How much does a Materials Engineer I make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Materials Engineer I in the United States is $76,526 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.
However, a Materials Engineer I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $83,001
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $68,289 to $79,915
Key Factors That Influence Materials Engineer I Salaries
A Materials Engineer I'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 Materials Engineer Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Materials Engineer I'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:
Materials Engineer I (0-2 years): $76,526
Materials Engineer II (2-4 years): $90,399
Materials Engineer III (4-7 years): $102,328
Materials Engineer IV (7+ years): $124,935
Materials Engineer V (7-10 years): $152,827
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Materials Engineer I
0-2 years
$76,526
Materials Engineer II
2-4 years
$90,399
Materials Engineer III
4-7 years
$102,328
Materials Engineer IV
7+ years
$124,935
Materials Engineer V
7-10 years
$152,827
$76,526Materials...
$90,399Materials...
$102,328Materials...
$124,935Materials...
$152,827Materials...
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Materials Engineer I 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 Materials Engineer Is.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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: $96,522
San Francisco: $95,465
Oakland: $93,454
San Jose, CA$96,522
San Francisco, CA$95,465
Oakland, CA$93,454
New York, NY$88,111
Paramus, NJ$87,040
Queens Village, NY$87,036
Passaic, NJ$86,963
Bergenfield, NJ$86,956
Stamford, CT$86,788
Huntington, NY$86,757
Newark, NJ$86,191
Bridgeport, CT$86,030
Vallejo, CA$85,877
New Brunswick, NJ$85,847
Petaluma, CA$85,801
Middlesex, NJ$85,656
Somerset, NJ$85,602
Santa Cruz, CA$85,502
Boston, MA$85,036
Monterey, CA$84,767
Seattle, WA$84,592
Santa Rosa, CA$84,577
Los Angeles, CA$84,554
Juneau, AK$84,355
Washington, DC$84,270
Orange, CA$83,998
Santa Ana, CA$83,796
Long Beach, CA$83,719
Anaheim, CA$83,704
Anchorage, AK$83,666
Santa Maria, CA$83,436
Everett, WA$83,421
Danbury, CT$83,152
Bremerton, WA$83,046
Tacoma, WA$82,771
New Suffolk, NY$82,769
Sacramento, CA$82,748
Santa Barbara, CA$82,663
Trenton, NJ$82,579
San Diego, CA$82,579
Brockton, MA$82,495
Fairbanks, AK$82,308
Lompoc, CA$82,112
Lowell, MA$82,050
Ventura, CA$82,036
Nashua, NH$82,021
Stockton, CA$82,013
Modesto, CA$81,454
Poughkeepsie, NY$81,286
Olympia, WA$81,141
Kennewick, WA$81,141
New Haven, CT$81,110
Lawrence, MA$80,834
Hartford, CT$80,758
Riverside, CA$80,743
New Bedford, MA$80,666
Richland, WA$80,666
Bakersfield, CA$80,559
San Bernardino, CA$80,528
New Britain, CT$80,521
Atlantic City, NJ$80,521
New London, CT$80,490
Norwich, CT$80,467
Portsmouth, NH$80,452
Boulder, CO$80,290
Portland, OR$80,184
Worcester, MA$80,176
Minneapolis, MN$79,939
Philadelphia, PA$79,832
Honolulu, HI$79,579
Saint Paul, MN$79,543
Vineland, NJ$79,526
Providence, RI$79,304
Chicago, IL$79,082
Bellingham, WA$78,990
Springfield, MA$78,929
Baltimore, MD$78,906
Chico, CA$78,715
Pittsfield, MA$78,508
Manchester, NH$78,363
Spokane, WA$78,026
Denver, CO$78,018
Albany, NY$77,659
Troy, NY$77,628
Nassau, NY$77,546
Schenectady, NY$77,467
Wilmington, DE$77,406
Burlington, VT$77,299
Salem, OR$77,268
Portland, ME$77,031
Yakima, WA$76,955
Rochester, MN$76,717
Reno, NV$76,679
Fresno, CA$76,679
Milwaukee, WI$76,610
Detroit, MI$76,534
Ann Arbor, MI$76,521
Allentown, PA$76,511
Colorado Springs, CO$76,381
Syracuse, NY$76,342
Carson City, NV$76,342
Houston, TX$76,235
Eugene, OR$76,197
Gary, IN$76,105
Springfield, OR$76,044
Bismarck, ND$76,029
Galveston, TX$75,975
Medford, OR$75,860
Fort Collins, CO$75,830
Concord, NH$75,791
Austin, TX$75,768
Mesa, AZ$75,608
Reading, PA$75,600
Phoenix, AZ$75,592
Dallas, TX$75,569
Saint Cloud, MN$75,496
Madison, WI$75,393
Utica, NY$75,187
Rochester, NY$75,064
Des Moines, IA$75,057
Raleigh, NC$75,049
Atlanta, GA$74,934
Battle Creek, MI$74,911
Salt Lake City, UT$74,888
Lancaster, PA$74,774
Harrisburg, PA$74,666
Kansas City, MO$74,590
Champaign, IL$74,575
Kansas City, KS$74,575
Fort Worth, TX$74,567
Columbus, OH$74,554
Boca Raton, FL$74,536
Pittsburgh, PA$74,506
Richmond, VA$74,475
Indianapolis, IN$74,460
Cleveland, OH$74,452
Las Vegas, NV$74,360
Cincinnati, OH$74,360
Petersburg, VA$74,246
Huntsville, AL$74,131
Lansing, MI$74,079
Lebanon, PA$74,070
Pueblo, CO$74,062
Appleton, WI$74,039
Buffalo, NY$74,008
Dayton, OH$73,985
Racine, WI$73,970
Charlotte, NC$73,962
Saint Louis, MO$73,939
York, PA$73,894
Elkhart, IN$73,894
Gastonia, NC$73,879
Billings, MT$73,861
Beaumont, TX$73,840
Lorain, OH$73,825
Benton Harbor, MI$73,809
Toledo, OH$73,794
Binghamton, NY$73,756
Rock Hill, SC$73,748
Rockford, IL$73,710
Springfield, IL$73,679
Elyria, OH$73,672
Fargo, ND$73,672
Flagstaff, AZ$73,618
Fort Lauderdale, FL$73,572
Duluth, MN$73,526
Miami, FL$73,526
Cheyenne, WY$73,473
Grand Forks, ND$73,473
Bangor, ME$73,304
Cedar Rapids, IA$73,220
Durham, NC$73,188
Louisville, KY$73,182
Grand Rapids, MI$73,167
Hialeah, FL$73,159
Casper, WY$73,052
Scranton, PA$72,960
New Orleans, LA$72,937
Virginia Beach, VA$72,929
Akron, OH$72,891
Peoria, IL$72,792
Sarasota, FL$72,776
Nashville, TN$72,723
Omaha, NE$72,723
Green Bay, WI$72,723
Baton Rouge, LA$72,684
Charleston, SC$72,669
Jamestown, NY$72,631
Davenport, IA$72,631
Tucson, AZ$72,593
Saint Petersburg, FL$72,547
Tampa, FL$72,531
Evansville, IN$72,485
Port Arthur, TX$72,485
Bradenton, FL$72,455
Santa Fe, NM$72,317
Orlando, FL$72,179
Clearwater, FL$72,156
Canton, OH$71,996
La Crosse, WI$71,996
Albuquerque, NM$71,950
Newport News, VA$71,942
High Point, NC$71,919
Ogden, UT$71,889
Corpus Christi, TX$71,827
Norfolk, VA$71,781
Laramie, WY$71,781
Rock Island, IL$71,735
Saginaw, MI$71,720
Jacksonville, FL$71,713
Salisbury, NC$71,697
Boise, ID$71,682
Moline, IL$71,644
Fort Myers, FL$71,621
Memphis, TN$71,605
Tulsa, OK$71,567
Waterloo, IA$71,521
Spartanburg, SC$71,445
Lincoln, NE$71,406
Fort Wayne, IN$71,391
Provo, UT$71,383
Cedar Falls, IA$71,292
San Antonio, TX$71,261
Greensboro, NC$71,230
South Bend, IN$71,223
Savannah, GA$71,139
Muskegon, MI$71,108
Birmingham, AL$71,100
Winston Salem, NC$71,063
Lake Charles, LA$70,878
Anderson, IN$70,863
Lexington, KY$70,840
Augusta, GA$70,817
Greenville, SC$70,817
Lima, OH$70,756
Wichita, KS$70,748
Tuscaloosa, AL$70,748
Columbia, SC$70,679
Springfield, OH$70,664
Asheville, NC$70,542
Bloomington, IN$70,488
Knoxville, TN$70,213
Shreveport, LA$70,205
Wilmington, NC$70,105
Roanoke, VA$70,105
Topeka, KS$69,968
Frankfort, KY$69,959
Oklahoma City, OK$69,907
Chillicothe, OH$69,876
Longview, TX$69,868
Melbourne, FL$69,861
Sioux Falls, SD$69,738
Mobile, AL$69,730
Terre Haute, IN$69,700
Altoona, PA$69,654
Amarillo, TX$69,600
Killeen, TX$69,577
Fayetteville, AR$69,516
Chattanooga, TN$69,493
Sioux City, IA$69,424
Idaho Falls, ID$69,409
Lynchburg, VA$69,348
Gainesville, FL$69,248
Portsmouth, OH$69,210
Little Rock, AR$69,195
Lafayette, LA$69,164
Youngstown, OH$69,164
Daytona Beach, FL$69,118
Clarksville, TN$69,111
Pensacola, FL$69,103
Temple, TX$69,098
Hopkinsville, KY$68,873
Erie, PA$68,858
Florence, SC$68,827
Charleston, WV$68,705
Great Falls, MT$68,667
Macon, GA$68,560
Tallahassee, FL$68,552
Fayetteville, NC$68,537
Waco, TX$68,521
Helena, MT$68,468
Pine Bluff, AR$68,439
Vincennes, IN$68,345
Lubbock, TX$68,315
Alamogordo, NM$68,269
Twin Falls, ID$68,200
Rapid City, SD$68,177
Jackson, MS$68,039
Huntington, WV$68,034
Greenville, MS$68,032
Parkersburg, WV$67,954
Montgomery, AL$67,940
Wichita Falls, TX$67,863
Springfield, MO$67,863
Biloxi, MS$67,825
Monroe, LA$67,748
Johnstown, PA$67,695
Sumter, SC$67,664
Columbus, GA$67,657
Pascagoula, MS$67,511
Abilene, TX$67,511
Kingsport, TN$67,312
Albany, GA$67,312
Gulfport, MS$67,289
Alexandria, LA$67,037
Fort Smith, AR$66,845
El Paso, TX$66,639
Las Cruces, NM$66,294
Harlingen, TX$66,100
Pocatello, ID$66,088
Florence, AL$65,988
Brownsville, TX$65,973
Mcallen, TX$65,812
Dothan, AL$65,705
Columbus, MS$65,251
Altus, OK$64,894
Lawton, OK$64,749
Pierre, SD$64,473
What Skills Can Increase a Materials Engineer I'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.
See More Skills
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 Materials Engineer I'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
$84,944
11%
Project Management
$84,944
11%
Coordination
$84,179
10%
Flexibility
$83,413
9%
Process Development
$83,413
9%
Materials Engineering
$83,413
9%
Get Latest Data
Materials Engineer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Materials Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $85,748.
While startup companies pay approximate $72,565.
Materials Engineer I Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$72,565
Growth Stage
51~500
$76,733
Established
501~5000
$82,820
Enterprise
5000+
$85,748
Materials Engineer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Materials Engineer I 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, Materials Engineer positions in Transportation or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Materials Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Materials Engineer I
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology
$99,484
$48.0
30%
Software & Networking
$99,484
$48.0
30%
Internet
$91,831
$44.0
20%
Energy & Utilities
$88,005
$42.0
15%
Chemicals
$84,179
$40.0
10%
How Education impacts a Materials Engineer I's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Materials Engineer Is 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 a Materials Engineer I with a Associate's Degree is between
$75,605
and $79,754).
Materials Engineer I Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Materials Engineer I
No Diploma1.4%
High School1.4%
Associates0.9%
Bachelors56.5%
Masters30.4%
Doctorate10.7%
view as table
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
Materials Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Materials Engineer I'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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$68,289
Average$76,526/year
$79,915
$5,691
Average$6,377/month
$6,660
$1,313
Average$1,472/week
$1,537
$33
Average$37/hour
$38
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$79,915
$6,660
$1,537
$38
Average
$76,526
$6,377
$1,472
$37
25th Percentile
$68,289
$5,691
$1,313
$33
Materials Engineer I Salary Growth & Career Path
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings.
As a Materials Engineer I, 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.
Materials Engineer I Salary Growth and Career Path
Salaries for a Materials Engineer I can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $71,234 in 2023
to around $70,507 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Materials Engineer I salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Materials Engineer I Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$71,234
2024
$70,837
2025
$70,507
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$71,234
2024
$70,837
2025
$70,507
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Materials Engineer I
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Materials Engineer I
Here are companies hiring for Materials Engineer I and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Materials Engineer I
1. Where can a Materials Engineer I earn the most?
A Materials Engineer I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer.
According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Materials Engineer I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Materials Engineer I is $96,522.
2. What is the highest pay for Materials Engineer I?
The highest pay for Materials Engineer I is $83,001.
3. What is the lowest pay for Materials Engineer I?
The lowest pay for Materials Engineer I is $60,790.
4. What are the responsibilities of Materials Engineer I?
Develops and refines the physical materials that serve as the foundation of technology, that spans from smartphones to advanced aircraft. Evaluates the specific properties to ensure the best fit for the product's needs. Focuses on physical attributes such as strength, weight, and durability. Investigates failures to improve safety and prevention. Typically requires a bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering or a related engineering field. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Materials Engineer I?
The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Materials Engineer I roles,
with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.
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.
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