Materials Engineer Salary in Boston, MA
Materials Engineers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $111,480 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $81,902 take-home, or $6,825 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median materials engineer salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$15,696
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,912
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,616
- Massachusetts income tax$5,354
- Take-home pay$81,902
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Materials Engineer pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,980 | $37.49 | $60,010 | $5,001 |
| 25th percentile | $95,130 | $45.74 | $71,217 | $5,935 |
| Median (50th) | $111,480 | $53.60 | $81,902 | $6,825 |
| 75th percentile | $149,210 | $71.74 | $106,011 | $8,834 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $170,770 | $82.10 | $119,669 | $9,972 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $111,480 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median materials engineer's $81,902 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,649 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 2.6× 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
Boston, MA ranks #8 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 |
*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 Boston, MA?
The median materials engineer salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $111,480 a year, or about $53.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $95,130 and $149,210.
What is a materials engineer’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $111,480 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $81,902 a year ($6,825 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,354 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a materials engineer?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $112,860. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,649 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #8 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a materials engineer afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median materials engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $167,600
- Aerospace Engineer — $149,470
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $142,920
- Engineers, All Other — $133,940
- Electrical Engineer — $128,610
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors — $128,600
- Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer — $128,550
- Mechanical Engineer — $119,300
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $119,120
- Industrial Engineer — $118,970
- Environmental Engineer — $109,620
- Chemical Engineer — $109,460