Salary guide, May 2025
Polymer / Plastics Engineer pay in California
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.
The median annual wage for Materials Engineers in California was $128,470 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $103,250 and $157,980.
The California median is $15,610 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 california?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $82,460 | $103,250 | $128,470 | $157,980 | $183,880 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $39.64 | $49.64 | $61.77 | $75.95 | $88.40 |
BLS estimated 3,020 workers employed in this occupation in California. Location quotient: 1.13.
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 two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $106,080 | $127,550 | $153,110 |
| May 2025 | $103,250 | $128,470 | $157,980 |
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, California. 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $156,730 | $130,770 to $180,130 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $130,440 | $108,520 to $168,120 |
All roles in California · National page · Polymer / Plastics Engineer ranked across metros