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Material Science Engineer Salary in Wrightwood, CA

How much does a Material Science Engineer make in Wrightwood, CA?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Material Science Engineer in Wrightwood, CA is $80,801 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

However, a Material Science Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $87,679
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $72,101 to $84,401
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $64,180

Key Factors That Influence Material Science Engineer Salaries

A Material Science 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, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Material Science Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Material Science 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:

  • Material Science Engineer (0-2 years): $80,735
  • Intermediate Materials Engineer (2-4 years): $95,381
  • Materials Evaluation and Analysis Engineer III (4-7 years): $107,967
  • Materials Evaluation and Analysis Engineer IV (7+ years): $131,843
  • Expert Materials Engineer (7-10 years): $161,257
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Material Science Engineer0-2 years$80,735
Intermediate Materials Engineer2-4 years$95,381
Materials Evaluation and Analysis Engineer III4-7 years$107,967
Materials Evaluation and Analysis Engineer IV7+ years$131,843
Expert Materials Engineer7-10 years$161,257

Top Paying Cities for Material Science 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: $96,601
  • San Francisco: $95,501
  • Oakland: $93,501

What Skills Can Increase a Material Science 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%

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 a Material Science 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 $89,689
11%
Project Management $89,689
11%
Coordination $88,881
10%

Material Science Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Material Science Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $90,466. While startup companies pay approximate $76,573.

Material Science Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $76,573
Growth Stage 51~500 $80,968
Established 501~5000 $87,370
Enterprise 5000+ $90,466

Material Science Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Material Science 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, Material Science Engineer positions in Transportation or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Material Science Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Material Science Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$105,041$51.030%
Software & Networking$105,041$51.030%
Internet$96,961$47.020%
Energy & Utilities$92,921$45.015%
Chemicals$88,881$43.010%

Material Science Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Material Science 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
$72,101
Average $80,801/year
$84,401
$6,008
Average $6,733/month
$7,033
$1,387
Average $1,554/week
$1,623
$35
Average $39/hour
$41
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $84,401 $7,033 $1,623 $41
Average $80,801 $6,733 $1,554 $39
25th Percentile $72,101 $6,008 $1,387 $35

Material Science Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Material Science 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.

Material Science Engineer Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Ceramics Manufacturing Engineer $95,400 18%
Intermediate Materials Engineer $95,400 18%
Alloy and Materials Engineer II $95,400 18%

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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