Materials Engineer salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Materials Engineers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median of $111,480 a year ($53.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,020 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $170,770 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 2% lower than the Massachusetts statewide median of $114,100. There are 0.38 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $121,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,980 | $37.49 |
| 25th percentile | $95,130 | $45.73 |
| Median | $111,480 | $53.60 |
| 75th percentile | $149,210 | $71.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $170,770 | $82.10 |
| Average (mean) | $121,960 | $58.63 |
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 | $9,290 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,645 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,287.69 |
| Weekly | $2,143.85 |
| Hourly | $53.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $111,480 salary, see how much house you can afford in Massachusetts at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Materials Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | $114,100 | 220 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $101,670 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for materials engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $165,600 |
| Maryland | $140,640 |
| Washington | $139,840 |
| Delaware | $131,320 |
| Louisiana | $128,670 |
| California | $128,470 |
| Illinois | $126,620 |
| New York | $125,900 |
| Colorado | $124,030 |
| Alaska | $123,360 |
See Materials Engineer pay in every state or the Massachusetts statewide figures.
Related jobs in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $118,970 | $57.20 |
| Civil Engineer | $107,670 | $51.77 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $119,300 | $57.36 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $142,920 | $68.71 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,550 | $61.80 |
| Electrical Engineer | $128,610 | $61.83 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $167,600 | $80.58 |
| Engineers, All Other | $133,940 | $64.40 |
| Environmental Engineer | $109,620 | $52.70 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $149,470 | $71.86 |
| Chemical Engineer | $109,460 | $52.63 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $128,600 | $61.83 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $144,830 | $69.63 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $119,120 | $57.27 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median salary for materials engineers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $111,480 a year, or $53.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $170,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn at least $170,770 a year. The top 25% earn $149,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,980 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $95,130 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
About 1,020 materials engineers are employed in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, not counting the self-employed.