Salary guide, May 2025
Materials Engineer pay in Richmond, VA
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
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The median annual wage for Materials Engineers in Richmond, VA was $102,440 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $77,600 and $132,450.
The Richmond, VA median is $10,420 below the national median of $112,860, both from BLS May 2025.
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.
What should you know about richmond, VA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $61,770 | $77,600 | $102,440 | $132,450 | $164,900 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $29.70 | $37.31 | $49.25 | $63.68 | $79.28 |
BLS estimated 200 workers employed in this occupation in Richmond, VA. Location quotient: 2.07.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $72,300 | $88,080 | $112,860 | $142,720 | $175,720 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $34.76 | $42.35 | $54.26 | $68.61 | $84.48 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Materials Engineer median is $102,440. The all-occupations median in Richmond, VA is $51,460. Ratio: 1.99 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 2.07 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $59,320 | $102,700 | $123,960 |
| May 2025 | $77,600 | $102,440 | $132,450 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2131 Materials Engineers, Richmond, VA. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2131 Materials Engineers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $116,720 | $83,840 to $139,010 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $140,640 | $113,780 to $180,480 |
All roles in Richmond, VA · National page · Materials Engineer ranked across metros