AI Financial Engineer.
Virginia Beach.
$204,000
median salary, 3% below the national average
$150,000 to $262,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A AI Financial Engineer in Virginia Beach earns a median of $204,000 in 2026. That is 3% below the national average. The range runs from $150,000 to $262,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Pay depends on ability to apply ML models to quantitative finance problems like risk modeling, algorithmic trading, and fraud detection.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $183,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$133,000
to $163,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$173,000
to $214,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$224,000
to $265,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$255,000
to $316,000
Salary trend
+6% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $100,000 to the total package.
Base
$204,000
Equity
$61,000
Bonus
$27,000
Signing
$12,000
Estimated total: $304,000
How Virginia Beach compares
Virginia Beach, VA
$204,000
Cost of living: 2% below average
National Average
$210,000
Virginia Beach is $6,000 below
AI Financial Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Virginia Beach
What you should know
The AI Financial Engineer landscape in Virginia Beach is not what most salary sites will tell you. Virginia Beach anchors the Hampton Roads region with a strong military presence, growing cybersecurity sector, and expanding tech corridor. Naval Station Norfolk drives significant defense contractor employment. The lower cost of living compared to Northern Virginia attracts remote workers and military-to-civilian transitions. Pay depends on ability to apply ML models to quantitative finance problems like risk modeling, algorithmic trading, and fraud detection. Engineers combining deep finance domain expertise with advanced ML skills earn top-band compensation. Experience with real-time inference for trading systems and regulatory-compliant model development adds 20 to 30% to base salaries.
Junior quant ML engineers start at $120,000 to $150,000. AI financial engineers earn $155,000 to $210,000. Senior roles at top funds reach $250,000 to $350,000 base, and portfolio managers or heads of AI strategy at major firms command $500,000 to $1,000,000 or more in total compensation. In Virginia Beach, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Performance bonuses at hedge funds and trading firms can range from 50 to 200% of base salary. Equity is less common in finance but deferred compensation plans are standard. Banks offer structured bonus pools tied to desk profitability. And on the tax side: virginia's flat 5.75% state income tax applies. Virginia Beach has no city income tax. The moderate rate combined with lower housing costs than Northern Virginia creates good take home pay. When someone quotes you $204,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage military transition benefits. Hampton Roads employers value candidates with security clearances and military technical experience. The range for AI Financial Engineers in Virginia Beach runs from $150,000 to $262,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A AI Agent Architect in Virginia Beach earns $203,000 (0% more)
- The highest-paying role in Virginia Beach is Distinguished Engineer at $336,000
Common questions.
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