Materials Engineers Salary
The median materials engineers salary in the United States is $112,860 per year ($54.26/hour). Salaries range from $72,300 at the entry level to $175,720+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 22,770 materials engineers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 5.7% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$112,860
per year
Hourly Rate
$54.26
per hour
Employment
22,770
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$72,300
25th percentile
$88,080
Median
$112,860
75th percentile
$142,720
90th percentile
$175,720
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+5.7%
Faster than average
Annual Openings
1,500
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Materials Engineers Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$64K$166K■ No data
Top Paying States
New Mexico
$166K
+47%
Maryland
$141K
+25%
Washington
$140K
+24%
Delaware
$131K
+16%
Louisiana
$129K
+14%
California
$128K
+14%
Illinois
$127K
+12%
New York
$126K
+12%
Colorado
$124K
+10%
Alaska
$123K
+9%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $165,600 | +46.7% |
| Maryland | $140,640 | +24.6% |
| Washington | $139,840 | +23.9% |
| Delaware | $131,320 | +16.4% |
| Louisiana | $128,670 | +14.0% |
| California | $128,470 | +13.8% |
| Illinois | $126,620 | +12.2% |
| New York | $125,900 | +11.6% |
| Colorado | $124,030 | +9.9% |
| Alaska | $123,360 | +9.3% |
Showing 1–10 of 45
Materials Engineers Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $156,730 | +38.9% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $156,130 | +38.3% |
| Boulder, CO | $151,940 | +34.6% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $147,490 | +30.7% |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $144,010 | +27.6% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $140,640 | +24.6% |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $138,430 | +22.7% |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $137,290 | +21.6% |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $134,630 | +19.3% |
| Decatur, AL | $134,370 | +19.1% |
Showing 1–10 of 90
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A materials engineers earning $112,860/year would need 528 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 567 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how materials engineers salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Materials Engineers salary trend (2011–2024) →