Materials Engineers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for materials engineers in the U.S. is $112,860 ($54.26 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $112,860
- Mean annual wage
- $120,250
- Median hourly wage
- $54.26
- Employment
- 22,770
22,770 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| 25th percentile | $88,080 | $42.35 |
| Median (50th) | $112,860 | $54.26 |
| 75th percentile | $142,720 | $68.61 |
| 90th percentile | $175,720 | $84.48 |
Highest-paying states for materials engineers
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $165,600 | 450 |
| Maryland | $140,640 | 740 |
| Washington | $139,840 | 1,000 |
| Delaware | $131,320 | 40 |
| Louisiana | $128,670 | 90 |
| California | $128,470 | 3,020 |
| Illinois | $126,620 | 290 |
| New York | $125,900 | 590 |
| Colorado | $124,030 | 810 |
| Alaska | $123,360 | 70 |
Lowest-paying states
- Iowa: $64,270 median annual wage
- Montana: $76,030 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $78,700 median annual wage
- Rhode Island: $87,180 median annual wage
- Utah: $88,080 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Plan and evaluate new projects, consulting with other engineers and corporate executives, as necessary.
- Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists.
- Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
- Solve problems in a number of engineering fields, such as mechanical, chemical, electrical, civil, nuclear, and aerospace.
- Supervise production and testing processes in industrial settings, such as metal refining facilities, smelting or foundry operations, or nonmetallic materials production operations.
- Replicate the characteristics of materials and their components, using computers.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 0.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.6% |
| Some college, no degree | 7.4% |
| Associate's degree | 8.3% |
| Bachelor's degree | 52.0% |
| Master's degree | 19.4% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 9.5% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Civil Engineers$100,840
- Industrial Engineers$102,440
- Mechanical Engineers$104,110
- Electrical Engineers$120,630
- Engineers, All Other$122,930
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$99,280
- Architectural and Civil Drafters$66,150
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$130,220
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.