Materials Engineer Salary
Materials Engineers earn a median $112,860 a year nationally. Architecture and Engineering Occupations
U.S. median
$112,860
$54.26 per hour
Range
$72,300 – $175,720
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
22,770
across the U.S.
Materials Engineer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$88,227
per year · effective tax rate 21.8%
$7,352Monthly
$3,676Twice a month
$3,393Every 2 weeks
$42.42Hourly
- Federal income tax$15,999
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,997
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,636
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$88,227
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,300 | $34.76 | $59,693 |
| 25th percentile | $88,080 | $42.35 | $70,794 |
| Median (50th) | $112,860 | $54.26 | $88,227 |
| 75th percentile | $142,720 | $68.62 | $108,815 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,720 | $84.48 | $131,371 |
Best cities for materials engineers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $156,130 | $117,981 | $106,162 | 820 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $123,250 | $95,507 | $96,835 | 560 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $156,730 | $106,007 | $96,001 | 550 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $140,640 | $98,408 | $90,378 | 660 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $117,700 | $91,632 | $88,885 | 440 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $125,750 | $92,392 | $87,341 | 480 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $125,200 | $87,799 | $77,311 | 1,250 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $111,480 | $81,902 | $75,649 | 1,020 |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $101,100 | $75,330 | $75,286 | 530 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $100,070 | $75,227 | $75,004 | 460 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Jose, CA — $156,730
- Seattle, WA — $156,130
- Washington, DC — $140,640
- Denver, CO — $125,750
- Los Angeles, CA — $125,200
- Houston, TX — $123,250
- Dallas, TX — $117,700
- Boston, MA — $111,480
- Atlanta, GA — $101,100
- Detroit, MI — $100,070
Materials Engineer salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $165,600 | $117,670 | $126,640 – $204,400 | 450 |
| Maryland | $140,640 | $100,969 | $79,470 – $195,190 | 740 |
| Washington | $139,840 | $106,847 | $92,570 – $199,250 | 1,000 |
| Delaware | $131,320 | $93,697 | $100,620 – $182,400 | 40 |
| Louisiana | $128,670 | $95,738 | $80,860 – $171,140 | 90 |
| California | $128,470 | $89,687 | $82,460 – $183,880 | 3,020 |
| Illinois | $126,620 | $91,688 | $71,780 – $165,710 | 290 |
| New York | $125,900 | $90,931 | $73,920 – $168,120 | 590 |
| Colorado | $124,030 | $91,292 | $64,710 – $180,500 | 810 |
| Alaska | $123,360 | $95,583 | $79,970 – $154,150 | 70 |
| Oregon | $122,850 | $85,314 | $79,040 – $162,600 | 120 |
| Connecticut | $122,300 | $89,670 | $88,330 – $155,440 | 420 |
| South Carolina | $121,610 | $88,243 | $75,550 – $158,940 | 600 |
| Florida | $118,780 | $92,392 | $73,370 – $166,490 | 690 |
| Texas | $117,700 | $91,632 | $67,690 – $187,460 | 1,440 |
| Virginia | $116,720 | $85,045 | $77,490 – $170,210 | 620 |
| Massachusetts | $114,100 | $83,614 | $77,980 – $167,180 | 1,360 |
| Wyoming | $110,970 | $86,897 | $65,250 – $120,830 | 40 |
| Alabama | $107,580 | $79,399 | $69,260 – $168,580 | 650 |
| New Jersey | $106,920 | $79,427 | $82,120 – $170,140 | 260 |
| Arizona | $106,810 | $81,509 | $81,990 – $165,090 | 580 |
| Ohio | $106,510 | $81,613 | $76,030 – $169,300 | 1,790 |
| Minnesota | $106,220 | $77,856 | $84,760 – $175,320 | 150 |
| Idaho | $105,820 | $78,774 | $57,250 – $154,080 | 90 |
| North Carolina | $104,240 | $78,512 | $78,160 – $153,570 | 640 |
| Arkansas | $103,900 | $78,084 | $80,120 – $159,440 | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $101,290 | $80,088 | $73,660 – $159,180 | 70 |
| Indiana | $101,120 | $77,014 | $67,430 – $131,980 | 570 |
| Georgia | $100,840 | $75,160 | $71,830 – $159,560 | 700 |
| Kentucky | $100,620 | $76,212 | $84,610 – $132,800 | 280 |
| Kansas | $100,000 | $74,400 | $83,460 – $164,110 | 270 |
| Oklahoma | $99,950 | $75,193 | $54,990 – $150,640 | 240 |
| Nevada | $99,010 | $78,484 | $66,150 – $155,190 | 100 |
| Missouri | $98,860 | $74,669 | $65,870 – $135,280 | 300 |
| Nebraska | $98,270 | $74,371 | $57,030 – $135,400 | 160 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,030 | $74,785 | $62,790 – $173,530 | 720 |
| Maine | $97,110 | $71,699 | $72,130 – $138,440 | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $96,210 | $72,795 | $65,160 – $127,820 | 280 |
| Michigan | $94,050 | $71,248 | $62,640 – $139,690 | 810 |
| Tennessee | $91,940 | $73,510 | $63,760 – $149,300 | 330 |
| Utah | $88,080 | $67,797 | $69,180 – $140,620 | 460 |
| Rhode Island | $87,180 | $67,509 | $78,270 – $140,450 | 50 |
| Mississippi | $78,700 | $61,779 | $62,000 – $150,890 | 100 |
| Montana | $76,030 | $59,382 | $59,860 – $104,480 | 90 |
| Iowa | $64,270 | $52,030 | $62,390 – $115,140 | 200 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials engineer make?
The national median salary for materials engineers is $112,860 a year ($54.26 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $72,300 and the top 10% earn over $175,720. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays materials engineers the most?
New Mexico has the highest median pay at $165,600. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many materials engineers are there in the U.S.?
About 22,770 people work as materials engineers nationwide.