Salary guide, May 2025
Materials Engineer pay by metro, ranked
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
Of 393 metros, BLS published an exact annual median for 90. The highest is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $156,730 and the lowest is Utica-Rome, NY at $71,820. 0 more are published but not rankable and 303 are not published by bls.
Broader occupation · SOC 17-2131 Materials Engineers
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$156,730
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$156,130
- Boulder, CO$151,940
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$147,490
- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$144,010
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$140,640
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL$138,430
- Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH$137,290
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY$134,630
- Decatur, AL$134,370
- Charleston-North Charleston, SC$131,080
- Bakersfield-Delano, CA$130,440
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$130,040
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$129,480
- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$128,250
- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$127,740
- Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN$127,230
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$125,750
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$125,200
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$125,190
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$124,990
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$124,180
- Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL$123,720
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$123,250
- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$122,450
Bars show the top 25 of 90 ranked. The table below lists all 90. Literal BLS medians, May 2025.
| Rank | Metro | BLS occupation | 25th | Median | 75th | Employment | LQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $130,770 | $156,730 | $180,130 | 550 | 3.32 |
| 2 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $128,710 | $156,130 | $178,710 | 820 | 2.68 |
| 3 | Boulder, CO | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $110,490 | $151,940 | $166,230 | 210 | 7.58 |
| 4 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $104,820 | $147,490 | $162,770 | 330 | 0.23 |
| 5 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $101,070 | $144,010 | $162,260 | 200 | 1.03 |
| 6 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $113,780 | $140,640 | $180,480 | 660 | 1.44 |
| 7 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $118,830 | $138,430 | $138,430 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 8 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $105,590 | $137,290 | $162,430 | 260 | 4.85 |
| 9 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $106,440 | $134,630 | $161,820 | 130 | 1.92 |
| 10 | Decatur, AL | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $98,630 | $134,370 | $165,530 | 50 | 5.83 |
| 11 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $109,290 | $131,080 | $131,080 | 200 | 3.49 |
| 12 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $108,520 | $130,440 | $168,120 | 50 | 1.09 |
| 13 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $109,260 | $130,040 | $137,540 | 100 | 0.6 |
| 14 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $97,560 | $129,480 | $160,540 | 340 | 0.99 |
| 15 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $96,900 | $128,250 | $158,530 | 70 | 0.39 |
| 16 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $95,640 | $127,740 | $160,320 | 380 | 2.33 |
| 17 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $85,560 | $127,230 | $127,240 | 160 | 1.02 |
| 18 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $82,100 | $125,750 | $164,630 | 480 | 2.03 |
| 19 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $102,770 | $125,200 | $146,980 | 1,250 | 1.37 |
| 20 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $94,670 | $125,190 | $159,750 | 320 | 0.75 |
| 21 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $101,190 | $124,990 | $142,180 | 310 | 0.88 |
| 22 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $93,200 | $124,180 | $135,590 | 260 | 1.14 |
| 23 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $96,080 | $123,720 | $143,640 | 130 | 3.65 |
| 24 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $87,100 | $123,250 | $172,240 | 560 | 1.15 |
| 25 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $110,190 | $122,450 | $128,500 | 60 | 1.2 |
| 26 | Columbia, SC | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $78,990 | $121,290 | $176,740 | 40 | 0.63 |
| 27 | Huntsville, AL | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $100,640 | $120,720 | $151,300 | 280 | 7.07 |
| 28 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $100,310 | $117,700 | $161,940 | 440 | 0.74 |
| 29 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $102,230 | $117,000 | $131,120 | 80 | 1.5 |
| 30 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $83,840 | $116,720 | $139,010 | 190 | 1.69 |
| 31 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $89,440 | $116,510 | $129,090 | 30 | 0.58 |
| 32 | St. Louis, MO-IL | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $83,430 | $114,670 | $130,900 | 120 | 0.63 |
| 33 | Worcester, MA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $100,280 | $114,100 | $127,400 | 220 | 4.27 |
| 34 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $95,130 | $111,480 | $149,210 | 1,020 | 2.58 |
| 35 | Madison, WI | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $105,370 | $111,050 | $141,500 | 30 | 0.52 |
| 36 | Tulsa, OK | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $90,820 | $110,690 | $129,910 | 70 | 1.04 |
| 37 | Toledo, OH | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $87,070 | $110,620 | $132,040 | 260 | 6 |
| 38 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $103,670 | $110,350 | $148,180 | 130 | 0.45 |
| 39 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $82,860 | $109,100 | $124,660 | 90 | 0.36 |
| 40 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $97,710 | $108,840 | $133,510 | 60 | 0.64 |
| 41 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $91,140 | $106,580 | $133,160 | 230 | 3.64 |
| 42 | Idaho Falls, ID | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $106,560 | $106,560 | $133,960 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 43 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $88,380 | $106,450 | $138,520 | 80 | 0.97 |
| 44 | Cleveland, OH | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $84,000 | $106,340 | $143,020 | 270 | 1.76 |
| 45 | Ann Arbor, MI | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $79,360 | $105,950 | $127,220 | 50 | 1.59 |
| 46 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $85,940 | $105,400 | $129,380 | 30 | 1.35 |
| 47 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $93,140 | $104,910 | $135,190 | 140 | 0.72 |
| 48 | Mobile, AL | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $76,760 | $104,610 | $123,690 | 80 | 3.11 |
| 49 | Columbus, OH | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $84,550 | $104,370 | $137,300 | 220 | 1.38 |
| 50 | Jacksonville, FL | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $88,610 | $104,360 | $127,810 | 60 | 0.54 |
| 51 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $86,400 | $104,310 | $128,040 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 52 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $93,360 | $103,660 | $110,990 | 50 | 1.35 |
| 53 | Omaha, NE-IA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $80,780 | $103,410 | $117,060 | 50 | 0.73 |
| 54 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $80,900 | $103,360 | $142,730 | 70 | 1.78 |
| 55 | Akron, OH | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $88,630 | $102,630 | $139,540 | 110 | 2.39 |
| 56 | Richmond, VA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $77,600 | $102,440 | $132,450 | 200 | 2.07 |
| 57 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $87,180 | $101,670 | $117,570 | 130 | 1.26 |
| 58 | Kansas City, MO-KS | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $76,180 | $101,230 | $128,940 | 100 | 0.6 |
| 59 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $80,180 | $101,100 | $130,470 | 530 | 1.26 |
| 60 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $81,910 | $100,850 | $123,550 | 110 | 0.54 |
| 61 | Ogden, UT | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $86,450 | $100,770 | $130,560 | 110 | 2.88 |
| 62 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $84,610 | $100,420 | $113,120 | 40 | 0.44 |
| 63 | Canton-Massillon, OH | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $85,030 | $100,250 | $104,120 | 30 | 1.3 |
| 64 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $75,390 | $100,070 | $127,570 | 460 | 1.64 |
| 65 | Wichita, KS | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $83,860 | $100,000 | $135,880 | 190 | 4.25 |
| 66 | Birmingham, AL | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $77,210 | $99,780 | $128,000 | 120 | 1.55 |
| 67 | Fort Wayne, IN | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $82,380 | $99,640 | $125,260 | 50 | 1.51 |
| 68 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $76,220 | $99,590 | $136,520 | 250 | 0.38 |
| 69 | Reading, PA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $79,360 | $99,040 | $122,410 | 50 | 1.86 |
| 70 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $88,860 | $98,460 | $112,920 | 40 | 1.6 |
| 71 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $78,880 | $98,440 | $105,710 | 40 | 0.85 |
| 72 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $82,290 | $98,380 | $106,110 | 170 | 3.17 |
| 73 | Lincoln, NE | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $57,030 | $96,960 | $105,700 | 50 | 1.88 |
| 74 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $84,360 | $96,790 | $112,490 | 90 | 0.74 |
| 75 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $75,960 | $96,740 | $126,280 | 130 | 0.32 |
| 76 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $67,090 | $96,730 | $129,230 | 90 | 0.47 |
| 77 | Spartanburg, SC | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $86,200 | $96,610 | $106,190 | 30 | 1.35 |
| 78 | Tucson, AZ | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $95,930 | $95,930 | $121,360 | 150 | 2.64 |
| 79 | Oklahoma City, OK | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $73,940 | $95,680 | $108,870 | 100 | 1.03 |
| 80 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $83,940 | $94,700 | $141,080 | 30 | 1.31 |
| 81 | Pittsburgh, PA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $69,100 | $92,740 | $122,780 | 120 | 0.74 |
| 82 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $79,690 | $89,040 | $126,100 | 70 | 0.45 |
| 83 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $82,720 | $85,130 | $102,910 | 40 | 2.38 |
| 84 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $76,740 | $85,000 | $120,050 | 50 | 0.51 |
| 85 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $64,630 | $84,880 | $108,120 | 100 | 1.1 |
| 86 | Knoxville, TN | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $74,490 | $83,240 | $119,370 | 80 | 1.3 |
| 87 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $72,100 | $82,800 | $133,780 | 90 | 0.54 |
| 88 | Lancaster, PA | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $79,270 | $79,270 | $99,120 | 30 | 0.94 |
| 89 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $73,750 | $77,470 | $107,190 | 250 | 2.08 |
| 90 | Utica-Rome, NY | Materials Engineers (17-2131) | $67,950 | $71,820 | $80,340 | 40 | 2.09 |
What should you know about not published by BLS?
Abilene, TX, Aguadilla, PR, Albany, GA, Albany, OR, Albuquerque, NM, Alexandria, LA, Altoona, PA, Amarillo, TX, Ames, IA, Amherst Town-Northampton, MA, Anchorage, AK, Anniston-Oxford, AL, Appleton, WI, Arecibo, PR, Asheville, NC, Athens-Clarke County, GA, Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ, Auburn-Opelika, AL, Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC, Bangor, ME, Barnstable Town, MA, Baton Rouge, LA, Battle Creek, MI, Bay City, MI, Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX, Beckley, WV, Bellingham, WA, Bend, OR, Billings, MT, Binghamton, NY, Bismarck, ND, Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA, Bloomington, IL, Bloomington, IN, Boise City, ID, Bowling Green, KY, Bozeman, MT, Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA, Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT, Brownsville-Harlingen, TX, Brunswick-St. Simons, GA, Burlington, NC, Burlington-South Burlington, VT, Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL, Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, Carson City, NV, Casper, WY, Cedar Rapids, IA, Chambersburg, PA, Champaign-Urbana, IL, Charleston, WV, Charlottesville, VA, Cheyenne, WY, Chico, CA, Clarksville, TN-KY, Cleveland, TN, Coeur d'Alene, ID, College Station-Bryan, TX, Colorado Springs, CO, Columbia, MO, Columbus, GA-AL, Columbus, IN, Corpus Christi, TX, Corvallis, OR, Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL, Dalton, GA, Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL, Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL, Decatur, IL, Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, Dothan, AL, Dover, DE, Dubuque, IA, Duluth, MN-WI, Eagle Pass, TX, Eau Claire, WI, El Centro, CA, Elizabethtown, KY, Elkhart-Goshen, IN, Elmira, NY, El Paso, TX, Enid, OK, Erie, PA, Eugene-Springfield, OR, Evansville, IN, Fairbanks-College, AK, Fargo, ND-MN, Farmington, NM, Fayetteville, NC, Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR, Flagstaff, AZ, Flint, MI, Florence, SC, Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL, Fond du Lac, WI, Fort Smith, AR-OK, Fresno, CA, Gadsden, AL, Gainesville, FL, Gainesville, GA, Gettysburg, PA, Glens Falls, NY, Goldsboro, NC, Grand Forks, ND-MN, Grand Island, NE, Grand Junction, CO, Grants Pass, OR, Great Falls, MT, Greeley, CO, Green Bay, WI, Greenville, NC, Guayama, PR, Gulfport-Biloxi, MS, Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV, Hammond, LA, Hanford-Corcoran, CA, Harrisonburg, VA, Hattiesburg, MS, Helena, MT, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC, Hinesville, GA, Homosassa Springs, FL, Hot Springs, AR, Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA, Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Iowa City, IA, Ithaca, NY, Jackson, MI, Jackson, MS, Jackson, TN, Jacksonville, NC, Janesville-Beloit, WI, Jefferson City, MO, Johnson City, TN, Johnstown, PA, Jonesboro, AR, Joplin, MO-KS, Kahului-Wailuku, HI, Kalamazoo-Portage, MI, Kankakee, IL, Kennewick-Richland, WA, Kenosha, WI, Killeen-Temple, TX, Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA, Kingston, NY, Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY, Kokomo, IN, La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN, Lafayette, LA, Lake Charles, LA, Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ, Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL, Lansing-East Lansing, MI, Laredo, TX, Las Cruces, NM, Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV, Lawrence, KS, Lawton, OK, Lebanon, PA, Lewiston, ID-WA, Lewiston-Auburn, ME, Lexington-Fayette, KY, Lexington Park, MD, Lima, OH, Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR, Logan, UT-ID, Longview, TX, Longview-Kelso, WA, Lubbock, TX, Lynchburg, VA, Macon-Bibb County, GA, Manchester-Nashua, NH, distribution management software, KS, Mankato, MN, Mansfield, OH, Mayaguez, PR, McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX, Medford, OR, Merced, CA, Michigan City-La Porte, IN, Midland, MI, Midland, TX, Minot, ND, Missoula, MT, Modesto, CA, Monroe, LA, Monroe, MI, Montgomery, AL, Morgantown, WV, Morristown, TN, Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA, Muncie, IN, Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI, Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC, Napa, CA, Naples-Marco Island, FL, New Haven, CT, New Orleans-Metairie, LA, Niles, MI, North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL, Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT, Ocala, FL, Odessa, TX, Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA, Oshkosh-Neenah, WI, Owensboro, KY, Paducah, KY-IL, Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL, Parkersburg-Vienna, WV, Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL, Peoria, IL, Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC, Pittsfield, MA, Pocatello, ID, Ponce, PR, Portland-South Portland, ME, Port St. Lucie, FL, Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ, Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT, Pueblo, CO, Punta Gorda, FL, Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI, Rapid City, SD, Redding, CA, Reno, NV, Roanoke, VA, Rochester, MN, Rochester, NY, Rockford, IL, Rocky Mount, NC, Rome, GA, Saginaw, MI, St. Cloud, MN, St. George, UT, St. Joseph, MO-KS, Salem, OR, Salinas, CA, Salisbury, MD, San Angelo, TX, Sandusky, OH, San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR, San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA, Santa Fe, NM, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA, Savannah, GA, Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA, Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL, Sebring, FL, Sheboygan, WI, Sherman-Denison, TX, Shreveport-Bossier City, LA, Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ, Sioux City, IA-NE-SD, Sioux Falls, SD-MN, Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA, South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI, Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA, Springfield, IL, Springfield, MA, Springfield, MO, Springfield, OH, State College, PA, Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA, Stockton-Lodi, CA, Sumter, SC, Syracuse, NY, Tallahassee, FL, Terre Haute, IN, Texarkana, TX-AR, Topeka, KS, Traverse City, MI, Tuscaloosa, AL, Twin Falls, ID, Tyler, TX, Urban Honolulu, HI, Valdosta, GA, Vallejo, CA, Victoria, TX, Vineland, NJ, Visalia, CA, Waco, TX, Walla Walla, WA, Warner Robins, GA, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, Watertown-Fort Drum, NY, Wausau, WI, Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH, Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA, Wheeling, WV-OH, Wichita Falls, TX, Wildwood-The Villages, FL, Williamsport, PA, Wilmington, NC, Winchester, VA-WV, Winston-Salem, NC, Yakima, WA, York-Hanover, PA, Yuba City, CA, Yuma, AZ.
What should you know about role pay against all occupations, by metro?
Ratio = this role's published median divided by the all-occupations median in the same metro, same units, both exact. A ratio above 1.00 means the role's median is higher than the metro's all-occupations median. It makes no cost-of-living claim. Location quotient (LQ) is employment concentration, not a wage index.
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL2.97
- Decatur, AL2.90
- Bakersfield-Delano, CA2.75
- Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH2.75
- Charleston-North Charleston, SC2.67
- Columbia, SC2.61
- Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN2.58
- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN2.55
- Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL2.52
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX2.49
- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD2.44
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ2.43
- Youngstown-Warren, OH2.41
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ2.40
- Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ2.38
- Tulsa, OK2.37
- Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC2.36
- Huntsville, AL2.33
- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA2.33
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD2.31
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY2.30
- Toledo, OH2.29
- St. Louis, MO-IL2.29
- Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC2.29
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX2.29
Bars show the highest 25 of 90. The table lists all.
| Metro | Role median | All-occupations median | Ratio | LQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $138,430 | $46,630 | 2.97 | Not published by BLS |
| Decatur, AL | $134,370 | $46,280 | 2.90 | 5.83 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $130,440 | $47,470 | 2.75 | 1.09 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $137,290 | $49,980 | 2.75 | 4.85 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $131,080 | $49,150 | 2.67 | 3.49 |
| Columbia, SC | $121,290 | $46,430 | 2.61 | 0.63 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $127,230 | $49,340 | 2.58 | 1.02 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $127,740 | $50,170 | 2.55 | 2.33 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $123,720 | $49,030 | 2.52 | 3.65 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $123,250 | $49,410 | 2.49 | 1.15 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $144,010 | $59,070 | 2.44 | 1.03 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $124,990 | $51,380 | 2.43 | 0.88 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $105,400 | $43,800 | 2.41 | 1.35 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $147,490 | $61,430 | 2.40 | 0.23 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $116,510 | $48,990 | 2.38 | 0.58 |
| Tulsa, OK | $110,690 | $46,670 | 2.37 | 1.04 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $116,720 | $49,430 | 2.36 | 1.69 |
| Huntsville, AL | $120,720 | $51,740 | 2.33 | 7.07 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $122,450 | $52,510 | 2.33 | 1.2 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $125,190 | $54,310 | 2.31 | 0.75 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $134,630 | $58,460 | 2.30 | 1.92 |
| Toledo, OH | $110,620 | $48,220 | 2.29 | 6 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $114,670 | $49,990 | 2.29 | 0.63 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $106,580 | $46,580 | 2.29 | 3.64 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $117,700 | $51,440 | 2.29 | 0.74 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $106,560 | $46,800 | 2.28 | Not published by BLS |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $109,100 | $48,400 | 2.25 | 0.36 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $125,200 | $55,850 | 2.24 | 1.37 |
| Mobile, AL | $104,610 | $47,000 | 2.23 | 3.11 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $103,360 | $46,700 | 2.21 | 1.78 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $100,250 | $45,810 | 2.19 | 1.3 |
| Boulder, CO | $151,940 | $69,580 | 2.18 | 7.58 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $130,040 | $59,750 | 2.18 | 0.6 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $156,130 | $72,610 | 2.15 | 2.68 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $104,360 | $48,830 | 2.14 | 0.54 |
| Cleveland, OH | $106,340 | $50,140 | 2.12 | 1.76 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $124,180 | $58,690 | 2.12 | 1.14 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $128,250 | $60,690 | 2.11 | 0.39 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $98,380 | $46,570 | 2.11 | 3.17 |
| Akron, OH | $102,630 | $48,840 | 2.10 | 2.39 |
| Wichita, KS | $100,000 | $47,630 | 2.10 | 4.25 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $104,910 | $49,990 | 2.10 | 0.72 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $106,450 | $50,790 | 2.10 | 0.97 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $99,640 | $47,700 | 2.09 | 1.51 |
| Birmingham, AL | $99,780 | $47,770 | 2.09 | 1.55 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $103,410 | $49,660 | 2.08 | 0.73 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $100,420 | $48,370 | 2.08 | 0.44 |
| Ogden, UT | $100,770 | $48,900 | 2.06 | 2.88 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $100,850 | $48,940 | 2.06 | 0.54 |
| Columbus, OH | $104,370 | $51,340 | 2.03 | 1.38 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $96,610 | $47,650 | 2.03 | 1.35 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $95,680 | $47,230 | 2.03 | 1.03 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $125,750 | $62,320 | 2.02 | 2.03 |
| Tucson, AZ | $95,930 | $47,760 | 2.01 | 2.64 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $104,310 | $51,990 | 2.01 | Not published by BLS |
| Reading, PA | $99,040 | $49,440 | 2.00 | 1.86 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $101,230 | $50,820 | 1.99 | 0.6 |
| Richmond, VA | $102,440 | $51,460 | 1.99 | 2.07 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $96,740 | $48,640 | 1.99 | 0.32 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $98,440 | $49,610 | 1.98 | 0.85 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $140,640 | $71,060 | 1.98 | 1.44 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $101,100 | $51,170 | 1.98 | 1.26 |
| Worcester, MA | $114,100 | $57,830 | 1.97 | 4.27 |
| Lincoln, NE | $96,960 | $49,800 | 1.95 | 1.88 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $117,000 | $60,720 | 1.93 | 1.5 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $100,070 | $52,080 | 1.92 | 1.64 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $98,460 | $51,440 | 1.91 | 1.6 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $105,950 | $55,380 | 1.91 | 1.59 |
| Madison, WI | $111,050 | $58,080 | 1.91 | 0.52 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $101,670 | $53,680 | 1.89 | 1.26 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $96,790 | $51,160 | 1.89 | 0.74 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $92,740 | $49,650 | 1.87 | 0.74 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $156,730 | $84,050 | 1.86 | 3.32 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $110,350 | $59,320 | 1.86 | 0.45 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $99,590 | $54,720 | 1.82 | 0.38 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $108,840 | $59,940 | 1.82 | 0.64 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $85,000 | $46,890 | 1.81 | 0.51 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $84,880 | $47,570 | 1.78 | 1.1 |
| Knoxville, TN | $83,240 | $47,080 | 1.77 | 1.3 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $89,040 | $50,390 | 1.77 | 0.45 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $82,800 | $47,010 | 1.76 | 0.54 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $85,130 | $48,780 | 1.75 | 2.38 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $129,480 | $74,260 | 1.74 | 0.99 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $94,700 | $55,310 | 1.71 | 1.31 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $96,730 | $56,950 | 1.70 | 0.47 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $111,480 | $66,620 | 1.67 | 2.58 |
| Lancaster, PA | $79,270 | $48,210 | 1.64 | 0.94 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $103,660 | $63,490 | 1.63 | 1.35 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $71,820 | $48,970 | 1.47 | 2.09 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $77,470 | $55,240 | 1.40 | 2.08 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2131 Materials Engineers, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How should you read Materials Engineer metro ranking?
Materials Engineer metro ranking: Materials Engineer, mapped to Materials Engineers (17-2131), in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has a published annual median of $156,730 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening. Read the occupation name with the amount.
A narrower plant title does not turn a broader BLS occupation into a separately measured job.
For the same Materials Engineer metro ranking: Materials Engineer, mapped to Materials Engineers (17-2131), in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA row, the published lower quartile is $130,770 and the upper quartile is $180,130. These are wage distribution points, not junior and senior job grades. A person’s equipment knowledge, shift requirements and actual duties still need a separate discussion. A missing percentile stays missing rather than being filled from another occupation.
The Materials Engineer metro ranking: Materials Engineer, mapped to Materials Engineers (17-2131), in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA employment estimate is 550. Employment describes people already working in the measured occupation and area. It does not count available applicants, people willing to move or candidates interested in your plant. Keep that distinction when using this Materials Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Materials Engineer metro ranking: Materials Engineer, mapped to Materials Engineers (17-2131), in Youngstown-Warren, OH has a published annual median of $105,400 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening. Read the occupation name with the amount. A narrower plant title does not turn a broader BLS occupation into a separately measured job.
For the same Materials Engineer metro ranking: Materials Engineer, mapped to Materials Engineers (17-2131), in Youngstown-Warren, OH row, the published lower quartile is $85,940 and the upper quartile is $129,380. These are wage distribution points, not junior and senior job grades. A person’s equipment knowledge, shift requirements and actual duties still need a separate discussion. A missing percentile stays missing rather than being filled from another occupation.
The Materials Engineer metro ranking: Materials Engineer, mapped to Materials Engineers (17-2131), in Youngstown-Warren, OH employment estimate is 30. Employment describes people already working in the measured occupation and area. It does not count available applicants, people willing to move or candidates interested in your plant. Keep that distinction when using this Materials Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Materials Engineer metro ranking: Materials Engineer, mapped to Materials Engineers (17-2131), in Utica-Rome, NY has a published annual median of $71,820 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening. Read the occupation name with the amount. A narrower plant title does not turn a broader BLS occupation into a separately measured job.
For the same Materials Engineer metro ranking: Materials Engineer, mapped to Materials Engineers (17-2131), in Utica-Rome, NY row, the published lower quartile is $67,950 and the upper quartile is $80,340. These are wage distribution points, not junior and senior job grades. A person’s equipment knowledge, shift requirements and actual duties still need a separate discussion. A missing percentile stays missing rather than being filled from another occupation.
The Materials Engineer metro ranking: Materials Engineer, mapped to Materials Engineers (17-2131), in Utica-Rome, NY employment estimate is 40. Employment describes people already working in the measured occupation and area. It does not count available applicants, people willing to move or candidates interested in your plant. Keep that distinction when using this Materials Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Which questions matter for Materials Engineer metro ranking?
Materials Engineer metro ranking: Materials Engineer, mapped to Materials Engineers (17-2131), in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has a published annual median of $156,730 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening.
Does Materials Engineer metro ranking give an exact offer for my plant?
Materials Engineer metro ranking: Materials Engineer, mapped to Materials Engineers (17-2131), in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has a published annual median of $156,730 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening. Read the occupation name with the amount. A narrower plant title does not turn a broader BLS occupation into a separately measured job.
What does the wage band in Materials Engineer metro ranking describe?
For the same Materials Engineer metro ranking: Materials Engineer, mapped to Materials Engineers (17-2131), in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA row, the published lower quartile is $130,770 and the upper quartile is $180,130. These are wage distribution points, not junior and senior job grades. A person’s equipment knowledge, shift requirements and actual duties still need a separate discussion. A missing percentile stays missing rather than being filled from another occupation.
Does the employment figure in Materials Engineer metro ranking measure available candidates?
The Materials Engineer metro ranking: Materials Engineer, mapped to Materials Engineers (17-2131), in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA employment estimate is 550. Employment describes people already working in the measured occupation and area. It does not count available applicants, people willing to move or candidates interested in your plant. Keep that distinction when using this Materials Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Materials Engineer source figures · Materials Engineer source figures · Materials Engineer source figures · Methodology
What does this ranking mean for your opening?
Materials engineering wage rankings must be interpreted with extreme caution, as they do not capture the technical specificity required for laboratory failure analysis. The published figures aggregate a wide range of materials science roles, whereas your plant requires someone who understands the exact resin, alloy, or ceramic family currently causing production headaches.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative interpretation, not another BLS estimate.
Materials engineering wage rankings must be interpreted with extreme caution, as they do not capture the technical specificity required for laboratory failure analysis. The published figures aggregate a wide range of materials science roles, whereas your plant requires someone who understands the exact resin, alloy, or ceramic family currently causing production headaches. A candidate who has mastered the microstructural analysis of your specific material is essentially a niche expert, and their true market value often exceeds the general median for engineering roles in your region.
Hiring managers need to understand that the best materials engineers in your field are rarely active in the job market, as they are likely embedded in the labs of competitors or suppliers. The wage data provides a view of what companies pay on average for materials knowledge, but it doesn't account for the scarcity of individuals who can translate a failed fractography sample into a corrective action that satisfies a customer auditor. You should be prepared to pay for this specialized audit defense capability regardless of the local metro statistics.
The metro employment levels reported do not indicate the presence of candidates who are willing to relocate for your specific lab setup. While some regions show higher concentrations of materials professionals, the actual pool of talent that understands your material family is small. Therefore, comparing a local median wage to your starting offer is a secondary exercise to ensuring the candidate has the hands-on experience to maintain traceability, deviation logs, and regulatory-approved material qualifications.
Consider that a materials engineer who can effectively communicate a technical root cause to a floor supervisor is a multiplier for your plant’s operational efficiency. This communication skill, combined with the ability to manage complex material change-controls, justifies a focus on technical fit over salary adherence. Do not inadvertently constrain your search to a regional wage average if that limit prevents you from landing an engineer who can solve your most persistent quality failures.
Lastly, use the salary snapshot as a general awareness tool rather than a strict constraint. Focus on the candidate’s history of failure analysis methods and their comfort level in front of auditors. If a candidate can demonstrate how they managed a supply chain transition or resolved a customer complaint through structural analysis, they represent a long-term asset whose value to your production reliability is well worth a flexible compensation approach.
What should you know about questions before using this pay map?
The provided wage data represents the broader materials engineering occupation, not the specialized experts needed for specific material families. Prioritize candidates based on their hands-on lab experience and failure analysis history rather than trying to fit them strictly within a regional salary band.
How should I interpret the wage range provided if my plant uses very specific material families?
The provided wage data represents the broader materials engineering occupation, not the specialized experts needed for specific material families. Prioritize candidates based on their hands-on lab experience and failure analysis history rather than trying to fit them strictly within a regional salary band.
Is a high metro median a signal that I need to budget more to attract a materials expert?
The metro median is more a reflection of general cost-of-living and the concentration of various tech or industrial sectors than the price of a materials expert. The cost of hiring a true materials engineer is determined by their niche experience in your material family and failure investigation methods.
Can I expect local candidates to fall within the median for materials engineering?
Engineering pay is driven by the specific expertise the candidate brings to your lab. If a candidate can solve long-standing quality issues or pass complex audits, their compensation will naturally trend towards the upper end of any published range, regardless of the local median.
What should I do if my budget for a materials engineer is at the lower end of the regional range?
Focus your outreach on the technical challenge and the lab equipment you offer. Many top materials experts are motivated by the chance to tackle specific, high-stakes failures rather than just a base salary, especially if you can offer a clear path for professional development.