Validation Engineers
SOC code 17-2112 · O*NET-SOC 17-2112.02 · Considerable preparation needed · Science and engineering
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Validation Engineers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$102,440
a year
Hourly
$49.25
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$109,900
$52.84 per hour
Middle 50%
$83,600 – $129,250
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$74,370 – $159,860
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
365,740
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
These pay and employment figures are for the broader BLS group “Industrial Engineers”, not this job alone.
- 10th percentile
- $74,370
- $35.76/hr
- 25th percentile
- $83,600
- $40.19/hr
- Median percentile
- $102,440
- $49.25/hr
- 75th percentile
- $129,250
- $62.14/hr
- 90th percentile
- $159,860
- $76.85/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+11%
Growing much faster than average
351,100
jobs in 2024
389,600
projected for 2034
About 38,500 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does a validation engineer do?
Design or plan protocols for equipment or processes to produce products meeting internal and external purity, safety, and quality requirements.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Study product characteristics or customer requirements to determine validation objectives and standards.
- Analyze validation test data to determine whether systems or processes have met validation criteria or to identify root causes of production problems.
- Develop validation master plans, process flow diagrams, test cases, or standard operating procedures.
- Prepare detailed reports or design statements, based on results of validation and qualification tests or reviews of procedures and protocols.
- Maintain validation test equipment.
- Conduct validation or qualification tests of new or existing processes, equipment, or software in accordance with internal protocols or external standards.
- Communicate with regulatory agencies regarding compliance documentation or validation results.
- Prepare, maintain, or review validation and compliance documentation, such as engineering change notices, schematics, or protocols.
How to become a validation engineer
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 90% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Bachelor's Degree90%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree5%
- Master's Degree5%
Common questions
How much does a validation engineer earn?
The national median is $102,440 a year. The full range runs from $74,370 at the 10th percentile to $159,860 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a validation engineer without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is validation engineer in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 11% between 2024 and 2034 — growing much faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.1/5
- Writing4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Monitoring3.9/5
- Science3.8/5
- Active Learning3.3/5
Knowledge areas
- Engineering and Technology4.3/5
- Production and Processing4.2/5
- English Language3.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.7/5
- Mathematics3.6/5
- Design3.6/5
- Mechanical3.4/5
- Education and Training3.3/5
Transferable strengths: Complex Problem Solving.