Materials Engineer salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Materials Engineers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $104,910 a year ($50.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,000 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 1% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $104,240. There are 0.10 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $118,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,870 | $38.40 |
| 25th percentile | $93,140 | $44.78 |
| Median | $104,910 | $50.44 |
| 75th percentile | $135,190 | $64.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,000 | $82.21 |
| Average (mean) | $118,400 | $56.92 |
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 | $8,742.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,371.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,035 |
| Weekly | $2,017.50 |
| Hourly | $50.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $104,910 salary, see how much house you can afford in North 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $131,080 | 200 |
| Columbia, SC | $121,290 | 40 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $117,000 | 80 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $116,720 | 190 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $106,580 | 230 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $104,310 | n/a |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $98,380 | 170 |
| 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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $102,370 | $49.22 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,090 | $49.08 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $101,950 | $49.02 |
| Electrical Engineer | $103,360 | $49.69 |
| Engineers, All Other | $118,230 | $56.84 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $107,630 | $51.74 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $108,480 | $52.16 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $131,850 | $63.39 |
| Chemical Engineer | $115,890 | $55.72 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $132,830 | $63.86 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $97,670 | $46.96 |
| Environmental Engineer | $82,840 | $39.83 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $113,130 | $54.39 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $98,620 | $47.41 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for materials engineers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $104,910 a year, or $50.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $171,000 a year. The top 25% earn $135,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,870 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $93,140 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 140 materials engineers are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.