Materials Engineer Salary in Atlanta, GA
Materials Engineers in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $101,100 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,330 take-home, or $6,277 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median materials engineer salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,412
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,268
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,466
- Georgia income tax$4,624
- Take-home pay$75,330
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.19% state
Materials Engineer pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,360 | $35.75 | $57,906 | $4,825 |
| 25th percentile | $80,180 | $38.55 | $61,698 | $5,142 |
| Median (50th) | $101,100 | $48.61 | $75,330 | $6,277 |
| 75th percentile | $130,470 | $62.73 | $94,294 | $7,858 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,790 | $79.71 | $116,602 | $9,717 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $101,100 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median materials engineer's $75,330 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,286 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Atlanta, GA has 1.3× the national concentration of materials engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for materials engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #9 of 10 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $156,130 | $117,981 | $106,162 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $123,250 | $95,507 | $96,835 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $156,730 | $106,007 | $96,001 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $140,640 | $98,408 | $90,378 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $117,700 | $91,632 | $88,885 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $125,750 | $92,392 | $87,341 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $125,200 | $87,799 | $77,311 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $111,480 | $81,902 | $75,649 |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $101,100 | $75,330 | $75,286 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 10 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials engineer make in Atlanta, GA?
The median materials engineer salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $101,100 a year, or about $48.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,180 and $130,470.
What is a materials engineer’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $101,100 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $75,330 a year ($6,277 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,624 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a materials engineer?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $112,860. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,286 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #9 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a materials engineer afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median materials engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $135,350
- Engineers, All Other — $122,570
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $103,330
- Industrial Engineer — $102,300
- Mechanical Engineer — $102,020
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $100,220
- Environmental Engineer — $96,820
- Civil Engineer — $88,000
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $78,610
- Mechanical Drafter — $75,360
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $74,180
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $67,850