Senior Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Richmond, VA
Based on 110 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Richmond, VA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Glen Allen, Henrico, Mechanicsville, Chester, Midlothian.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $100,298 |
| 25th | $100,298 |
| 50th (median) | $104,811 |
| 75th | $114,731 |
| 90th | $133,900 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $91,000 | $90,750 | $106,000 | 73 |
| FY2021 | $93,550 | $88,546 | $102,851 | 58 |
| FY2022 | $104,711 | $93,413 | $124,766 | 66 |
| FY2023 | $96,460 | $92,664 | $117,716 | 48 |
| FY2024 | $99,214 | $92,664 | $106,080 | 93 |
| FY2025 | $100,298 | $100,298 | $115,475 | 66 |
| FY2026 | $104,811 | $104,811 | $114,193 | 44 |
Cost of living
Richmond's median senior Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $104,811 is worth about $107,100 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 $104,811, 6% lower.
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 | $104,811 | 68 |
| HCLTech | too few | 5 |
| Infosys | too few | 4 |
| Elevance Health | too few | 3 |
| IBM | too few | 2 |
| Synechron | too few | 2 |
| Denken Solutions | too few | 2 |
| Virsec Systems | 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.