Salary data is based on the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA metropolitan area and applied to Chesapeake using local cost-of-living adjustments.

Electrical Salaries in Chesapeake, VA

Average Base Pay

$43,761/yr

6% above national average

Monthly

$3,647

Hourly

$21

Cost Index

Electrical in Chesapeake, VA earn an average of $43,761 per year, with most salaries falling between $35,009 and $52,513 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 6% above the national average, Chesapeake ranks among the higher-paying markets for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 93. For professionals evaluating a move or negotiating an offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture—what matters most is how far that income actually goes once taxes, rent, and daily expenses are factored in. The sections below break that down in full for Chesapeake.

Salary Range

The chart below shows the full compensation spectrum for this role, from entry-level to senior positions. The highlighted center bars represent the 25th–75th percentile band where most professionals are paid.

$33K
Low

$44K
Median

$55K
High

25th percentile: $37K75th percentile: $50K

About Electrical

Electrical Engineers design, develop, and test electrical systems and components including power generation and distribution systems, electronic circuits, communication systems, control systems, and embedded systems. The field spans power engineering, electronics, signal processing, telecommunications, and embedded systems design. Power engineers design high-voltage transmission systems, substations, and electrical distribution networks. Electronics engineers design printed circuit boards, analog and digital circuits, and microelectronic devices. Embedded systems engineers develop firmware and hardware for microcontrollers in products ranging from appliances to aerospace systems. Control engineers design feedback and automation systems for manufacturing, robotics, and process control. Electrical engineers use simulation tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, SPICE, and Altium Designer, and must translate theoretical designs into physical hardware that meets performance, reliability, and regulatory requirements. They work in energy, manufacturing, telecommunications, aerospace, automotive, and consumer electronics industries. PE licensure is required for power systems engineers working on public utility projects.

What Electricals Do

Design electrical systems, circuits, and components for products or infrastructure
Develop schematics and PCB layouts using EDA tools
Perform circuit analysis, simulation, and validation testing
Specify electrical components and materials for design requirements
Develop firmware for embedded systems and microcontrollers
Ensure designs meet safety standards and regulatory requirements
Collaborate with mechanical engineers, software engineers, and manufacturing teams
Troubleshoot and resolve electrical system failures

Key Skills & Qualifications

Circuit design and analysis (analog and digital)
PCB design using Altium Designer, KiCad, or Eagle
MATLAB and Simulink for modeling and simulation
Embedded C/C++ programming for microcontrollers
Power systems fundamentals and electrical code knowledge
Oscilloscope, multimeter, and laboratory instrument proficiency
PE licensure (required for power engineering roles)
Cross-disciplinary collaboration with mechanical and software teams

Career Path

Electrical Engineer I / EIT
Electrical Engineer II
Senior Electrical Engineer
Principal / Staff Engineer
Engineering Manager / Chief Engineer

Electrical Market in Chesapeake, VA

Salary Competitiveness

Chesapeake is one of the stronger-paying markets for Electricals, with local salaries running approximately 6% above the national median. This premium typically reflects a combination of higher employer competition, concentrated industry presence, and elevated cost expectations built into local compensation norms.

Cost of Living Impact

Chesapeake sits close to the national cost average. Monthly essential expenses represent about 94% of take-home pay for this role—a midrange ratio that allows for modest savings and discretionary spending, provided housing costs remain stable.

Effective Purchasing Power

Despite a competitive gross salary, a Electrical earning $43,761 in Chesapeake operates in a tight purchasing-power band once taxes and local cost of living are applied. Careful planning around housing, transportation, and discretionary spending is essential to avoid running negative disposable income month to month.

vs. National Avg

+6%

Cost Pressure

94%

Purchasing Power

Tight

Take-Home Pay Calculator

Enter any gross salary to see how federal and state taxes affect your actual take-home pay, broken down by year, month, and week. Results use an estimated effective tax rate of 27% based on this location and income level.

Annual Salary

Take-home (73%)Taxes (27%)

Annual Net

$31,946

Monthly

$2,662

Weekly

$614

Eff. Tax Rate

27%

A gross salary of $43,761 for a Electrical in Chesapeake translates to roughly $2,662 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $2,495—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $167 per month in disposable income. That margin, not the gross number, is what determines whether you can comfortably cover rent, build savings, and afford discretionary spending in Chesapeake's current market.

How far does this salary go in Chesapeake?

Cost of Living in Chesapeake

Estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Chesapeake, benchmarked against US regional price indices for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.

Cost Index

Below Avg — US average is 100. Based on a single person (1-bed apartment).

🏠Housing / Rent$1,420/mo

🍔Food & Groceries$475/mo

🚗Transportation$130/mo

💡Utilities$175/mo

🏥Healthcare$295/mo

Monthly$2,495

Annual$29,940

Disposable Income$167

Financial Reality Check

This section compares estimated monthly take-home pay against typical living costs in Chesapeake to show your real disposable income—the amount remaining after essential bills are paid each month.

Monthly Take-Home

$2,662

Living Costs

$2,495

Disposable

$167

Cost Index

Lifestyle

Tight

With a monthly take-home of $2,662, your estimated living costs in Chesapeake are $2,495 ($29,940/yr). This leaves $167 per month in disposable income, indicating a tight standard of living. Chesapeake's cost of living is 7% below the national average.

Overall, a Electrical earning $43,761 in Chesapeake falls into a tight lifestyle tier and will need to budget carefully—essential costs consume a significant share of take-home pay, leaving limited room for savings or emergencies. With a cost index of 93, Chesapeake is 7% more affordable than the national average, which extends your purchasing power. Regardless of tier, prioritizing retirement contributions, an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses, and incremental debt reduction will yield the greatest long-term financial stability—especially as living costs in Chesapeake continue to evolve.