Validation Engineers Salary by State
The national median pay for validation engineers is $102,440 a year. By state, it ranges from $93,200 in South Dakota to $156,510 in Alaska. These figures are for the broader BLS group “Industrial Engineers”.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $74,370
- 25th percentile
- $83,600
- Median
- $102,440
- 75th percentile
- $129,250
- Top 10%
- $159,860
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job (broader BLS group “Industrial Engineers”). About 365,740 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $156,510 | +53% | $74,980 | $218,900 | 220 |
| 2 | Washington | $129,050 | +26% | $85,010 | $176,700 | 6,130 |
| 3 | Oregon | $128,290 | +25% | $82,170 | $198,960 | 5,810 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $128,090 | +25% | $82,110 | $168,490 | 1,140 |
| 5 | California | $124,600 | +22% | $77,900 | $172,870 | 32,680 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $123,800 | +21% | $86,550 | $158,880 | 50 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $122,920 | +20% | $78,540 | $173,670 | 1,710 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $122,070 | +19% | $76,000 | $174,980 | 240 |
| 9 | Delaware | $120,190 | +17% | $81,160 | $154,450 | 820 |
| 10 | Maryland | $119,930 | +17% | $80,650 | $168,100 | 3,900 |
| 11 | Colorado | $109,750 | +7% | $80,480 | $159,990 | 5,200 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $109,420 | +7% | $81,960 | $161,870 | 11,470 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $109,350 | +7% | $79,370 | $159,400 | 990 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $108,360 | +6% | $76,180 | $163,090 | 850 |
| 15 | Arizona | $108,280 | +6% | $77,950 | $170,800 | 7,520 |
| 16 | Texas | $104,560 | +2% | $67,490 | $168,670 | 30,980 |
| 17 | Montana | $104,430 | +2% | $76,920 | $175,660 | 390 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $104,160 | +2% | $77,810 | $141,540 | 6,020 |
| 19 | Utah | $103,940 | +1% | $75,130 | $140,930 | 5,520 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $103,840 | +1% | $78,100 | $161,740 | 6,870 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $103,300 | +1% | $81,240 | $153,520 | 160 |
| 22 | Vermont | $103,010 | +1% | $80,740 | $138,710 | 440 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $102,660 | 0% | $77,010 | $158,740 | 17,580 |
| 24 | New York | $102,640 | 0% | $77,030 | $152,780 | 11,810 |
| 25 | Virginia | $102,550 | 0% | $69,880 | $157,160 | 5,580 |
| 26 | Nevada | $102,090 | 0% | $63,200 | $130,350 | 1,570 |
| 27 | Michigan | $101,680 | −1% | $74,060 | $140,140 | 30,990 |
| 28 | Florida | $101,610 | −1% | $68,850 | $156,560 | 14,050 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $101,310 | −1% | $78,430 | $155,010 | 1,940 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $101,060 | −1% | $75,000 | $136,720 | 7,960 |
| 31 | Maine | $101,030 | −1% | $76,490 | $170,060 | 1,030 |
| 32 | Idaho | $100,840 | −2% | $67,100 | $149,390 | 1,330 |
| 33 | Illinois | $100,540 | −2% | $73,780 | $155,650 | 18,640 |
| 34 | Georgia | $100,100 | −2% | $73,360 | $139,860 | 8,940 |
| 35 | Ohio | $100,060 | −2% | $74,130 | $136,390 | 23,480 |
| 36 | Alabama | $99,880 | −2% | $68,410 | $152,970 | 7,650 |
| 37 | Kansas | $99,830 | −3% | $66,810 | $152,410 | 3,450 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $99,560 | −3% | $69,700 | $143,210 | 13,180 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $99,310 | −3% | $68,930 | $139,110 | 11,580 |
| 40 | Missouri | $99,290 | −3% | $65,880 | $143,950 | 5,070 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $99,080 | −3% | $72,200 | $132,040 | 7,440 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $98,410 | −4% | $71,880 | $137,520 | 1,710 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $98,170 | −4% | $71,150 | $133,500 | 1,160 |
| 44 | Iowa | $97,690 | −5% | $72,380 | $133,610 | 3,600 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $97,510 | −5% | $71,880 | $148,480 | 2,170 |
| 46 | Indiana | $97,480 | −5% | $64,770 | $131,720 | 11,680 |
| 47 | Wisconsin | $96,980 | −5% | $71,800 | $134,030 | 13,070 |
| 48 | North Dakota | $96,940 | −5% | $56,770 | $132,110 | 600 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $96,820 | −5% | $65,980 | $135,720 | 6,070 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $95,830 | −6% | $65,510 | $130,150 | 2,450 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $93,200 | −9% | $69,310 | $128,500 | 830 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates for the broader group “Industrial Engineers”. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Validation Engineers salary questions
Which state pays validation engineers the most?
Alaska, with a median of $156,510 a year (+53% vs. the national median of $102,440). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays validation engineers the least?
South Dakota, with a median of $93,200 a year (−9% vs. national).
Where do most validation engineers work?
California has the most jobs, about 32,680, with a median of $124,600.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.