Validation Engineers

SOC 17-2112.02

Design or plan protocols for equipment or processes to produce products meeting internal and external purity, safety, and quality requirements.

Five-year wage trends

Median wage levels across states

Focus level

Level III median wage up 20.4% since 2020-21.

2026 weighted lottery impact

Thresholds for Level III & IV

Level III threshold: $109,700

Level IV threshold: $123,999

Most common level in filings: Level II

Latest Level III median

2025-26

$109,700

Level I$74,308

Level II$92,748

Level III$109,700

Level IV$123,999

Top metros by Level III wages

Latest year median for this occupation

Rank	Metro Area	Level I	Level II	Level III	Level IV
1	Anchorage, AK, AK	$106,642	$132,683	$158,725	$184,766
2	Midland, TX, TX	$90,438	$120,682	$150,925	$181,168
3	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, CA	$95,139	$120,182	$145,205	$170,248
4	San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, CA	$94,682	$117,458	$140,254	$163,030
5	New Orleans-Metairie, LA, LA	$93,454	$115,315	$137,197	$159,058
6	Lexington Park, MD, MD	$98,426	$117,603	$136,802	$155,979
7	Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA, LA	$87,901	$112,320	$136,760	$161,179
8	Vallejo, CA, CA	$89,502	$111,738	$133,973	$156,208
9	Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, OR	$88,816	$111,093	$133,390	$155,667
10	Charleston, WV, WV	$95,846	$114,608	$133,370	$152,131

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