Salary guide, May 2025
Materials Engineer pay in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA was $156,730 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $130,770 and $180,130.
The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA median is $43,870 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $101,450 | $130,770 | $156,730 | $180,130 | $218,760 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $48.78 | $62.87 | $75.35 | $86.60 | $105.17 |
BLS estimated 550 workers employed in this occupation in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA. Location quotient: 3.32.
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 $156,730. The all-occupations median in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is $84,050. Ratio: 1.86 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 3.32 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 | $131,910 | $151,260 | $194,700 |
| May 2025 | $130,770 | $156,730 | $180,130 |
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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $129,480 | $97,560 to $160,540 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $130,040 | $109,260 to $137,540 |
All roles in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · National page · Materials Engineer ranked across metros