Expert Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Virginia Beach, VA
Based on 35 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Williamsburg, Portsmouth.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $120,307 |
| 25th | $120,307 |
| 50th (median) | $126,922 |
| 75th | $139,994 |
| 90th | $145,404 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $101,504 | $101,504 | $106,000 | 19 |
| FY2021 | $106,912 | $101,504 | $106,912 | 13 |
| FY2022 | $120,000 | $106,912 | $132,400 | 23 |
| FY2023 | $111,717 | $110,115 | $165,688 | 12 |
| FY2024 | $120,307 | $113,318 | $125,750 | 28 |
| FY2025 | $123,615 | $120,307 | $126,922 | 26 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 9 |
Cost of living
Virginia Beach's median expert Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $126,922 is worth about $129,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Virginia Beach = 97.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in the Virginia Beach, VA area earned a median of $116,920 in May 2025 (3,490 employed). The H-1B median here is $126,922, 9% 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 | $120,307 | 23 |
| Elevance Health | too few | 6 |
| The Elevance Health Companies | 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 | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $95,160 | 33 |
| Senior · Level III | $111,030 | 69 |
| Expert · Level IV | $126,922 | 35 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $91,749 | $95,160 | 33 |
| Senior · Level III | $106,018 | $111,030 | 69 |
| Expert · Level IV | $120,307 | $126,922 | 35 |
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.