Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer Salary in Virginia

How much does a Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer make in Virginia? As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer in Virginia is $74,436 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

However, a Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $82,955
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $68,911 to $78,895
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,882

Key Factors That Influence Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer Salaries

A Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $73,038
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $73,631
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $74,560
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $74,746
  • Expert (over 8 years): $74,869
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Entry Level Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer less than 1 year $73,038
Early Career Level Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer 1-2 years $73,631
Mid-Level Level Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer 2-4 years $74,560
Senior-Level Level Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer 5-8 years $74,746
Expert Level Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer over 8 years $74,869

Top Paying Cities for Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • Ivanhoe: $68,456
  • Lambsburg: $68,601
  • Laurel Fork: $68,678

Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Biotechnology, offers compensation 25% above the average. Conversely, Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology $93,045 $45.0 25%

Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$68,911
Average $74,436/year
$78,895
$5,743
Average $6,203/month
$6,575
$1,325
Average $1,431/week
$1,517
$33
Average $36/hour
$38
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $78,895 $6,575 $1,517 $38
Average $74,436 $6,203 $1,431 $36
25th Percentile $68,911 $5,743 $1,325 $33

Find Your Next Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

  • Poseidon Aerospace | SAN FRANCISCO, CA

    Poseidon Aerospace | SAN FRANCISCO, CA

    About Poseidon Aerospace: Poseidon Aerospace is reimagining how the world moves goods. We build and operate full-size autonomous cargo aircraft. Heron, a s... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Space Kinetic Corp. | EL SEGUNDO, CA

    Space Kinetic Corp. | EL SEGUNDO, CA

    A New Paradigm For Space Operations. Who We Are: Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space oper... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Varda Space | EL SEGUNDO, CA

    Varda Space | EL SEGUNDO, CA

    About Varda Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical pr... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Samara Aerospace | SAN FRANCISCO, CA

    Samara Aerospace | SAN FRANCISCO, CA

    About Us: Samara Aerospace is revolutionizing satellite design by addressing the challenges of deploying and managing large satellite constellations. Our i... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Cowboy Space | WASHINGTON, DC

    Cowboy Space | WASHINGTON, DC

    Location: San Carlos, CA or Seattle, WA (on-site) Cowboy Space Corp. is building the infrastructure to power and connect the orbital economy. Our satellite... more

    7 Days Ago

  • The Military Veteran | PETALUMA, CA

    The Military Veteran | PETALUMA, CA

    Open Position: Flight Software Engineer Description: Our company is seeking a software engineer with strong embedded systems skills to help implement and t... more

    7 Days Ago

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