Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Richmond, VA
Based on 379 certified H-1B filings in the Richmond, VA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Glen Allen, Henrico, Mechanicsville, Chester, Midlothian.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $80,246 |
| 25th | $85,488 |
| 50th (median) | $100,298 |
| 75th | $123,550 |
| 90th | $142,545 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $87,000 | $76,419 | $103,605 | 308 |
| FY2021 | $90,000 | $74,014 | $105,000 | 263 |
| FY2022 | $93,413 | $78,499 | $108,306 | 240 |
| FY2023 | $98,710 | $73,965 | $120,000 | 180 |
| FY2024 | $94,020 | $80,246 | $117,333 | 262 |
| FY2025 | $100,298 | $80,246 | $120,349 | 261 |
| FY2026 | $104,811 | $85,625 | $124,155 | 118 |
Cost of living
Richmond's median Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $100,298 is worth about $102,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Richmond = 97.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in the Richmond, VA area earned a median of $111,070 in May 2025 (1,280 employed). The H-1B median here is $100,298, 10% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | $104,811 | 127 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | $80,246 | 31 |
| HCLTech | $112,065 | 17 |
| Elevance Health | $147,392 | 17 |
| Infosys | $85,488 | 16 |
| UST | $108,478 | 10 |
| Compunnel Software Group | too few | 7 |
| Estes Express Lines | too few | 5 |
| IBM | too few | 4 |
| Warecodes | too few | 4 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $69,921 | 12 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $85,488 | 169 |
| Senior · Level III | $104,811 | 110 |
| Expert · Level IV | $130,000 | 88 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $60,195 | $69,921 | 12 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $80,246 | $85,488 | 169 |
| Senior · Level III | $100,298 | $104,811 | 110 |
| Expert · Level IV | $120,349 | $130,000 | 88 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.