📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release
Materials Engineer Salary in the United States (2026)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data · Updated 2026 · Medium Demand
Average
$101,130
per year
Median
$96,820
per year
Hourly
$48.62
per hour
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$66,935
25th Percentile — Junior$85,555
50th Percentile — Median$96,820
75th Percentile — Senior$127,450
90th Percentile — Top Earners$142,950
💡 The top 10% of Materials Engineers earn $142,950 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $66,935, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$88.1k
2021
$90.6k
2022
$93.1k
2023
$95.7k
2024
$98.4k
2025
$101.1k
2026
📈 Materials Engineer salaries have grown 2.8% year-over-year. Since 2020, the average salary has increased by approximately $13,042.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $156,752 | +55.0% | Medium |
| District of Columbia | $153,718 | +52.0% | Medium |
| California | $143,605 | +42.0% | Medium |
| New York | $139,559 | +38.0% | Medium |
| Alaska | $133,492 | +32.0% | Medium |
| Massachusetts | $131,469 | +30.0% | Medium |
| New Jersey | $129,446 | +28.0% | Medium |
| Washington | $126,412 | +25.0% | Medium |
| Connecticut | $123,379 | +22.0% | Medium |
| Maryland | $116,299 | +15.0% | Medium |
| Rhode Island | $116,299 | +15.0% | Medium |
| New Hampshire | $115,288 | +14.0% | Medium |
| Oregon | $113,266 | +12.0% | Medium |
| Colorado | $111,243 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Virginia | $111,243 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Vermont | $109,220 | +8.0% | Medium |
| Delaware | $106,186 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Illinois | $106,186 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Maine | $103,153 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Nevada | $103,153 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Minnesota | $101,130 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Utah | $101,130 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Arizona | $100,119 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Pennsylvania | $100,119 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Florida | $99,107 | -2.0% | Medium |
| Montana | $96,074 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Texas | $96,074 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Georgia | $94,051 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Idaho | $94,051 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Wyoming | $94,051 | -7.0% | Medium |
| North Dakota | $93,040 | -8.0% | Medium |
| Wisconsin | $93,040 | -8.0% | Medium |
| North Carolina | $92,028 | -9.0% | Medium |
| Michigan | $91,017 | -10.0% | Medium |
| Louisiana | $88,994 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Nebraska | $88,994 | -12.0% | Medium |
| New Mexico | $88,994 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Ohio | $88,994 | -12.0% | Medium |
| South Carolina | $88,994 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Tennessee | $88,994 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Alabama | $87,983 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Missouri | $87,983 | -13.0% | Medium |
| South Dakota | $87,983 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Iowa | $86,972 | -14.0% | Medium |
| Indiana | $85,960 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Kansas | $85,960 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Oklahoma | $84,949 | -16.0% | Medium |
| Arkansas | $83,938 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Kentucky | $83,938 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Mississippi | $80,904 | -20.0% | Medium |
| West Virginia | $78,881 | -22.0% | Medium |
What Factors Affect Materials Engineer Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
A Materials Engineer's salary is influenced by several key factors including geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. States with higher costs of living — such as California, New York, and Washington — typically offer 20–40% higher salaries than the national average to compensate for living expenses.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Materials Engineers typically earn $66,935–$85,555 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $127,450–$142,950 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Materials Engineer role currently has medium demand in the job market with a 2.8% growth rate, making it one of the steadily growing careers in the Engineering sector.
🏛️ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
-
What is the average salary for a Materials Engineer?The average salary for a Materials Engineer in the United States is $101,130 per year, with a median of $96,820.
-
What is the starting salary for a Materials Engineer?Entry-level Materials Engineers typically earn between $66,935 and $85,555 per year depending on location and employer.
-
What state pays Materials Engineers the most?California, New York, and Washington typically pay Materials Engineers the highest salaries due to high cost of living and strong job markets.
-
How much does a Materials Engineer make per hour?Based on the average annual salary of $101,130, a Materials Engineer earns approximately $48.62 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
-
Is Materials Engineer a good career in 2026?Yes — the Materials Engineer role has medium demand with 2.8% year-over-year salary growth, indicating a strong and growing career path.
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