Maintenance Technician Salary in Virginia

Realistic starting pay in Virginia sits between the 10th and 25th percentile — $16.66 to $19.01 per hour. Candidates with prior mechanical or facilities experience, or a credential like an EPA 608 or a basic electrical cert, usually enter at the top of that band. Most maintenance technicians in Virginia cross the state median within 3–5 years, and the Tech I → Tech II step is the largest single raise in the trade.

The top 10% of Virginia maintenance technicians earn $37.14/hr or more — roughly $77,251 a year before overtime. In Virginia that tier is typically multi-craft techs covering mechanical, electrical and PLC troubleshooting at 24/7 plants, lead techs, and people on union scale. Add 5 hours of weekly overtime at time-and-a-half and the same wage clears about $84,204.

Within the South, Maryland pays the most in the region at $24.76/hr, Oklahoma the least at $20.55/hr. Median wage alone doesn't settle where to work, though — housing costs vary more than wages do across the South, so a slightly lower Virginia median can still win on take-home purchasing power. Compare Maryland, Delaware and North Carolina on their own state pages before relocating for a raise.

It's the middle of the market: Virginia's median sits almost exactly on the national figure, so a Virginia offer at that rate is neither a premium nor a discount. Judge it against the state's 75th percentile ($29.80/hr) — an offer near that line means the plant values multi-craft skills, shift coverage, or a credential you hold.