Materials Engineer Salary in Washington, DC
Materials Engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $140,640 a year — 25% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $98,408 take-home, or $8,201 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median materials engineer salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$22,488
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,720
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,039
- District of Columbia income tax$8,986
- Take-home pay$98,408
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Materials Engineer pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,590 | $40.67 | $64,117 | $5,343 |
| 25th percentile | $113,780 | $54.70 | $82,171 | $6,848 |
| Median (50th) | $140,640 | $67.62 | $98,408 | $8,201 |
| 75th percentile | $180,480 | $86.77 | $122,252 | $10,188 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,190 | $93.84 | $131,718 | $10,977 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $140,640 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median materials engineer's $98,408 take-home pay has the buying power of $90,378 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Washington, DC has 1.4× 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
Washington, DC ranks #4 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 Washington, DC?
The median materials engineer salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $140,640 a year, or about $67.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $113,780 and $180,480.
What is a materials engineer’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $140,640 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $98,408 a year ($8,201 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,986 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a materials engineer?
Pay here is 25% above the national median of $112,860. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $90,378 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #4 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a materials engineer afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median materials engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Nuclear Engineer — $180,360
- Aerospace Engineer — $166,420
- Marine Engineer and Naval Architect — $159,700
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $159,480
- Engineers, All Other — $151,340
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $140,000
- Chemical Engineer — $132,820
- Mechanical Engineer — $126,990
- Electrical Engineer — $126,420
- Environmental Engineer — $120,580
- Industrial Engineer — $117,600
- Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer — $110,390