Materials engineers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $112,860 | $54.26 |
| Mean (average) | $120,250 | $57.81 |
| 90th percentile | $175,720 | $84.48 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Materials engineers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 45 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $107,580 | $69,260 | $168,580 | 650 | 2.11 |
| Alaska | $123,360 | $79,970 | $154,150 | 70 | 1.36 |
| Arizona | $106,810 | $81,990 | $165,090 | 580 | 1.23 |
| Arkansas | $103,900 | $80,120 | $159,440 | 90 | 0.48 |
| California | $128,470 | $82,460 | $183,880 | 3,020 | 1.13 |
| Colorado | $124,030 | $64,710 | $180,500 | 810 | 1.92 |
| Connecticut | $122,300 | $88,330 | $155,440 | 420 | 1.68 |
| Delaware | $131,320 | $100,620 | $182,400 | 40 | 0.51 |
| Florida | $118,780 | $73,370 | $166,490 | 690 | 0.47 |
| Georgia | $100,840 | $71,830 | $159,560 | 700 | 0.98 |
| Idaho | $105,820 | $57,250 | $154,080 | 90 | 0.71 |
| Illinois | $126,620 | $71,780 | $165,710 | 290 | 0.33 |
| Indiana | $101,120 | $67,430 | $131,980 | 570 | 1.21 |
| Iowa | $64,270 | $62,390 | $115,140 | 200 | 0.87 |
| Kansas | $100,000 | $83,460 | $164,110 | 270 | 1.28 |
| Kentucky | $100,620 | $84,610 | $132,800 | 280 | 0.94 |
| Louisiana | $128,670 | $80,860 | $171,140 | 90 | 0.31 |
| Maine | $97,110 | $72,130 | $138,440 | 100 | 1.08 |
| Maryland | $140,640 | $79,470 | $195,190 | 740 | 1.82 |
| Massachusetts | $114,100 | $77,980 | $167,180 | 1,360 | 2.56 |
| Michigan | $94,050 | $62,640 | $139,690 | 810 | 1.25 |
| Minnesota | $106,220 | $84,760 | $175,320 | 150 | 0.34 |
| Mississippi | $78,700 | $62,000 | $150,890 | 100 | 0.59 |
| Missouri | $98,860 | $65,870 | $135,280 | 300 | 0.7 |
| Montana | $76,030 | $59,860 | $104,480 | 90 | 1.25 |
| Nebraska | $98,270 | $57,030 | $135,400 | 160 | 1.06 |
| Nevada | $99,010 | $66,150 | $155,190 | 100 | 0.44 |
| New Hampshire | $101,290 | $73,660 | $159,180 | 70 | 0.68 |
| New Jersey | $106,920 | $82,120 | $170,140 | 260 | 0.41 |
| New Mexico | $165,600 | $126,640 | $204,400 | 450 | 3.56 |
| New York | $125,900 | $73,920 | $168,120 | 590 | 0.42 |
| North Carolina | $104,240 | $78,160 | $153,570 | 640 | 0.88 |
| Ohio | $106,510 | $76,030 | $169,300 | 1,790 | 2.2 |
| Oklahoma | $99,950 | $54,990 | $150,640 | 240 | 0.97 |
| Oregon | $122,850 | $79,040 | $162,600 | 120 | 0.43 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,030 | $62,790 | $173,530 | 720 | 0.81 |
| Rhode Island | $87,180 | $78,270 | $140,450 | 50 | 0.66 |
| South Carolina | $121,610 | $75,550 | $158,940 | 600 | 1.77 |
| Tennessee | $91,940 | $63,760 | $149,300 | 330 | 0.7 |
| Texas | $117,700 | $67,690 | $187,460 | 1,440 | 0.7 |
| Utah | $88,080 | $69,180 | $140,620 | 460 | 1.79 |
| Virginia | $116,720 | $77,490 | $170,210 | 620 | 1.03 |
| Washington | $139,840 | $92,570 | $199,250 | 1,000 | 1.92 |
| Wisconsin | $96,210 | $65,160 | $127,820 | 280 | 0.66 |
| Wyoming | $110,970 | $65,250 | $120,830 | 40 | 0.9 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for materials engineers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,300. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 3.7%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for materials engineers
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Ceramic Sciences and Engineering CIP 14.0601
- Materials Engineering CIP 14.1801
- Metallurgical Engineering CIP 14.2001
- Textile Sciences and Engineering CIP 14.2801
- Polymer/Plastics Engineering CIP 14.3201
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
- Review new product plans, and make recommendations for material selection, based on design objectives such as strength, weight, heat resistance, electrical conductivity, and cost.
- Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.
- Solve problems in a number of engineering fields, such as mechanical, chemical, electrical, civil, nuclear, and aerospace.
- Plan and implement laboratory operations to develop material and fabrication procedures that meet cost, product specification, and performance standards.
- Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
- Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials.
- Guide technical staff in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- C++ (hot technology)
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visual Basic (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle Database (hot technology)
- Python (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- The MathWorks MATLAB (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Quality Control Analysis, Operations Analysis, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation.
Common job titles: Automotive Sheet Metal Engineer, Ceramic Engineer, Extrusion Engineer, Materials Development Engineer, Materials Research Engineer, Metallurgical Engineer, Metallurgist, Process Engineer, Textile Engineer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do materials engineers make?
The national median annual wage for materials engineers was $112,860 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $72,300 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $175,720. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do materials engineers need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is materials engineers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of materials engineers to change +7.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay materials engineers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New Mexico ($165,600), Maryland ($140,640), Washington ($139,840). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.