Materials Engineer salary in the U.S.
Materials Engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $112,860 a year ($54.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 22,770 workers.
Pay ranges from $72,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,720 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $120,250, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| 25th percentile | $88,080 | $42.35 |
| Median | $112,860 | $54.26 |
| 75th percentile | $142,720 | $68.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,720 | $84.48 |
| Average (mean) | $120,250 | $57.81 |
Half of materials engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,405 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,702.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,340.77 |
| Weekly | $2,170.38 |
| Hourly | $54.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Materials Engineer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $165,600 | 450 |
| Maryland | $140,640 | 740 |
| Washington | $139,840 | 1,000 |
| Delaware | $131,320 | 40 |
| Louisiana | $128,670 | 90 |
| California | $128,470 | 3,020 |
| Illinois | $126,620 | 290 |
| New York | $125,900 | 590 |
| Colorado | $124,030 | 810 |
| Alaska | $123,360 | 70 |
| Oregon | $122,850 | 120 |
| Connecticut | $122,300 | 420 |
| South Carolina | $121,610 | 600 |
| Florida | $118,780 | 690 |
| Texas | $117,700 | 1,440 |
| Virginia | $116,720 | 620 |
| Massachusetts | $114,100 | 1,360 |
| Wyoming | $110,970 | 40 |
| Alabama | $107,580 | 650 |
| New Jersey | $106,920 | 260 |
| Arizona | $106,810 | 580 |
| Ohio | $106,510 | 1,790 |
| Minnesota | $106,220 | 150 |
| Idaho | $105,820 | 90 |
| North Carolina | $104,240 | 640 |
| Arkansas | $103,900 | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $101,290 | 70 |
| Indiana | $101,120 | 570 |
| Georgia | $100,840 | 700 |
| Kentucky | $100,620 | 280 |
| Kansas | $100,000 | 270 |
| Oklahoma | $99,950 | 240 |
| Nevada | $99,010 | 100 |
| Missouri | $98,860 | 300 |
| Nebraska | $98,270 | 160 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,030 | 720 |
| Maine | $97,110 | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $96,210 | 280 |
| Michigan | $94,050 | 810 |
| Tennessee | $91,940 | 330 |
| Utah | $88,080 | 460 |
| Rhode Island | $87,180 | 50 |
| Mississippi | $78,700 | 100 |
| Montana | $76,030 | 90 |
| Iowa | $64,270 | 200 |
Best-paying metro areas for materials engineers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $156,730 | 550 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $156,130 | 820 |
| Boulder, CO | $151,940 | 210 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $147,490 | 330 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $144,010 | 200 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $140,640 | 660 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $138,430 | n/a |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $137,290 | 260 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $134,630 | 130 |
| Decatur, AL | $134,370 | 50 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $131,080 | 200 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $130,440 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $130,040 | 100 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $129,480 | 340 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $128,250 | 70 |
Metro areas with the most materials engineers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,250 | $125,200 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,020 | $111,480 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 820 | $156,130 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 660 | $140,640 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 560 | $123,250 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 550 | $156,730 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 530 | $101,100 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 480 | $125,750 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 460 | $100,070 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 440 | $117,700 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 380 | $127,740 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 340 | $129,480 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 330 | $147,490 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 320 | $125,190 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 310 | $124,990 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 | $48.48 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 | $49.25 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 | $50.05 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 | $58.00 |
| Engineers, All Other | $122,930 | $59.10 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $130,220 | $62.60 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $161,740 | $77.76 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 | $64.89 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 | $51.50 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $109,370 | $52.58 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $115,160 | $55.36 |
| Chemical Engineer | $125,040 | $60.12 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $144,910 | $69.67 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $133,970 | $64.41 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2131. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials engineer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for materials engineers in the U.S. is $112,860 a year, or $54.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $72,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the U.S. earn at least $175,720 a year. The top 25% earn $142,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $72,300 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $88,080 or less.
How many materials engineers work in the U.S.?
About 22,770 materials engineers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.