Salary guide, May 2025
Materials Engineer pay in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA was $124,180 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $93,200 and $135,590.
The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA median is $11,320 above 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 san Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $67,660 | $93,200 | $124,180 | $135,590 | $170,010 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $32.53 | $44.81 | $59.70 | $65.19 | $81.74 |
BLS estimated 260 workers employed in this occupation in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. Location quotient: 1.14.
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 $124,180. The all-occupations median in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA is $58,690. Ratio: 2.12 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.14 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 | $98,920 | $124,130 | $141,570 |
| May 2025 | $93,200 | $124,180 | $135,590 |
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, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $125,200 | $102,770 to $146,980 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $109,100 | $82,860 to $124,660 |
All roles in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA · National page · Materials Engineer ranked across metros