Average Salary for Materials Engineers
SOC 17-2131 · Architecture and Engineering Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Materials Engineers in the United States is $108,310 ($52.07/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $68,040 at the 10th percentile to $172,000 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 22,770 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 23.5% since 2014.
Median Annual
$108,310
Mean Annual
$116,380
10th Pct
$68,040
75th Pct
$138,370
Employment
22,770
Salary Distribution
$68k
10th
$86k
25th
$108k
Median
$138k
75th
$172k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $151,260 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $147,080 |
| Boulder, CO | $141,320 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $140,810 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $140,180 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $137,650 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $136,300 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $135,500 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $135,400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $134,560 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $133,850 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $132,490 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $130,760 |
| Decatur, AL | $130,550 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $130,280 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Washington | $140,810 |
| Maryland | $130,920 |
| Delaware | $127,640 |
| California | $127,550 |
| Oregon | $127,360 |
| New York | $121,980 |
| Colorado | $121,430 |
| Alaska | $120,540 |
| Texas | $116,170 |
| Wyoming | $114,370 |
| Massachusetts | $111,030 |
| South Carolina | $110,730 |
| Alabama | $110,150 |
| Tennessee | $108,670 |
| Arizona | $108,260 |
| Minnesota | $106,430 |
| Virginia | $106,290 |
| Ohio | $106,060 |
| Illinois | $105,980 |
| New Hampshire | $105,840 |
| Kentucky | $105,090 |
| Connecticut | $104,390 |
| Florida | $104,040 |
| Idaho | $101,750 |
| Oklahoma | $101,100 |
| Louisiana | $100,990 |
| Montana | $100,600 |
| Arkansas | $100,330 |
| New Jersey | $100,240 |
| Missouri | $99,160 |
| Indiana | $98,290 |
| West Virginia | $97,960 |
| Nevada | $97,580 |
| Georgia | $97,380 |
| Kansas | $97,200 |
| Michigan | $96,660 |
| Wisconsin | $96,650 |
| North Carolina | $95,640 |
| Vermont | $93,210 |
| Rhode Island | $92,180 |
| Mississippi | $90,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $89,160 |
| Maine | $89,140 |
| Utah | $85,720 |
| Nebraska | $84,540 |
| Iowa | $76,640 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Materials Engineers broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $185,570 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $185,570 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $144,700 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $144,700 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $141,280 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $141,200 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $136,580 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $133,850 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $133,850 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $132,860 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | $129,430 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $128,660 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $126,350 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $125,600 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $125,530 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $124,800 |
| Employment Services | $124,790 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $124,330 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $123,670 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $123,250 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $123,240 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $122,740 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $122,710 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | $119,540 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $118,760 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $118,760 |
| Temporary Help Services | $118,430 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | $114,230 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $113,870 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $113,870 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $113,870 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $113,200 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $111,680 |
| Pipeline Transportation | $111,680 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $109,870 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $109,410 |
| Repair and Maintenance | $109,130 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $109,110 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | $108,840 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $108,690 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $108,630 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $108,630 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | $107,750 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $107,470 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $107,180 |
| Manufacturing | $105,920 |
| Engineering Services | $105,590 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $105,380 |
| Wholesale Trade | $105,090 |
| Metal Ore Mining | $104,210 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $103,770 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $103,640 |
| Ship and Boat Building | $103,500 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | $103,480 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $103,250 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $102,870 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | $102,780 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $101,780 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $101,570 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | $100,310 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | $99,660 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $98,330 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $98,120 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | $97,830 |
| Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | $97,510 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | $96,320 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | $95,640 |
| Utilities | $95,350 |
| Utilities | $95,350 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | $95,330 |
| Paper Manufacturing | $95,330 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | $95,170 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $93,240 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | $92,370 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $92,120 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | $92,030 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | $91,850 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | $91,780 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | $90,520 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $90,060 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | $89,630 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | $88,800 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $88,660 |
| Foundries | $87,000 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | $84,360 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | $84,340 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | $84,130 |
| Construction | $83,040 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $81,990 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $81,310 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $79,290 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $79,290 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | $77,410 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | $77,410 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | $77,320 |
| Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $76,690 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | $76,650 |
| Educational Services | $64,360 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $63,680 |
| Educational Services | $63,680 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $62,080 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $108,310 |
| 2023 | $104,100 |
| 2022 | $100,140 |
| 2021 | $98,300 |
| 2020 | $95,640 |
| 2019 | $93,360 |
| 2018 | $92,390 |
| 2017 | $94,610 |
| 2016 | $93,310 |
| 2015 | $91,310 |
| 2014 | $87,690 |