Materials Engineer Salary in Houston, TX
Materials Engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $123,250 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $95,507 take-home, or $7,959 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median materials engineer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,314
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,642
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,787
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$95,507
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Materials Engineer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,900 | $30.72 | $53,524 | $4,460 |
| 25th percentile | $87,100 | $41.88 | $70,105 | $5,842 |
| Median (50th) | $123,250 | $59.25 | $95,507 | $7,959 |
| 75th percentile | $172,240 | $82.81 | $128,992 | $10,749 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $245,630+ | $118.09 | $180,313 | $15,026 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $123,250 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median materials engineer's $95,507 take-home pay has the buying power of $96,835 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Materials Engineer jobs are about as common in Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for materials engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #2 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 →
Materials Engineer salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $117,700
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials engineer make in Houston, TX?
The median materials engineer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $123,250 a year, or about $59.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $87,100 and $172,240.
What is a materials engineer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $123,250 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $95,507 a year ($7,959 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a materials engineer?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $112,860. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $96,835 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #2 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a materials engineer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 17% of a median materials engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Petroleum Engineer — $169,870
- Chemical Engineer — $138,120
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $137,740
- Aerospace Engineer — $133,970
- Electrical Engineer — $131,070
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors — $130,280
- Engineers, All Other — $130,270
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $129,630
- Environmental Engineer — $127,340
- Mechanical Engineer — $125,350
- Industrial Engineer — $111,690
- Landscape Architect — $103,670