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Materials Engineers Salary
Materials Engineers earn a median $112,860 a year in the U.S., with 22,770 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $112,860 a year
- Employment
- 22,770
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +7.5%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 1,300
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $112,860 · $54.26 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $120,250 · $57.81 an hour (estimate error ±0.6%)
- 10th percentile
- $72,300 · $34.76 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $88,080 · $42.35 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $142,720 · $68.61 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $175,720 · $84.48 an hour
- Employment
- 22,770 (estimate error ±2.0%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Evaluate materials and develop machinery and processes to manufacture materials for use in products that must meet specialized design and performance specifications. Develop new uses for known materials. Includes those engineers working with composite materials or specializing in one type of material, such as graphite, metal and metal alloys, ceramics and glass, plastics and polymers, and naturally occurring materials. Includes metallurgists and metallurgical engineers, ceramic engineers, and welding engineers.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 23,800
- Projected for 2035
- 25,600
- Change
- +1,800 (+7.5%)
- Openings each year
- 1,300
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Self-employed
- 3.7%
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $165,600 | 450 |
| 2 | Maryland | $140,640 | 740 |
| 3 | Washington | $139,840 | 1,000 |
| 4 | Delaware | $131,320 | 40 |
| 5 | Louisiana | $128,670 | 90 |
| 6 | California | $128,470 | 3,020 |
| 7 | Illinois | $126,620 | 290 |
| 8 | New York | $125,900 | 590 |
| 9 | Colorado | $124,030 | 810 |
| 10 | Alaska | $123,360 | 70 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| California | 3,020 | $128,470 |
| Ohio | 1,790 | $106,510 |
| Texas | 1,440 | $117,700 |
| Massachusetts | 1,360 | $114,100 |
| Washington | 1,000 | $139,840 |
| Colorado | 810 | $124,030 |
| Michigan | 810 | $94,050 |
| Maryland | 740 | $140,640 |
| Pennsylvania | 720 | $98,030 |
| Georgia | 700 | $100,840 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $156,730 | 550 |
| 2 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $156,130 | 820 |
| 3 | Boulder, CO | $151,940 | 210 |
| 4 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $147,490 | 330 |
| 5 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $144,010 | 200 |
| 6 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $140,640 | 660 |
| 7 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $137,290 | 260 |
| 8 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $134,630 | 130 |
| 9 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $131,080 | 200 |
| 10 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $130,040 | 100 |
| 11 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $129,480 | 340 |
| 12 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $127,740 | 380 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,250 | $125,200 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,020 | $111,480 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 820 | $156,130 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 660 | $140,640 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 560 | $123,250 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 550 | $156,730 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 530 | $101,100 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 480 | $125,750 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 460 | $100,070 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 440 | $117,700 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 380 | $127,740 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 340 | $129,480 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)1,473 certified filingsMedian offered wage $124,090
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)321 certified filingsMedian offered wage $110,582
Materials Engineers pay by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related occupations
- Aerospace Engineers
- Agricultural Engineers
- Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
- Chemical Engineers
- Civil Engineers
- Computer Hardware Engineers
- Electrical Engineers
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
- Environmental Engineers
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
- Industrial Engineers
- Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
Frequently asked questions
- How much do materials engineers make?
- The median wage for materials engineers in the U.S. is $112,860 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $88,080 and $142,720.
- Which state pays materials engineers the most?
- New Mexico has the highest median wage for this occupation at $165,600 a year.
- What is the job outlook for materials engineers?
- BLS projects employment to grow 7.5% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,300 openings each year on average.
- What education do materials engineers need?
- The typical entry-level education is: bachelor's degree.