Materials Engineers Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$82,460
- 25th Percentile — Junior$103,250
- 50th Percentile — Median$128,470
- 75th Percentile — Senior$157,980
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$183,880
Half of Materials Engineers in California earn more than $128,470. The top 10% make $183,880 or more, while entry-level workers start around $82,460.
Materials Engineers in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 5th of 45 states for Materials Engineers pay, at $131,090 per year (9.0% above the U.S. average of $120,250).
- 3,020 people work as Materials Engineers in California — 13.3% of all U.S. Materials Engineers jobs.
- Location quotient 1.13: Materials Engineers jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $82,460; the top 10% earn over $183,880.
- Hourly equivalent: $63.02 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is New Mexico at $173,000.
- Among engineering jobs in California, Computer Hardware Engineers pays the most ($190,590).
Materials Engineers Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Materials Engineers here earn $131,090 on average, placing the state 5th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $131,090 is roughly equivalent to $92,317 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New Mexico ($173,000), Washington ($149,070), Maryland ($140,770) are the closest alternatives for Materials Engineers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Engineering Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Computer Hardware Engineers $190,590/yr California +45.4% vs this role
- Nuclear Engineers $160,980/yr California +22.8% vs this role
- Aerospace Engineers $159,960/yr California +22.0% vs this role
- Electrical Engineers $151,180/yr California +15.3% vs this role
- Petroleum Engineers $147,940/yr California +12.9% vs this role
- Engineers All Other $139,670/yr California +6.5% vs this role
- Mechanical Engineers $136,660/yr California +4.2% vs this role
- Biomedical Engineers $132,400/yr California +1.0% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Materials Engineers salary in California?
The average Materials Engineers salary in California is $131,090 per year (median $128,470), which is 9.0% above the national average of $120,250.
How does California rank for Materials Engineers pay?
California ranks 5th out of 45 states. The highest-paying state is New Mexico ($173,000/yr).
How much do entry-level Materials Engineers make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Materials Engineers in California earn about $82,460 per year and the 25th percentile is $103,250.
How much do Materials Engineers make per hour in California?
About $63.02 per hour, based on the $131,090 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Materials Engineers work in California?
BLS counts 3,020 Materials Engineers jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data