17 Series · SOC 17-2131

Materials Engineers Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$112,860
Median / year
$175,720
Top 10% earn
+5.7%
Growth '23–'33
22,770
US workers

Materials Engineers earn a median of $112,860 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $112,860, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $72,300 (10th percentile) to $175,720 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 22,770 US workers. New Mexico pays the most ($165,600), since pay varies by state and metro area.

17 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Materials Engineers earn a median of $112,860, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 89% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Architecture and Engineering, it ranks #10 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 5.7% by 2033.

$112,860
Median annual wage
Top 11%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#10 of 36
in Architecture and Engineering
2.4×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: New Mexico at $165,600. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Materials Engineers (SOC 17-2131) pays a national median of $112,860 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $72,300 at the 10th percentile to $175,720 at the 90th, with a mean of $120,250 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 22,770 Americans work in this occupation across 45 reporting states and 105 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +5.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,500 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 2 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.5 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. New Mexico pays the highest state median at $165,600, which is +47% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $156,730 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 22,770 jobs Median $112,860/yr

Median Salary

$112,860

per year

Median Hourly

$54.26/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$120,250

average

Employment

22,770

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Materials Engineers pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$112,860 Top 11% higher than 89% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). This entry sits in this band. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 17-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Materials Engineers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 23 17-series occupations with growth data, Materials Engineers sits on the faster-growing side at +5.7% growth and $112,860 median pay.

Among 23 17-series occupations with growth data, Materials Engineers sits on the faster-growing side at +5.7% growth and $112,860 median pay. Scatter plot of 23 data points. $0$50000$100000$150000$200000 -10%-5%0%5%10%15% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 23 17-series occupations with growth data, Materials Engineers sits on the faster-growing side at +5.7% growth and $112,860 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+5.7%

About average

Annual Openings

1,500

per year (projected)

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

2/100K

Injury Rate

0.5/100

Danger Index

3/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Materials Engineers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.0
Active Listening 4.0
Science 4.0
Complex Problem Solving 4.0
Critical Thinking 3.9
Writing 3.8
Speaking 3.8
Mathematics 3.8
Active Learning 3.3
Judgment and Decision Making 3.3

Knowledge Areas

Engineering and Technology 4.3
Chemistry 4.3
Physics 4.2
Production and Processing 4.1
Mathematics 4.1
English Language 3.9
Design 3.6
Computers and Electronics 3.4
Customer and Personal Service 3.1
Mechanical 3.1

Key Tasks

  • ▸ Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
  • ▸ Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
  • ▸ Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.
  • ▸ Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
  • ▸ Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.
  • ▸ Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.
  • ▸ Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials.
  • ▸ Guide technical staff in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices.
  • ▸ Review new product plans, and make recommendations for material selection, based on design objectives such as strength, weight, heat resistance, electrical conductivity, and cost.
  • ▸ Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$72,300$88,080$112,860$142,720$175,720
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$34.76$42.35$54.26$68.61$84.48
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$72,300

25th Percentile

$88,080

Median

$112,860

75th Percentile

$142,720

90th Percentile

$175,720

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. New Mexico $165,600 2. Maryland $140,640 3. Washington $139,840 4. Delaware $131,320 5. Louisiana $128,670

Lowest Paying States

41. Iowa $64,270 42. Montana $76,030 43. Mississippi $78,700 44. Rhode Island $87,180 45. Utah $88,080
View all 45 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 New Mexico $165,600 +47% above national
2 Maryland $140,640 +25% above national
3 Washington $139,840 +24% above national
4 Delaware $131,320 +16% above national
5 Louisiana $128,670 +14% above national
6 California $128,470 +14% above national
7 Illinois $126,620 +12% above national
8 New York $125,900 +12% above national
9 Colorado $124,030 +10% above national
10 Alaska $123,360 +9% above national
11 Oregon $122,850 +9% above national
12 Connecticut $122,300 +8% above national
13 South Carolina $121,610 +8% above national
14 Florida $118,780 +5% above national
15 Texas $117,700 +4% above national
16 Virginia $116,720 +3% above national
17 Massachusetts $114,100 +1% above national
18 Wyoming $110,970 2% below national
19 Alabama $107,580 5% below national
20 New Jersey $106,920 5% below national
21 Arizona $106,810 5% below national
22 Ohio $106,510 6% below national
23 Minnesota $106,220 6% below national
24 Idaho $105,820 6% below national
25 North Carolina $104,240 8% below national
26 Arkansas $103,900 8% below national
27 New Hampshire $101,290 10% below national
28 Indiana $101,120 10% below national
29 Georgia $100,840 11% below national
30 Kentucky $100,620 11% below national
31 Kansas $100,000 11% below national
32 Oklahoma $99,950 11% below national
33 Nevada $99,010 12% below national
34 Missouri $98,860 12% below national
35 Nebraska $98,270 13% below national
36 Pennsylvania $98,030 13% below national
37 Maine $97,110 14% below national
38 Wisconsin $96,210 15% below national
39 Michigan $94,050 17% below national
40 Tennessee $91,940 19% below national
41 Utah $88,080 22% below national
42 Rhode Island $87,180 23% below national
43 Mississippi $78,700 30% below national
44 Montana $76,030 33% below national
45 Iowa $64,270 43% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $156,730 2. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $156,130 3. Boulder, CO $151,940 4. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $147,490 5. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $144,010

Lowest Paying Metros

101. Utica-Rome, NY $71,820 102. Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $77,470 103. Lancaster, PA $79,270 104. Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $79,880 105. Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $80,540
View all 105 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $156,730 +39% above national
2 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $156,130 +38% above national
3 Boulder, CO $151,940 +35% above national
4 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $147,490 +31% above national
5 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $144,010 +28% above national
6 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $140,640 +25% above national
7 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $138,430 +23% above national
8 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $137,290 +22% above national
9 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $134,630 +19% above national
10 Decatur, AL $134,370 +19% above national
11 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $131,080 +16% above national
12 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $130,440 +16% above national
13 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $130,040 +15% above national
14 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $129,480 +15% above national
15 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $128,250 +14% above national
16 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $127,740 +13% above national
17 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $127,230 +13% above national
18 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $125,750 +11% above national
19 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $125,200 +11% above national
20 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $125,190 +11% above national
21 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $124,990 +11% above national
22 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $124,180 +10% above national
23 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $123,720 +10% above national
24 Alaska nonmetropolitan area $123,360 +9% above national
25 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $123,250 +9% above national
26 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $122,450 +8% above national
27 Columbia, SC $121,290 +7% above national
28 Huntsville, AL $120,720 +7% above national
29 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $117,700 +4% above national
30 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $117,000 +4% above national
31 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $116,720 +3% above national
32 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $116,510 +3% above national
33 St. Louis, MO-IL $114,670 +2% above national
34 Worcester, MA $114,100 +1% above national
35 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $111,480 1% below national
36 Madison, WI $111,050 2% below national
37 Tulsa, OK $110,690 2% below national
38 Toledo, OH $110,620 2% below national
39 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $110,350 2% below national
40 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $109,100 3% below national
41 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $108,840 4% below national
42 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $106,580 6% below national
43 Idaho Falls, ID $106,560 6% below national
44 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $106,450 6% below national
45 Cleveland, OH $106,340 6% below national
46 Ann Arbor, MI $105,950 6% below national
47 Youngstown-Warren, OH $105,400 7% below national
48 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $104,910 7% below national
49 Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $104,880 7% below national
50 East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $104,700 7% below national
51 Mobile, AL $104,610 7% below national
52 Columbus, OH $104,370 8% below national
53 Jacksonville, FL $104,360 8% below national
54 Raleigh-Cary, NC $104,310 8% below national
55 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $103,660 8% below national
56 Omaha, NE-IA $103,410 8% below national
57 Chattanooga, TN-GA $103,360 8% below national
58 Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $103,060 9% below national
59 Akron, OH $102,630 9% below national
60 Richmond, VA $102,440 9% below national
61 Arizona nonmetropolitan area $101,700 10% below national
62 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $101,670 10% below national
63 Kansas City, MO-KS $101,230 10% below national
64 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $101,100 10% below national
65 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $100,850 11% below national
66 Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $100,840 11% below national
67 Ogden, UT $100,770 11% below national
68 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $100,420 11% below national
69 Canton-Massillon, OH $100,250 11% below national
70 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $100,070 11% below national
71 Wichita, KS $100,000 11% below national
72 Birmingham, AL $99,780 12% below national
73 Fort Wayne, IN $99,640 12% below national
74 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $99,590 12% below national
75 West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $99,530 12% below national
76 Reading, PA $99,040 12% below national
77 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $98,460 13% below national
78 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $98,440 13% below national
79 Greensboro-High Point, NC $98,380 13% below national
80 Lincoln, NE $96,960 14% below national
81 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $96,790 14% below national
82 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $96,740 14% below national
83 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $96,730 14% below national
84 Spartanburg, SC $96,610 14% below national
85 Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $96,490 15% below national
86 Tucson, AZ $95,930 15% below national
87 Oklahoma City, OK $95,680 15% below national
88 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $94,700 16% below national
89 Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $94,130 17% below national
90 Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area $93,800 17% below national
91 Pittsburgh, PA $92,740 18% below national
92 North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) $92,500 18% below national
93 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $89,040 21% below national
94 Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area $86,770 23% below national
95 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $85,130 25% below national
96 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $85,000 25% below national
97 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $84,880 25% below national
98 West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $83,400 26% below national
99 Knoxville, TN $83,240 26% below national
100 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $82,800 27% below national
101 Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $80,540 29% below national
102 Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $79,880 29% below national
103 Lancaster, PA $79,270 30% below national
104 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $77,470 31% below national
105 Utica-Rome, NY $71,820 36% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 17 (architecture and engineering) with comparable pay and career paths.

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

SOC 17-3021

Aerospace Engineers

SOC 17-2011

Agricultural Engineers

SOC 17-2021

Architects, Except Landscape and Naval

SOC 17-1011

Architectural and Civil Drafters

SOC 17-3011
Compare Materials Engineers side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Materials Engineers make? ▼
The median annual salary for Materials Engineers is $112,860 ($54.26/hour). The salary range spans from $72,300 at the 10th percentile to $175,720 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Materials Engineers the most? ▼
New Mexico pays the highest median salary for Materials Engineers at $165,600/year, which is +47% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Materials Engineers? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Materials Engineers is Bachelor's degree.
How dangerous is being a Materials Engineers? ▼
Materials Engineers has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 2 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.5 per 100 workers.
Is Materials Engineers a good career? ▼
Employment for Materials Engineers is projected to grow 5.7% from 2024 to 2034, which is about average. About 1,500 openings are projected each year.
How does Materials Engineers pay vary by state? ▼
Materials Engineers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is New Mexico at $165,600/year, while Utah pays the least at $88,080/year. BLS data covers 45 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Materials Engineers? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Materials Engineers is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $156,730/year. BLS reports wage data for 105 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Materials Engineers pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $142,720/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: New Mexico leads at $165,600/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.