Materials Engineer salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Materials Engineers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median of $131,080 a year ($63.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $170,970 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 8% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $121,610. There are 0.51 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $124,490, close to the median.
Pay range for materials engineers in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,860 | $37.91 |
| 25th percentile | $109,290 | $52.54 |
| Median | $131,080 | $63.02 |
| 75th percentile | $131,080 | $63.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $170,970 | $82.20 |
| Average (mean) | $124,490 | $59.85 |
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 | $10,923.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,461.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,041.54 |
| Weekly | $2,520.77 |
| Hourly | $63.02 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $131,080 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC | $121,290 | 40 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $106,580 | 230 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $104,910 | 140 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $96,610 | 30 |
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 South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $98,740 | $47.47 |
| Industrial Engineer | $110,830 | $53.29 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $110,820 | $53.28 |
| Electrical Engineer | $110,030 | $52.90 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $135,410 | $65.10 |
| Engineers, All Other | $124,250 | $59.74 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $137,030 | $65.88 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $133,430 | $64.15 |
| Environmental Engineer | $86,670 | $41.67 |
| Chemical Engineer | $129,070 | $62.05 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $123,090 | $59.18 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $129,590 | $62.30 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $86,370 | $41.52 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $71,160 | $34.21 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median salary for materials engineers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $131,080 a year, or $63.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $170,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn at least $170,970 a year. The top 25% earn $131,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,860 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $109,290 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
About 200 materials engineers are employed in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.