Check out your Company Bowl for anonymous work chats.
Bowls
Get actionable career advice tailored to you by joining more bowls.
Followed companies
Stay ahead in opportunities and insider tips by following your dream companies.
Job searches
Get personalized job recommendations and updates by starting your searches.
How much does Materials Engineer make?
Total pay range
$101K - $162K/yr
$127K/yrMedian total pay
Pay breakdown
$81K - $124K/yrBase pay
$20K - $38K/yrAdditional pay
About our data
Confident
Last updated Apr 10, 20252.9K Salaries submitted
How accurate is a total pay range of $101K-$162K/yr?
Your input helps Glassdoor refine our pay estimates over time.
Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview
What is the pay outlook for Engineering?
Engineering jobs are in high demand with workers receiving generous compensation packages and bonuses. Engineering offers ample opportunity for growth and development with transferable skills across an array of fields from software, supply chain and logistics to aerospace. Most roles require at least a bachelor’s degree. To remain competitive, job-seekers should consider specialization or skill-specific programs such as coding boot-camps or certifications.
Materials Engineer salary in US
A Materials Engineer salary range in US can vary based on important factors such as education, skills, certifications, and years of experience. A Materials Engineer in US can expect to see an entry level salary range of $57,452 to $139,070 per year, based on 2,242 salary contributions. At the highest seniority level, an experienced Materials Engineer in US can make a salary range of $25,971 to $42,484 with at least 5 years of experience, based on 5,350 salary contributions. The top 3 companies in US where a Materials Engineer gets the highest compensation are Tenneco Inc., Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Bigger companies typically pay 35.00% more than smaller companies for a Materials Engineer.
Recent salaries shared by Materials Engineer
Job Title | Years of Experience
Total Pay
Base • Additional pay
Location
Date submitted
Job Title | Years of Experience
Location
Date submitted
Total Pay
Base • Additional pay
No results match your search
Try a different job title or department to explore salaries in related fields.
Viewing 51 - 0 of 0
Top paying industries
The top 5 paying industries for Materials Engineer in United States are Information Technology with a median total pay of $145,579, Energy, Mining & Utilities with a median total pay of $136,527, Retail & Wholesale with a median total pay of $124,725, Media & Communication with a median total pay of $118,359, and Aerospace & Defense with a median total pay of $116,873.
Information Technology
Top paying companies in Information Technology for Materials Engineer are Meta, Apple, and Intel Corporation.
Frequently asked questions about Materials Engineer salaries
The average salary for Materials Engineer is $127,334 per year or $61 per hour, with top earners making up to $200,504 (90th percentile). Typically, pay ranges from $101,138 (25th percentile) to $162,275 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 2945 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Materials Engineer employees.
The highest salary for Materials Engineer is $162,275 per year, $13,523 per month or $78 per hour.
The lowest salary for Materials Engineer is $101,138 per year, $8,428 per month or $49 per hour.
Materials engineering salaries are high, reflecting the field’s significant barriers to entry. A bachelor’s in engineering degree is considered a minimum qualification, although many firms strongly prefer candidates with internship experience. Once hired, materials engineers typically work full time and are paid a salary with full benefits. Candidates with a Master of Engineering degree are typically paid higher salaries than candidates with only a bachelor’s degree. Successful engineers can earn a Professional Engineering (PE) license that indicates they are ready for more leadership responsibility, or they may choose to transition into a project manager role.
Thanks to anonymous reports on Glassdoor, it's now known that 72% of materials engineers are content with their current salaries based on region and work experience. As they gain more skills and tenure, material engineers can increase their base pay to a more respectable amount.
For materials engineers, the current average salary is $100,083.97, which can increase over time as you advance along the materials engineer career path. Typical materials engineer salaries start at $82,302.02 with the top end being around $200,504.20 once you're established in the field. When considering additional pay such as bonuses and commissions, engineers can potentially make $127,334.40 in annual income.
Looking to increase the amount of money you make while moving through your materials engineer career is natural. An easy way to get started is by mastering new in-demand skills that broaden the types of projects and tasks you can take on. A degree in engineering that matches any specialty or niche you find yourself in is another instant bolster to how much money you can command when applying for a promotion or new role, whether with your current company or a competitor. The more value you can create for an organization, the higher the salary you can expect.
Finding your next materials engineer position can be an exciting opportunity to negotiate a more competitive base pay. Both internal and external jobs you apply for can be used to start earning more if you're prepared for the salary discussion. Always start by creating a list of your current experience, education, and applicable skills that you can use to compare to current listings and their offered salaries. Understanding the marketability of your skill set positions you to leverage statements, such as, "Right now, there are companies offering X amount for candidates with my resume and work history," to show you know what you're worth.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
L J Gonzer Associates
Intel Corporation
U.S. Army Research Laboratory
GE Aerospace