Materials Engineer salary in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Materials Engineers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median of $125,190 a year ($60.19 an hour), based on BLS data for 320 workers.
Pay ranges from $71,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $184,580 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 28% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $98,030. There are 0.11 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $126,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,900 | $34.57 |
| 25th percentile | $94,670 | $45.52 |
| Median | $125,190 | $60.19 |
| 75th percentile | $159,750 | $76.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $184,580 | $88.74 |
| Average (mean) | $126,850 | $60.99 |
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 | $10,432.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,216.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,815 |
| Weekly | $2,407.50 |
| Hourly | $60.19 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $125,190 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $116,510 | 30 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $103,660 | 50 |
| Reading, PA | $99,040 | 50 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $98,440 | 40 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $92,740 | 120 |
| Lancaster, PA | $79,270 | 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 Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $103,370 | $49.70 |
| Civil Engineer | $99,410 | $47.80 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,410 | $50.20 |
| Electrical Engineer | $127,730 | $61.41 |
| Engineers, All Other | $97,590 | $46.92 |
| Environmental Engineer | $129,390 | $62.21 |
| Chemical Engineer | $127,770 | $61.43 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $131,090 | $63.02 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $125,760 | $60.46 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $122,480 | $58.89 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $140,590 | $67.59 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $106,650 | $51.27 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $98,140 | $47.18 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $67,020 | $32.22 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?
The median salary for materials engineers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $125,190 a year, or $60.19 an hour. Pay ranges from $71,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $184,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn at least $184,580 a year. The top 25% earn $159,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $71,900 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $94,670 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?
About 320 materials engineers are employed in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area, not counting the self-employed.