Senior Data Engineer salary in Richmond, VA

Based on 18 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Richmond, VA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Mechanicsville, Glen Allen, Henrico, Chester, Chesterfield.

Also listed as: Database Architect, Data Architect

Median salary$136,000
Middle 50%$133.7k–$149k
vs. all levels here+13%comparison median $120,000
Filings18FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $126,382 and $178,703.
PercentileSalary
10th$129,202
25th$133,682
50th (median)$136,000
75th$148,965
90th$167,786

Cost of living

Richmond's median senior Data Engineer salary of $136,000 is worth about $139,000 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Richmond = 97.9).

Compared with all workers here

All Database Architects in the Richmond, VA area earned a median of $133,770 in May 2025 (440 employed). The H-1B median here is $136,000, 2% 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

EmployerMedianFilings
Cognizanttoo few4
Lorvenk Technologiestoo few2
Virginia Commonwealth Universitytoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $94,590 10
Mid-level · Level II $114,941 37
Senior · Level III $136,000 18
Expert · Level IV $158,000 10

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$92,602$94,59010
Mid-level · Level II$109,429$114,94137
Senior · Level III$133,682$136,00018
Expert · Level IV$152,443$158,00010

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.