Materials Engineer Salary in San Jose, CA
Materials Engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $156,730 a year — 39% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $106,007 take-home, or $8,834 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median materials engineer salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$26,349
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,717
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,273
- California income tax$10,346
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,037
- Take-home pay$106,007
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Materials Engineer pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $101,450 | $48.77 | $73,676 | $6,140 |
| 25th percentile | $130,770 | $62.87 | $91,015 | $7,585 |
| Median (50th) | $156,730 | $75.35 | $106,007 | $8,834 |
| 75th percentile | $180,130 | $86.60 | $119,521 | $9,960 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $218,760 | $105.17 | $143,714 | $11,976 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $156,730 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median materials engineer's $106,007 take-home pay has the buying power of $96,001 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Jose, CA has 3.3× 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
San Jose, CA ranks #3 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 California
- Los Angeles, CA — $125,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials engineer make in San Jose, CA?
The median materials engineer salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $156,730 a year, or about $75.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $130,770 and $180,130.
What is a materials engineer’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $156,730 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $106,007 a year ($8,834 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $12,384 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a materials engineer?
Pay here is 39% above the national median of $112,860. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $96,001 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #3 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a materials engineer afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 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 San Jose, CA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $209,860
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $194,370
- Electrical Engineer — $187,060
- Aerospace Engineer — $181,630
- Engineers, All Other — $169,650
- Mechanical Engineer — $168,030
- Industrial Engineer — $136,950
- Civil Engineer — $130,280
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $129,640
- Electrical and Electronics Drafter — $115,530
- Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician — $96,680
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $95,280