Materials Engineers Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$84,610
- 25th Percentile — Junior$96,300
- 50th Percentile — Median$100,620
- 75th Percentile — Senior$119,280
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$132,800
Half of Materials Engineers in Kentucky earn more than $100,620. The top 10% make $132,800 or more, while entry-level workers start around $84,610.
Materials Engineers in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 29th of 45 states for Materials Engineers pay, at $106,970 per year (11.0% below the U.S. average of $120,250).
- 280 people work as Materials Engineers in Kentucky — 1.2% of all U.S. Materials Engineers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.94: Materials Engineers jobs are less concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $84,610; the top 10% earn over $132,800.
- Hourly equivalent: $51.43 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is New Mexico at $173,000.
- Among engineering jobs in Kentucky, Aerospace Engineers pays the most ($133,200).
Materials Engineers Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Materials Engineers here earn $106,970 on average, placing the state 29th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $106,970 is roughly equivalent to $128,880 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, North Carolina ($110,700), Wyoming ($109,870), Georgia ($108,070) 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 Kentucky
Related career salary benchmarks
- Aerospace Engineers $133,200/yr Kentucky +24.5% vs this role
- Chemical Engineers $122,160/yr Kentucky +14.2% vs this role
- Environmental Engineers $113,090/yr Kentucky +5.7% vs this role
- Computer Hardware Engineers $109,310/yr Kentucky +2.2% vs this role
- Civil Engineers $105,310/yr Kentucky 1.6% vs this role
- Mechanical Engineers $103,320/yr Kentucky 3.4% vs this role
- Engineers All Other $103,210/yr Kentucky 3.5% vs this role
- Electrical Engineers $99,530/yr Kentucky 7.0% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Materials Engineers salary in Kentucky?
The average Materials Engineers salary in Kentucky is $106,970 per year (median $100,620), which is 11.0% below the national average of $120,250.
How does Kentucky rank for Materials Engineers pay?
Kentucky ranks 29th out of 45 states. The highest-paying state is New Mexico ($173,000/yr).
How much do entry-level Materials Engineers make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Materials Engineers in Kentucky earn about $84,610 per year and the 25th percentile is $96,300.
How much do Materials Engineers make per hour in Kentucky?
About $51.43 per hour, based on the $106,970 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Materials Engineers work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 280 Materials Engineers jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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