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Materials engineer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$112,860median pay per year, or $54.26 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $72,300lowest 10% earn less
  2. $88,08025th percentile
  3. $112,860median
  4. $142,72075th percentile
  5. $175,720top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

The median materials engineer pay was $112,860 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 7.5% over ten years, faster than the all-occupation rate[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+7.5%[2]
Openings per year
1,300[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[7]

How much do materials engineers make?

The median wage for Materials Engineers was $112,860 a year, or $54.26 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean wage was $120,250 a year, or $57.81 an hour[8].

The median for all occupations was $50,980[5], so this job's median is well above it.

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $72,300 a year[4]. The lowest-paid 25% earned less than $88,080[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $142,720, and the top 10% earned more than $175,720[4]. Hourly, those four lines were $34.76, $42.35, $68.61 and $84.48[9]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[10].

These figures cover wage and salary jobs. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and employer costs of benefits[11].

Measure Annual wage Source
10th percentile[4] $72,300
Median[1] $112,860
Mean[8] $120,250
90th percentile[4] $175,720

Pay by state and city

New Mexico had the highest median at $165,600[12]. Maryland came second at $140,640, and Washington third at $139,840[12]. Iowa had the lowest listed median at $64,270[12]. Some states have few jobs, so their medians rest on few workers[12].

California had the most jobs at 3,020[13]. Ohio had 1,790 and Texas had 1,440[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $156,730[14]. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA followed at $156,130, and Boulder, CO at $151,940[14]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA had the most jobs, at 1,250[15].

Show median pay in 45 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
New Mexico[12]$165,600450
Maryland$140,640740
Washington$139,8401,000
Delaware$131,32040
Louisiana$128,67090
California$128,4703,020
Illinois$126,620290
New York$125,900590
Colorado$124,030810
Alaska$123,36070
Oregon$122,850120
Connecticut$122,300420
South Carolina$121,610600
Florida$118,780690
Texas$117,7001,440
Virginia$116,720620
Massachusetts$114,1001,360
Wyoming$110,97040
Alabama$107,580650
New Jersey$106,920260
Arizona$106,810580
Ohio$106,5101,790
Minnesota$106,220150
Idaho$105,82090
North Carolina$104,240640
Arkansas$103,90090
New Hampshire$101,29070
Indiana$101,120570
Georgia$100,840700
Kentucky$100,620280
Kansas$100,000270
Oklahoma$99,950240
Nevada$99,010100
Missouri$98,860300
Nebraska$98,270160
Pennsylvania$98,030720
Maine$97,110100
Wisconsin$96,210280
Michigan$94,050810
Tennessee$91,940330
Utah$88,080460
Rhode Island$87,18050
Mississippi$78,700100
Montana$76,03090
Iowa$64,270200

How to become a materials engineer

The typical entry education is a bachelor's degree. BLS data list no related work experience and no on-the-job training[7]. In an O*NET survey of 25 workers, 80% said a bachelor's degree was required and 8% said a doctoral degree[16].

A license is not needed for entry-level jobs. Experienced engineers may earn a Professional Engineering (PE) license, which lets them oversee other engineers, sign off on projects and serve the public directly[21]. State licensure typically takes an engineering degree, passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, then years of related work, then the PE exam[22]. Each state issues its own license, and several require continuing education to keep it[23]. Professional certification is also available[24].

What materials engineers do

Materials engineers evaluate materials and develop processes to make them for products with demanding design and performance needs[25]. Typical tasks include:

Where they work

Materials engineers work in offices, factories and research labs, sometimes on teams with other scientists and engineers[27]. Transportation equipment manufacturing was the largest employer group at 17%[28]. Full-time schedules are common, and overtime beyond 40 hours happens for some[29]. About 3.7% were self-employed in 2025[30].

Job outlook

BLS expects jobs to rise 7.5% between 2025 and 2035, going from roughly 23,800 to 25,600[2]. For all occupations the projection is 3.5%[3].

About 1,300 openings a year are projected[6]. These include jobs left by people who retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 1.8% of workers leave the labor force and 2.7% move to another occupation[31].

The OEWS count of about 22,770 jobs[32] differs from the projections count because the projections include self-employed workers[2]. The OEWS count is the lower of the two figures[32][2].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a median wage well above the all-occupation median[1][5] and growth faster than average[2][3]. Entry usually takes a bachelor's degree with no required experience[7]. The work centers on testing materials, choosing them for products and solving failures[26]. About 1,300 openings a year are projected[6].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[33].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a materials engineer make an hour?
The median was $54.26 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $57.81[1][8].
What degree do you need to be a materials engineer?
A bachelor's degree, typically in materials science, engineering or a related area[7][34].
Do materials engineers need a license?
Not for entry-level jobs. Experienced engineers may get a PE license[21].
Is materials engineer in demand?
Employment is projected to rise 7.5% between 2025 and 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 1,300 openings are projected each year[6].
What is the highest paying state for materials engineers?
New Mexico, with a median of $165,600[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Materials Engineers in the US was $112,860 per year and $54.26 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Materials Engineers is projected to grow 7.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 23,800 to 25,600 jobs (a change of +1,800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Materials Engineers: 10th percentile $72,300, 25th percentile $88,080, 75th percentile $142,720, 90th percentile $175,720. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,300 openings for Materials Engineers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Materials Engineers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Materials Engineers was $120,250 per year and $57.81 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Materials Engineers: 10th percentile $34.76, 25th percentile $42.35, 75th percentile $68.61, 90th percentile $84.48. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Materials Engineers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Materials Engineers jobs: California 3,020; Ohio 1,790; Texas 1,440; Massachusetts 1,360; Washington 1,000. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Materials Engineers (areas with at least 100 jobs): 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; Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $137,290; Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $134,630. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Materials Engineers jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,250 (median $125,200); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,020 (median $111,480); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 820 (median $156,130); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 660 (median $140,640); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 560 (median $123,250); San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 550 (median $156,730). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 17-2131.00 survey of workers (25 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 80%, Doctoral Degree 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET description of Materials Engineers. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Materials Engineers. O*NET OnLine
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of materials engineers in 2025: Transportation equipment manufacturing 17%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Employment Projections: 3.7% of Materials Engineers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Materials Engineers: 1.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 2.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 22,770 people were employed as Materials Engineers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  33. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.