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Entry Materials Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Entry Materials Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Entry Materials Engineer in the United States is $76,600 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.

However, an Entry Materials Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $83,096
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $68,300 to $80,000
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $60,743
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Entry Materials Engineer Salaries

An Entry Materials Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Entry Materials Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Entry Materials Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry Materials Engineer (0-2 years): $76,512
  • Intermediate Materials Engineer (2-4 years): $90,391
  • Materials Evaluation and Analysis Engineer III (4-7 years): $102,319
  • Materials Evaluation and Analysis Engineer IV (7+ years): $124,946
  • Expert Materials Engineer (7-10 years): $152,821
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Entry Materials Engineer0-2 years$76,512
Intermediate Materials Engineer2-4 years$90,391
Materials Evaluation and Analysis Engineer III4-7 years$102,319
Materials Evaluation and Analysis Engineer IV7+ years$124,946
Expert Materials Engineer7-10 years$152,821
View as Graph

How Do Entry Materials Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Entry Materials Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $84,800.
  • California: $84,400.
  • Massachusetts: $83,300.

Top Paying Cities for Entry Materials Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $96,600
  • San Francisco: $95,500
  • Oakland: $93,500

What Skills Can Increase an Entry Materials Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 17.48% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Material Flow (Mentioned in 2.03% Job Postings): Material flow is the description of the transportation of raw materials, pre-fabricates, parts, components, integrated objects and final products as a flow of entities.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 1.22% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 17.48%
Material Flow 2.03%
Continuous Improvement 1.22%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Entry Materials Engineer's salary.

  • Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Verbal Communication $85,026
11%
Project Management $85,026
11%
Coordination $84,260
10%
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Entry Materials Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Entry Materials Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $85,762. While startup companies pay approximate $72,592.

Entry Materials Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $72,592
Growth Stage 51~500 $76,758
Established 501~5000 $82,828
Enterprise 5000+ $85,762

Entry Materials Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Entry Materials Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Entry Materials Engineer positions in Transportation or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Entry Materials Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Entry Materials Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$99,580$48.030%
Software & Networking$99,580$48.030%
Internet$91,920$44.020%
Energy & Utilities$88,090$42.015%
Chemicals$84,260$41.010%

How Education impacts an Entry Materials Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Entry Materials Engineers enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Entry Materials Engineer with a Associate's Degree is between $75,255 and $79,388).

Entry Materials Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Entry Materials Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 1.4%
Associates 0.9%
Bachelors 56.5%
Masters 30.4%
Doctorate 10.7%
View as Graph

Entry Materials Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Entry Materials Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$68,300
Average $76,600/year
$80,000
$5,692
Average $6,383/month
$6,667
$1,313
Average $1,473/week
$1,538
$33
Average $37/hour
$38
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $80,000 $6,667 $1,538 $38
Average $76,600 $6,383 $1,473 $37
25th Percentile $68,300 $5,692 $1,313 $33

Entry Materials Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

Entry Materials Engineer

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Entry Materials Engineer, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Ceramics Manufacturing Engineer $90,400 18%
Intermediate Materials Engineer $90,400 18%
Alloy and Materials Engineer II $90,400 18%

Most common benefits for Entry Materials Engineer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Entry Materials Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Entry Materials Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Entry Materials Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Entry Materials Engineer?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Entry Materials Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

2. What engineers make 250k?

Engineers typically do not start at a $250k salary. For example, an Entry Materials Engineer has a salary range of $73,500 to $88,200, with a midpoint of $80,600. Higher-level positions, such as Senior Engineers or specialized roles, may reach or exceed $250k, but entry-level roles are significantly lower.

3. Are materials engineers in demand?

Yes, materials engineers are in demand. Employment is projected to grow 7% from 2023 to 2033, which is faster than the average for all occupations. On average, about 1,700 openings for materials engineers are expected each year. The salary for entry-level positions ranges from $73,500 to $88,200, with a median salary of $80,600.

4. What salary should I ask for an entry-level engineer?

For an entry-level Materials Engineer, you should consider asking for a salary between $73,500 and $88,200, with a midpoint of around $80,600. This range reflects the current market rates and can help you negotiate effectively based on your skills and experience.

5. What is the highest salary for a material engineer?

The highest salary for an Entry Materials Engineer is $88,200. For comparison, Senior Materials Engineers can earn between $110,000 and $310,000, while Lead Materials Engineers typically earn between $80,000 and $90,000.

6. Which engineer is most in demand?

Based on current trends, the most in-demand engineering fields for 2025 include Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, Electronics and Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Chemical Engineering. For an Entry Materials Engineer, salaries range from $73,500 to $88,200, with a midpoint of $80,600, reflecting the growing demand in this sector.

7. What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Entry-level Materials Engineers typically earn between $73,500 and $88,200 annually, with a median salary of around $80,600. While some engineering roles can reach $200,000, such as Senior ASIC Verification Engineers or specialized positions in software and security, these are generally not entry-level positions.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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