Median$148,16090th pct$195,190
Versus the national median
+20.5%

U.S. median $122,930. Virginia pays above the national figure.

Job concentration
1.24×

Concentrated here: Virginia employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.

Metro areas in Virginia

Charlottesville, VA
$153,340median
50 jobs
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
$138,590median
1,250 jobs
Richmond, VA
$107,990median
330 jobs
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
$108,810median
110 jobs
Roanoke, VA
$95,370median
70 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+2.1%
About as fast as average
Openings per year
9,300
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
3,300
158,800 → 162,100
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.

How to get in

The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Engineers, All Other page.

How to become a Engineer, All Other

Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Top skills

Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionWritingActive ListeningSpeakingMathematics

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in Virginia

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 25 majors mapped to Engineers, All Other25 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 14.0101Engineering, General
  • 14.0103Applied Engineering
  • 14.0401Architectural Engineering
  • 14.0702Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
  • 14.0802Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
  • 14.0805Water Resources Engineering
  • 14.1003Laser and Optical Engineering
  • 14.1004Telecommunications Engineering
  • 14.1101Engineering Mechanics
  • 14.1201Engineering Physics/Applied Physics
  • 14.1301Engineering Science
  • 14.2401Ocean Engineering
  • 14.2701Systems Engineering
  • 14.3301Construction Engineering
  • 14.3401Forest Engineering
  • 14.3601Manufacturing Engineering
  • 14.3801Surveying Engineering
  • 14.3901Geological/Geophysical Engineering
  • 14.4001Paper Science and Engineering
  • 14.4101Electromechanical Engineering
  • 14.4201Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering
  • 14.4301Biochemical Engineering
  • 14.4401Engineering Chemistry
  • 14.4501Biological/Biosystems Engineering
  • 14.4701Electrical and Computer Engineering

Common questions

Answers for people weighing engineers, all other programs in Virginia.

What degree do you need to become an Engineer, All Other?+

Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Engineering, General, which awarded 776 degrees in Virginia in 2024-25, 55.3% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming an Engineer, All Other?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 13 programs to this occupation. The largest are Engineering, Systems Engineering, Engineering, Construction Engineering, plus 9 more. Together they graduate about 1,404 people a year in Virginia.

How much do engineers, all other earn in Virginia?+

The median is $148,160 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 20.5% above the U.S. median of $122,930. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.

Is demand for engineers, all other growing?+

BLS projects a +2.1% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 9,300 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in Virginia?+

35 institutions in Virginia reported graduates from at least one of the 13 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.

What other job titles do engineers, all other work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Engineer, Laser Engineer, Solar Designer, Design Engineer, Energy Engineer, Optical Engineer among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 17-2199.

About the data on this page

Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).

  • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics

    May 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.

  • IPEDS Completions

    2024-25 (provisional)

    Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.

  • College Scorecard, Field of Study

    2020-21 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

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