Materials Engineers Salary in United States

Materials Engineerss in United States have a median annual salary of $112,860, which works out to about $54.26 per hour, with a typical 25th–75th percentile range of $88,080 to $142,720, based on the latest BLS OEWS data.

17-2131 · Materials Engineers

Materials Engineers pay in United States at a glance

Median annual salary

$112,860

Median hourly wage

$54.26/hr

Average annual salary

$120,250

Average hourly wage

$57.81/hr

25th percentile

$88,080

75th percentile

$142,720

10th percentile

$72,300

90th percentile

$175,720

People employed

22,770

Salary distribution

Reported wage points from the lowest to the highest paid materials engineers roles in United States.

10th percentile
$72,300
25th percentile
$88,080
Median percentile
$112,860
75th percentile
$142,720
90th percentile
$175,720

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How much does a materials engineers make in United States?

Half of materials engineers roles in United States report earning more than $112,860 a year and half report earning less — that is the median. The mean (average) of $120,250 is pulled up or down by the highest and lowest earners, which is why the median is usually the better benchmark.

Salary range

A quarter of reported salaries fall below $88,080 and a quarter are above $142,720, so most materials engineers pay sits between those two figures. These percentiles describe how pay is spread across all reported roles — they are not a direct measure of years of experience.

What can affect materials engineers pay?

  • Years of experience and level of responsibility
  • Employer type and size
  • Specialization within the occupation
  • Certifications and licensing
  • Industry
  • Hours worked, shift patterns and overtime
  • The local labor market where the job is based

Materials Engineers pay in other states

Related jobs in United States

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Methodology · Data sources

Salary figures are benchmarks and can vary by employer, experience, specialization, hours worked and other factors.