Materials Engineer salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Materials Engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median of $129,480 a year ($62.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 340 workers.
Pay ranges from $80,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $189,230 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 1% higher than the California statewide median of $128,470. There are 0.14 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $133,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,050 | $38.49 |
| 25th percentile | $97,560 | $46.90 |
| Median | $129,480 | $62.25 |
| 75th percentile | $160,540 | $77.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $189,230 | $90.98 |
| Average (mean) | $133,770 | $64.31 |
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 | $10,790 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,395 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,980 |
| Weekly | $2,490 |
| Hourly | $62.25 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $129,480 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $156,730 | 550 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $130,440 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $130,040 | 100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $125,200 | 1,250 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $124,180 | 260 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $122,450 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $109,100 | 90 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $130,160 | $62.58 |
| Industrial Engineer | $132,230 | $63.57 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $161,370 | $77.58 |
| Engineers, All Other | $159,800 | $76.83 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $203,890 | $98.02 |
| Electrical Engineer | $166,030 | $79.82 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $162,440 | $78.10 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $140,660 | $67.63 |
| Environmental Engineer | $138,840 | $66.75 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $191,260 | $91.95 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $147,220 | $70.78 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $140,520 | $67.56 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $173,790 | $83.55 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $143,590 | $69.03 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median salary for materials engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $129,480 a year, or $62.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $80,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $189,230 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn at least $189,230 a year. The top 25% earn $160,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $80,050 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $97,560 or less.
How many materials engineers work in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
About 340 materials engineers are employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.