Materials Engineer Salary in Seattle, WA
Materials Engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $156,130 a year — 38% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $117,981 take-home, or $9,832 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median materials engineer salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$26,205
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,680
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,264
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$117,981
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Materials Engineer pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $96,060 | $46.18 | $76,408 | $6,367 |
| 25th percentile | $128,710 | $61.88 | $99,239 | $8,270 |
| Median (50th) | $156,130 | $75.06 | $117,981 | $9,832 |
| 75th percentile | $178,710 | $85.92 | $133,414 | $11,118 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,380 | $102.59 | $158,781 | $13,232 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $156,130 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median materials engineer's $117,981 take-home pay has the buying power of $106,162 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Seattle, WA has 2.7× 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
Seattle, WA ranks #1 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 Seattle, WA?
The median materials engineer salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $156,130 a year, or about $75.06 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $128,710 and $178,710.
What is a materials engineer’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $156,130 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $117,981 a year ($9,832 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a materials engineer?
Pay here is 38% above the national median of $112,860. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $106,162 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #1 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a materials engineer afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 21% of a median materials engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $169,120
- Aerospace Engineer — $163,580
- Electrical Engineer — $140,210
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $138,890
- Engineers, All Other — $137,430
- Industrial Engineer — $131,210
- Environmental Engineer — $128,410
- Mechanical Engineer — $126,590
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologist and Technician — $125,160
- Civil Engineer — $116,480
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $100,610
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $98,180