Materials Engineers pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $176,740 or more. The middle half of materials engineers in Columbia earn between $78,990 and $176,740.
- $72K10th
- $79K25th
- $121KMedian
- $177K75th
- $177K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $129,410 | $10,784 | $62.22 |
| Median | $121,290 | $10,108 | $58.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,990 | $6,582 | $37.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $176,740 | $14,728 | $84.97 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Materials Engineers pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Materials engineers in Columbia earn 12% more than the South Carolina average ($116,020) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($120,250). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $112,860.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $129,410 | $121,290 | $72,320 | $176,740 | 40 |
| South Carolina | $116,020 | $121,610 | $75,550 | $158,940 | 600 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $129,410, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $93,941 a year, or $7,828 a month and $3,613 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for materials engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $129,410 buys what about $138,167 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 2.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Engineers salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 1st of 4 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Columbia$129,410
- Charleston$124,490
- Greenville$114,010
- Spartanburg$100,580
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 Columbia: questions
How much do materials engineers make an hour in Columbia?
$62.22 an hour on average, and $58.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials engineers salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials engineers take-home pay in Columbia?
About $93,941 a year ($7,828 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $129,410.
Do materials engineers earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more than 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.63, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.63).
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