Salary guide, May 2025
Polymer / Plastics 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.
National page for Polymer / Plastics Engineer · Pay range finder
How should you read Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking?
Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking: Polymer / Plastics 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 Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking: Polymer / Plastics 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 Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking: Polymer / Plastics 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 Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking: Polymer / Plastics 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 Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking: Polymer / Plastics 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 Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking: Polymer / Plastics 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 Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking: Polymer / Plastics 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 Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking: Polymer / Plastics 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 Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking: Polymer / Plastics 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 Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Which questions matter for Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking?
Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking: Polymer / Plastics 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 Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking give an exact offer for my plant?
Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking: Polymer / Plastics 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 Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking describe?
For the same Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking: Polymer / Plastics 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 Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking measure available candidates?
The Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking: Polymer / Plastics 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 Polymer / Plastics Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Polymer / Plastics Engineer source figures · Polymer / Plastics Engineer source figures · Polymer / Plastics Engineer source figures · Methodology
What does this ranking mean for your opening?
A Polymer / Plastics Engineer must have deep technical judgment regarding resin behavior and material selection. Your hiring process needs to prioritize someone who can link moisture, additives or processing issues to final performance. Do not look for someone who simply owns molding setups; look for an expert who understands the material physics involved.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative interpretation, not another BLS estimate.
A Polymer / Plastics Engineer must have deep technical judgment regarding resin behavior and material selection. Your hiring process needs to prioritize someone who can link moisture, additives or processing issues to final performance. Do not look for someone who simply owns molding setups; look for an expert who understands the material physics involved. Before you begin, define who holds this accountability today so you can distinguish between a technician and an engineer with real material authority.
The wage data for Materials Engineers is a broad national measurement that does not represent the specialized market for polymer and plastics experts. Using these figures to plan your search will likely lead to misunderstandings about what is required to attract talent. The best candidates for this position are already working in specific manufacturing segments like compounding or plastics development and have specialized expertise that is not reflected in these general salary averages.
The key to recruiting proven polymer talent is showing them a challenge that requires their unique material judgment. They are often working in demanding environments, and they will only move if your role provides a significant, identifiable shift in their technical responsibility. If the new position is just another role with similar constraints, they will likely choose to stay where they have already established their expertise and authority.
Use your interview to challenge them with a past failure analysis. Ask how they linked material behavior to the failure and what decisions they made versus what a supervisor approved. This allows you to test their technical depth and their ability to solve real-world problems. If they cannot explain their material judgment clearly, they may not have the experience required to lead your material choices.
Focus your search on where people with this specific skill set are currently working, such as companies involved in plastics development or compounders. Directly engaging these professionals and clearly defining the scope of their remit will produce far better results than relying on broad salary benchmarks. By focusing on their past material decisions rather than just their equipment list, you will improve your chances of making a hire who can actually improve your processes.
What should you know about questions before using this pay map?
How do I test for material authority in the interview?
Ask them to explain a failure analysis that linked moisture, additives or processing issues to a specific result. Their ability to explain this connection proves they have real material judgment.
What should I ignore during my search?
Ignore national salary data for Materials Engineers. It is too broad and does not account for the specialized knowledge required to lead polymer and resin choices in your specific manufacturing setting.
How do I convince an engineer to move?
You must offer them a meaningful shift in responsibility where their material judgment is truly applied to new problems. A mere title change is not a sufficient incentive for an expert in this field.
What if they have only worked in molding setups?
Molding setup ownership is not the same as material engineering. You must verify that they have the deep material physics knowledge you need, not just the skills to operate molding equipment.