Materials Engineers pay range in Sacramento
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $163,870 or more. The middle half of materials engineers in Sacramento earn between $109,260 and $137,540.
- $82K10th
- $109K25th
- $130KMedian
- $138K75th
- $164K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $122,450 | $10,204 | $58.87 |
| Median | $130,040 | $10,837 | $62.52 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $109,260 | $9,105 | $52.53 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $137,540 | $11,462 | $66.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Materials Engineers pay in Sacramento vs. California and the U.S.
Materials engineers in Sacramento earn 7% less than the California average ($131,090) and about the same as the U.S. average ($120,250). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $112,860.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | $122,450 | $130,040 | $82,420 | $163,870 | 100 |
| California | $131,090 | $128,470 | $82,460 | $183,880 | 3,020 |
| United States | $120,250 | $112,860 | $72,300 | $175,720 | 22,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Materials Engineers salary after taxes in Sacramento
On the average salary of $122,450, a single filer in Sacramento takes home about $87,665 a year, or $7,305 a month and $3,372 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Sacramento a good place for materials engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Sacramento area are 7% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.7), so the average $122,450 buys what about $114,793 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Sacramento ($59,750). A typical home costs $582,707, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Engineers salary in other California cities
Sacramento ranks 5th of 8 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($156,740).
- San Jose$156,740
- Bakersfield$135,510
- San Francisco$133,770
- Los Angeles$127,780
- Sacramento$122,450
- Oxnard$120,320
- San Diego$117,680
- Riverside$104,740
Highest-paying cities for materials engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($156,740).
- San Jose, CA$156,740
- Seattle, WA$153,780
- Washington, DC$145,070
- Boulder, CO$143,470
- Houston, TX$138,820
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Materials Engineers salary in Sacramento: questions
How much do materials engineers make an hour in Sacramento?
$58.87 an hour on average, and $62.52 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials engineers salary in Sacramento?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $109,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials engineers take-home pay in Sacramento?
About $87,665 a year ($7,305 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $122,450. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do materials engineers earn more in Sacramento than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($120,250).
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; area Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA (40900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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