Expert Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Richmond, VA
Based on 88 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Richmond, VA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Glen Allen, Henrico, Mechanicsville, Chester, Midlothian.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $120,349 |
| 25th | $124,155 |
| 50th (median) | $130,000 |
| 75th | $151,383 |
| 90th | $174,120 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $105,600 | $105,102 | $124,800 | 56 |
| FY2021 | $118,000 | $103,782 | $131,311 | 51 |
| FY2022 | $115,585 | $108,306 | $135,653 | 48 |
| FY2023 | $124,800 | $111,342 | $155,200 | 44 |
| FY2024 | $135,409 | $120,349 | $150,172 | 54 |
| FY2025 | $130,858 | $120,349 | $152,910 | 59 |
| FY2026 | $124,155 | $124,155 | $149,371 | 29 |
Cost of living
Richmond's median expert Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $130,000 is worth about $132,800 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 $130,000, 17% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | $124,155 | 27 |
| Elevance Health | $147,502 | 14 |
| Accenture | too few | 3 |
| Genworth North America | too few | 3 |
| The Elevance Health Companies | too few | 3 |
| Capital One | too few | 2 |
| IBM | too few | 2 |
| Cotiviti | too few | 2 |
| Estes Express Lines | too few | 2 |
| Majesco | too few | 2 |
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.