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Top 15 cities for materials engineers by average salary
| San Jose, CA | $156,740 |
|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $153,780 |
| Washington, DC | $145,070 |
| Boulder, CO | $143,470 |
| Houston, TX | $138,820 |
| New York, NY | $137,070 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $135,510 |
| Dayton, OH | $134,600 |
| San Francisco, CA | $133,770 |
| Baltimore, MD | $133,370 |
| Albany, NY | $132,170 |
| Decatur, AL | $129,920 |
| Orlando, FL | $129,760 |
| Columbia, SC | $129,410 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $127,780 |
Map: Materials Engineers salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Materials Engineers salary by state
New Mexico pays materials engineers the most statewide, $173,000 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $173,000 | $165,600 | 450 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Washington | $149,070 | $139,840 | 1,000 | 1 | $153,780 | $153,780 |
| Washington, D.C. | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $145,070 | $145,070 |
| Maryland | $140,770 | $140,640 | 740 | 1 | $133,370 | $133,370 |
| Delaware | $136,900 | $131,320 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| California | $131,090 | $128,470 | 3,020 | 8 | $156,740 | $104,740 |
| Texas | $126,480 | $117,700 | 1,440 | 4 | $138,820 | $100,420 |
| Colorado | $125,720 | $124,030 | 810 | 3 | $143,470 | $113,160 |
| Louisiana | $125,450 | $128,670 | 90 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| New York | $123,860 | $125,900 | 590 | 4 | $137,070 | $82,560 |
| Oregon | $123,400 | $122,850 | 120 | 1 | $127,250 | $127,250 |
| Minnesota | $122,710 | $106,220 | 150 | 1 | $126,200 | $126,200 |
| Illinois | $122,070 | $126,620 | 290 | 1 | $108,990 | $108,990 |
| Connecticut | $120,360 | $122,300 | 420 | 2 | $113,880 | $107,480 |
| Massachusetts | $120,350 | $114,100 | 1,360 | 2 | $121,960 | $116,390 |
| Florida | $118,040 | $118,780 | 690 | 5 | $129,760 | $107,670 |
| Virginia | $117,660 | $116,720 | 620 | 2 | $118,940 | $113,740 |
| New Jersey | $117,440 | $106,920 | 260 | 1 | $106,210 | $106,210 |
| Alaska | $116,720 | $123,360 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Ohio | $116,620 | $106,510 | 1,790 | 8 | $134,600 | $98,090 |
| Arizona | $116,520 | $106,810 | 580 | 2 | $124,950 | $108,380 |
| Kansas | $116,270 | $100,000 | 270 | 1 | $114,110 | $114,110 |
| South Carolina | $116,020 | $121,610 | 600 | 4 | $129,410 | $100,580 |
| Alabama | $114,610 | $107,580 | 650 | 4 | $129,920 | $99,340 |
| Arkansas | $112,240 | $103,900 | 90 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| North Carolina | $110,700 | $104,240 | 640 | 4 | $118,400 | $102,280 |
| Wyoming | $109,870 | $110,970 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Georgia | $108,070 | $100,840 | 700 | 1 | $110,140 | $110,140 |
| Nevada | $107,480 | $99,010 | 100 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kentucky | $106,970 | $100,620 | 280 | 1 | $101,650 | $101,650 |
| New Hampshire | $106,890 | $101,290 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Pennsylvania | $106,560 | $98,030 | 720 | 6 | $126,850 | $89,270 |
| Maine | $104,980 | $97,110 | 100 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Indiana | $103,160 | $101,120 | 570 | 3 | $112,680 | $92,310 |
| Tennessee | $102,560 | $91,940 | 330 | 4 | $108,340 | $96,890 |
| Missouri | $102,030 | $98,860 | 300 | 2 | $112,910 | $110,730 |
| Oklahoma | $101,740 | $99,950 | 240 | 2 | $112,850 | $94,030 |
| Nebraska | $100,320 | $98,270 | 160 | 2 | $100,960 | $96,100 |
| Utah | $100,130 | $88,080 | 460 | 2 | $109,560 | $94,520 |
| Michigan | $98,980 | $94,050 | 810 | 3 | $105,400 | $93,020 |
| Idaho | $98,410 | $105,820 | 90 | 1 | $117,970 | $117,970 |
| Rhode Island | $98,270 | $87,180 | 50 | 1 | $108,990 | $108,990 |
| Wisconsin | $95,180 | $96,210 | 280 | 2 | $119,240 | $97,380 |
| Mississippi | $94,600 | $78,700 | 100 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Iowa | $82,220 | $64,270 | 200 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Montana | $79,600 | $76,030 | 90 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
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Materials Engineers salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $156,740 | $156,730 | $75.36 | 550 |
| Seattle, WA | $153,780 | $156,130 | $73.94 | 820 |
| Washington, DC | $145,070 | $140,640 | $69.74 | 660 |
| Boulder, CO | $143,470 | $151,940 | $68.98 | 210 |
| Houston, TX | $138,820 | $123,250 | $66.74 | 560 |
| New York, NY | $137,070 | $147,490 | $65.90 | 330 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $135,510 | $130,440 | $65.15 | 50 |
| Dayton, OH | $134,600 | $137,290 | $64.71 | 260 |
| San Francisco, CA | $133,770 | $129,480 | $64.31 | 340 |
| Baltimore, MD | $133,370 | $144,010 | $64.12 | 200 |
| Albany, NY | $132,170 | $134,630 | $63.54 | 130 |
| Decatur, AL | $129,920 | $134,370 | $62.46 | 50 |
| Orlando, FL | $129,760 | $138,430 | $62.38 | n/a |
| Columbia, SC | $129,410 | $121,290 | $62.22 | 40 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $127,780 | $125,200 | $61.43 | 1,250 |
| Portland, OR | $127,250 | $128,250 | $61.18 | 70 |
| Huntsville, AL | $126,860 | $120,720 | $60.99 | 280 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $126,850 | $125,190 | $60.99 | 320 |
| Dallas, TX | $126,630 | $117,700 | $60.88 | 440 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $126,200 | $110,350 | $60.67 | 130 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $124,950 | $124,990 | $60.07 | 310 |
| Charleston, SC | $124,490 | $131,080 | $59.85 | 200 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $124,200 | $127,740 | $59.71 | 380 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $123,420 | $123,720 | $59.34 | 130 |
| Sacramento, CA | $122,450 | $130,040 | $58.87 | 100 |
| Boston, MA | $121,960 | $111,480 | $58.63 | 1,020 |
| Denver, CO | $121,900 | $125,750 | $58.61 | 480 |
| Oxnard, CA | $120,320 | $122,450 | $57.85 | 60 |
| Madison, WI | $119,240 | $111,050 | $57.33 | 30 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $118,940 | $116,720 | $57.18 | 190 |
| Charlotte, NC | $118,400 | $104,910 | $56.92 | 140 |
| Akron, OH | $118,090 | $102,630 | $56.77 | 110 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $117,970 | $106,560 | $56.72 | n/a |
| San Diego, CA | $117,680 | $124,180 | $56.58 | 260 |
| Cleveland, OH | $117,380 | $106,340 | $56.43 | 270 |
| Durham, NC | $117,340 | $117,000 | $56.41 | 80 |
| Worcester, MA | $116,390 | $114,100 | $55.96 | 220 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $114,460 | $104,360 | $55.03 | 60 |
| Wichita, KS | $114,110 | $100,000 | $54.86 | 190 |
| Greenville, SC | $114,010 | $106,580 | $54.81 | 230 |
| Hartford, CT | $113,880 | $108,840 | $54.75 | 60 |
| Richmond, VA | $113,740 | $102,440 | $54.68 | 200 |
| Allentown, PA | $113,520 | $116,510 | $54.58 | 30 |
| Buffalo, NY | $113,270 | $106,450 | $54.46 | 80 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $113,160 | $94,700 | $54.41 | 30 |
| Kansas City, MO | $112,910 | $101,230 | $54.29 | 100 |
| Tulsa, OK | $112,850 | $110,690 | $54.25 | 70 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $112,680 | $127,230 | $54.18 | 160 |
| Columbus, OH | $112,170 | $104,370 | $53.93 | 220 |
| St. Louis, MO | $110,730 | $114,670 | $53.24 | 120 |
| Youngstown, OH | $110,600 | $105,400 | $53.18 | 30 |
| Atlanta, GA | $110,140 | $101,100 | $52.95 | 530 |
| Raleigh, NC | $109,980 | $104,310 | $52.87 | n/a |
| Ogden, UT | $109,560 | $100,770 | $52.67 | 110 |
| Tampa, FL | $109,050 | $100,850 | $52.43 | 110 |
| Chicago, IL | $108,990 | $99,590 | $52.40 | 250 |
| Providence, RI | $108,990 | $101,670 | $52.40 | 130 |
| Toledo, OH | $108,740 | $110,620 | $52.28 | 260 |
| Tucson, AZ | $108,380 | $95,930 | $52.11 | 150 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $108,340 | $103,360 | $52.09 | 70 |
| Miami, FL | $107,670 | $96,740 | $51.76 | 130 |
| Waterbury, CT | $107,480 | $98,460 | $51.67 | 40 |
| Austin, TX | $107,130 | $96,730 | $51.50 | 90 |
| Reading, PA | $107,120 | $99,040 | $51.50 | 50 |
| Nashville, TN | $106,390 | $89,040 | $51.15 | 70 |
| Trenton, NJ | $106,210 | $103,660 | $51.06 | 50 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $105,400 | $105,950 | $50.67 | 50 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $105,260 | $99,640 | $50.61 | 50 |
| Riverside, CA | $104,740 | $109,100 | $50.36 | 90 |
| Memphis, TN | $103,490 | $85,000 | $49.76 | 50 |
| Mobile, AL | $103,290 | $104,610 | $49.66 | 80 |
| Greensboro, NC | $102,280 | $98,380 | $49.17 | 170 |
| Louisville, KY | $101,650 | $100,420 | $48.87 | 40 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $101,550 | $92,740 | $48.82 | 120 |
| Detroit, MI | $101,540 | $100,070 | $48.82 | 460 |
| Omaha, NE | $100,960 | $103,410 | $48.54 | 50 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $100,580 | $96,610 | $48.36 | 30 |
| San Antonio, TX | $100,420 | $82,800 | $48.28 | 90 |
| Birmingham, AL | $99,340 | $99,780 | $47.76 | 120 |
| Canton, OH | $98,090 | $100,250 | $47.16 | 30 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $97,380 | $96,790 | $46.82 | 90 |
| Knoxville, TN | $96,890 | $83,240 | $46.58 | 80 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $96,300 | $98,440 | $46.30 | 40 |
| Lincoln, NE | $96,100 | $96,960 | $46.20 | 50 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $94,520 | $77,470 | $45.44 | 250 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $94,030 | $95,680 | $45.21 | 100 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $93,020 | $84,880 | $44.72 | 100 |
| Lafayette, IN | $92,310 | $85,130 | $44.38 | 40 |
| Lancaster, PA | $89,270 | $79,270 | $42.92 | 30 |
| Utica, NY | $82,560 | $71,820 | $39.69 | 40 |
Related jobs
- Civil EngineersU.S. average $108,670
- Electrical EngineersU.S. average $125,100
- Industrial EngineersU.S. average $109,900
- Mechanical EngineersU.S. average $113,610
- Engineers, All OtherU.S. average $125,330
- Aerospace EngineersU.S. average $142,060
- Chemical EngineersU.S. average $129,980
- Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerU.S. average $137,280
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Materials Engineers salary: questions
Where do materials engineers make the most money?
In San Jose, CA, with an average of $156,740 a year, among the 90 metro areas we cover.
What is the average materials engineers salary in the U.S.?
$120,250 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $112,860, so half of materials engineers earn more than that and half less.
What salary should materials engineers ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of materials engineers nationwide earn between $88,080 (25th percentile) and $142,720 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays materials engineers the most?
New Mexico, with a statewide average of $173,000 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is materials engineers pay the lowest?
Utica, NY, at $82,560 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2131.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.