Materials Engineer salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Materials Engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $140,640 a year ($67.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 660 workers.
Pay ranges from $84,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,190 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 20% higher than the Virginia statewide median of $116,720. There are 0.21 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $145,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,590 | $40.67 |
| 25th percentile | $113,780 | $54.70 |
| Median | $140,640 | $67.62 |
| 75th percentile | $180,480 | $86.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,190 | $93.84 |
| Average (mean) | $145,070 | $69.74 |
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 | $11,720 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,860 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,409.23 |
| Weekly | $2,704.62 |
| Hourly | $67.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $140,640 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $144,010 | 200 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $125,190 | 320 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $116,720 | 190 |
| Richmond, VA | $102,440 | 200 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $151,340 | $72.76 |
| Civil Engineer | $101,780 | $48.93 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $126,990 | $61.05 |
| Electrical Engineer | $126,420 | $60.78 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $140,000 | $67.31 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $166,420 | $80.01 |
| Industrial Engineer | $117,600 | $56.54 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $159,480 | $76.67 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $180,360 | $86.71 |
| Environmental Engineer | $120,580 | $57.97 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $159,700 | $76.78 |
| Chemical Engineer | $132,820 | $63.86 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $110,390 | $53.07 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $125,760 | $60.46 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for materials engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $140,640 a year, or $67.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $84,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $195,190 a year. The top 25% earn $180,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $84,590 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $113,780 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 660 materials engineers are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.