As of March 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Materials Engineer I in the United States is $81,003. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $67,203 to a high of $95,567, with most professionals earning between $73,780 and $88,626.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $88,626 | $7,386 | $1,704 | $43 |
| Average | $81,003 | $6,750 | $1,558 | $39 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,780 | $6,148 | $1,419 | $35 |
An entry-level Materials Engineer I with less than 1 year of experience earns about $79,435. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $80,191. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $81,877. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $82,214, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $82,439.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Materials Engineer I | $79,435 |
| Intermediate Level Materials Engineer I | $80,191 |
| Senior Level Materials Engineer I | $81,877 |
| Specialist Level Materials Engineer I | $82,214 |
| Expert Level Materials Engineer I | $82,439 |
| Entry Level | 2% |
| Mid Level | 1% |
| Senior Level | 1% |
| Top Level | 1% |
| Experienced | 2% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of March 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Materials Engineer I compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $71,234 in 2023 to approximately $70,837 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Materials Engineer I salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Materials Engineer I information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Materials Engineer I job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Materials Engineer I and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $81,003 | 69.5% | ||
| Bonus | $1,304 | 1.1% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $6,296 | 5.4% | ||
| 401K/403B | $3,457 | 3.0% | ||
| Disability | $1,646 | 1.4% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 7.2% | ||
| Pension | $4,445 | 3.8% | ||
| Time Off | $10,130 | 8.7% | ||
| Total Compensation | $116,632 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| High School | 1.4% |
| Associates | 0.9% |
| Bachelors | 56.5% |
| Masters | 30.4% |
| Doctorate | 10.7% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Materials Engineer I is $81,003. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Materials Engineer I is $39; the average weekly pay of Materials Engineer I is $1,558; the average monthly pay of Materials Engineer I is $6,750.
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 $101,658.
The highest pay for Materials Engineer I is $95,567.
The lowest pay for Materials Engineer I is $67,203.
Materials Engineer I plans for the most cost-effective utilization of materials. Applies knowledge of material science to recommend engineering and manufacturing changes to attain design objectives in the most economical manner possible. Being a Materials Engineer I reviews blueprints and specifications to determine the appropriate materials needed to achieve successful completion of initiatives. May require a bachelor's degree in engineering. Additionally, Materials Engineer I typically reports to a supervisor or manager. To be a Materials Engineer I typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Work is closely managed.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
SEM: A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a type of electron microscope that produces images of a sample by scanning the surface with a focused beam of electrons.
Supply Chain: A supply chain encompasses everything from the delivery of source materials from the supplier to the manufacturer through to its eventual delivery to the end user.
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.
